Vivo V21 Price In Kenya and Specs: a convincing 5G smartphone, but a little too expensive
It is time for the sledge to tackle the mid-range model in the object of the V21. Intended for those looking for a 5G smartphone

Launched successfully in Kenya almost a month ago, Vivo took the spotlight at the beginning of the summer as an official partner of Euro football. A welcome advertisement for the Chinese brand, which signs outstanding products, unfortunately, a little too overestimated on the pricey side.
Technical specifications
- operating system: Android
- Operating system version:11
- Android Overlay: Funtouch OS
- Voice assistant: Google Assistant
- Screen size : 6.44in
- Screen type: AMOLED
- Screen definition: 2400 x 1080 pixels
- Refresh rate: 90Hz
- Pixel density: 409 dpi
- HDR display: Yes
- Internal memory: 128 GB, 256 GB
- Expandable storage: Yes
- Processor: Mediatek Dimensity 800U 5G
- The fineness of engraving:7nm
- Number of CPU cores:8
- CPU frequency:2.4GHz
- GPU: Mali-G57 MC3
- RAM:8 GB
- Processor:Mediatek Dimensity 800U 5G
- The fineness of engraving:7nm
- Number of CPU cores:8
- CPU frequency:2.4GHz
- GPU: Mali-G57 MC3
- RAM:8 GB
- Battery capacity:4000 mAh
- Removable battery:No
- Wireless charging:No
- Fast charging: Yes
- Fast charge power:430
- Number of cameras (front & back): 4
- Definition of rear sensor(s): 64 + 8 + 2
- Definition of front sensor(s): 44
- Video recording: 4K30 fps
- Back flash: Dual-LED
- Front End Flash: Yes
- Size of photosites rear lenses: 0.8 μm or 1.6 μm after pixel binning
- Rear photo lens aperture:ƒ/1.8; ƒ/2.2
- Front photo lens aperture: ƒ/2.0
- Network: Compatible SIM card(s)
- Dual SIM compatible:Yes
- 5G compatible: Yes
The Vivo V21 is accompanied in its box by a transparent silicone protective shell, a pair of wired headphones (3.5 mm jack) and its USB-C adapter, a 33 W charging block and a USB-A to USB-C cable.
Price:
Design
A very natural balance emerges from the V21, which, thanks to reasonable dimensions, could "almost" (with significant quotation marks) be considered as a compact. Measuring less than 16 cm high, the V21 impresses above all for its finesse, which does not exceed 7.3 mm.
Although entirely designed in plastic, the Vivo V21 is rather pleasing to the eye and touch. Mainly thanks to its back imitation brushed glass. We find a block of cameras in the upper left corner that takes up the "Big Eye" aesthetic specific to the manufacturer's high-end models such as the X60 Pro or the X51 5G before it
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Perfectly flat, the screen of Vivo V21 has a diagonal of 6.44 inches. Nevertheless, we find pretty generous borders and a "notch in a drop of water" that appears an anachronistic strand at the time when all are switched to the cutout in the screen to house the front camera.
In terms of interactions and connectivity, Vivo plays the card of sobriety. Apart from the power button and the volume strip, nothing can be found on its side slices. The USB-C jack, SIM/SD card drawer and single speaker are on the lower level. Finally, the screen houses a fingerprint sensor to unlock the smartphone.
Screen
Clocked at 90 Hz, the AMOLED panel of Vivo V21 displays a Full HD + definition. More than enough for a diagonal that does not exceed 6.5 inches. Somewhat responsive (although a little restrained by the phone's performance), the screen is especially very bright.
Sound: a single speaker rather powerful
If you want to listen to podcasts, watch videos or stories, that's more than enough. As is often the case, the sound spectrum also favours mediums to clarify the voices.
The Vivo V21 does not offer many good options to adjust the listening to our liking. No equalizer, no Dolby Atmos or similar.
However, without a jack, the V21 supports Bluetooth 5.1 and offers support for AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and LDAC codecs.
Performance
We didn't have many opportunities to play with MediaTek's Density 800U. There was the Redmi Note 9T at the beginning of the year, but most manufacturers have continued to place their trust in Qualcomm and its Snapdragon lately.
Nothing particularly to complain about the storage space, on the other hand. The 128GB UFS 2.2 chip offers quite correct rates for the price range of Vivo V21.
Software
Still powered by Android 11 and FunTouch OS, Vivo smartphones are inspired by a "Stock" version of the operating system. But the builder commits some frustrating little oddities in the exercise.
Battery
With its 4,000 mAh battery, the Vivo V21 shouldn't have too much trouble holding you a whole day. In any case, here, and even with the refresh rate mode set to "Auto" (the frequency oscillates between 60 and 90 Hz depending on the content watched
Photography
Like so many other smartphones of its rank, the Vivo V21 is equipped with a wide-angle sensor of 64 megapixels (1/1.72"; ƒ/1.8; pixels of 0.8 μm or 1.6 μm in pixel binning) and an ultra-wide-angle of 8 megapixels (1/4.0"; ƒ/2.2; pixels of 1.12 μm). A 2-megapixel macro module completes the trio — not to mention the 44-megapixel (ƒ/2.0, OIS) front camera that sits on the front.
Video
The Vivo V21 can film, at wide-angle, up to 4K at 30 frames per second. We advise you to favour a capture mode as it offers an image immeasurably better than the others. Problem: in doing so, we draw a line under any form of stabilization at your own risk.
Conclusion
The Vivo V21 is a good 5G smartphone. Balanced, whether in terms of its screen, its photos, or its autonomy, it will give full satisfaction to those looking for a phone pleasant to handle and robust daily.