Introduction:
A new market niche that falls comfortably between cheap and flagship territory has been gaining traction recently. I'm referring to the very competitive ₹35K–₹40K market. Numerous performance-first handsets that attempt to provide flagship-like features at near-midrange cost have entered this market in the last few months alone. The new Vivo T4 Ultra is an addition to that list. With a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, 90 W fast charging, and an advanced periscope camera configuration, this phone is the replacement for last year's T3 Ultra. The focus now turns to whether the T4 Ultra, a well-received predecessor, can push the frontier any farther. |
| Vivo T4 Ultra |
Design:
The Vivo T4 Ultra looks a lot like the Vivo T3 Ultra at first glance. For this review, I received the Meteor Grey version, and it caught my attention right away. The device's thin design gives it a high-end appearance, but even while it feels fantastic in the hand, it weighs a lot, probably because of the large internal components and battery. It has a bold frame, and although it appears sleek, the camera frame makes it a little tough to handle.
The T4 Ultra has a dual-ring camera module on the back, just like its predecessor, but this time the message is clear: "100x" is engraved into the design to remind you of its telephoto capabilities. The location of the buttons is still the same: the speaker grille, SIM tray, and USB-C port are on the bottom, while the power button and volume sliders are on the right. It is reasonably tough for everyday situations because of its IP64 classification, which guarantees protection against dust and rain splashes.
With symmetrical curves on all four sides, the bezel-less AMOLED panel—what Vivo refers to as a Quad Curved Display—dominates the front of the display. The phone is tested to take 2,500 steel wool rubs without breaking, and when paired with SCHOTT Shield Glass, it not only looks stylish but is also resistant to scratches and drops.
Display:
It is a pleasure to look at the 6.78-inch Quad-Curved AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution. Animations remain buttery smooth thanks to the 144 Hz refresh rate, and using it outside is a breeze thanks to the 5,500 nits peak brightness. Support for HDR10+ gives streaming media more life, and a 3,000 Hz immediate touch sampling rate makes gaming more engaging.
The Vivo T4 Ultra is a clear upgrade over the T3 Ultra in terms of brightness, touch sensitivity, and viewing angles. With its Quad Curved symmetry and greater outdoor readability, the T4 Ultra performs better than the iQOO Neo 10, which also has a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED. For consumers, this translates into a display that is not only high-spec on paper but also incredibly fun to use on a daily basis.
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| Vivo T4 Ultra |
OS and AI Features:
Funtouch OS, which is based on Android 15, powers the Vivo T4 Ultra. Vivo has been gradually simplifying the interface. This time, there is less bloatware, the user interface is slick, and transitions are fast. Software enhancements like Lightning-Speed Engine 2.0 make app launches and switching more fluid. The AI integration is noteworthy. With only a swipe, you can edit photos, eliminate photobombers, and upgrade old photos with the T4 Ultra's AI Erase 2.0, AI Enhance, and Smart Circle capabilities. The phone transforms from a gadget into an assistant when you add features like AI Sleep Mode, Film Camera Mode, and AI Aura Light Portrait 2.0.
Performance:
Vivo had to do better because they were the replacement, and they did. The T4 Ultra introduces the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, a powerful processor that easily surpasses the Dimensity 9200+ of its predecessor. With 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, the review unit operated smoothly for both multitasking and intensive gaming. The phone never stuttered when used in the real world. Ultra frame rates were used in games like BGMI, and the 50,000 mm² cooling system—which includes high-performance graphite and a wide-area vapour chamber—kept thermals under control. The end product is a gadget that functions reliably even when under a lot of stress.
The T4 Ultra received single-core scores of 2223 and multi-core scores of 7295 on Geekbench. The AnTuTu score was 1,820,818 and the GPU score was 14,718, respectively. By comparison, the iQOO Neo 10 has a slightly lower AnTuTu score of 2,084,242, a single-core score of 2121, and a multi-core score of 7032. Although the two are nearly equal, the T4 Ultra is superior in terms of thermal performance and raw CPU power.
Camera:
The Vivo T4 Ultra seems to be designed to shoot serious pictures, which is an unspoken promise that is evident as soon as you look at the back camera housing. It isn't a false perception. The phone has an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 50 MP Sony IMX921 OIS primary sensor, and a remarkable 50 MP Sony periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, 10x macro zoom, and up to 100x HyperZoom.
The T4 Ultra produces some very striking images during the day. The primary camera produces crisp, realistic-looking photos with well-balanced contrast. While the Origin Imaging Engine deblurs and improves clarity at all zoom levels, Vivo's Camera-Bionic Spectrum aids in maintaining a constant tone in a range of lighting circumstances. The photos maintained detail and didn't appear over-processed, even at 10x, which is still uncommon in this field. Saturation levels, dynamic range, and edge sharpness all fall into a sweet zone that maintains photos' colorful yet organic appearance.
The T4 Ultra excels in night photography as well, both literally and figuratively. The camera maintains exposures long enough to capture light without generating motion blur because of the separate OIS system and Aura Light 2.0. Rather than being artificially raised, shadows maintain their depth, and light sources do not overshadow the image. The sensor is able to capture useful information even in almost complete darkness. The results are much more refined when you switch to Night Mode; there are less noises, crisper textures, and well-managed lighting.
Vivo's years of honing their craft begin to show in portraiture. Five main focal lengths—23, 35, 50, 85, and 100 mm—are supported by the T4 Ultra, enabling a variety of portrait compositions, from close-ups to group photos. Accurate edge recognition and a smooth, well-balanced background blur are features.
Nor does the 32 MP front-facing camera fall behind. Skin tones are correct without being unduly softened, and selfies are crisp and well-exposed. Behind the scenes, Vivo's AI does its magic, but not to the point where realism is compromised.
Battery:
The Vivo T4 Ultra has a 5,500 mAh BlueVolt battery that is denser and thinner because to third-generation silicon anode technology. Despite being heavily used for gaming, streaming videos, and taking pictures, it lasted for more than a day. A single charge should last 1.5 to 2 days with moderate use. 90 W quick charging takes care of the charge, getting you from 0% to 50% in roughly twenty-five minutes. With a 7,000 mAh battery and 120 W charging capacity, the iQOO Neo 10 leads the field in this regard. Although it's not the fastest, the phone charges quickly enough and safely enough to maintain battery health over time.
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| Vivo T4 Ultra |
Verdict:
Better display technology, AI-powered photographic capabilities, flagship-grade hardware, and a segment-first 10x telephoto macro camera are all included in the higher price. The market is indeed busy. Indeed, smartphones such as the iQOO Neo 10 provide nearly identical capabilities at a little reduced cost. However, the T4 Ultra distinguishes itself by combining high-end design, state-of-the-art imagery, and long-term usage.
