The Vivo T4 Ultra has created quite a buzz in the Indian smartphone market, and for good reason. As part of Vivo’s performance-focused T-series, this device promises a blend of premium features at a mid-range price point. With a stunning design, powerful performance, and an impressive camera setup, it aims to compete with heavyweights like the iQOO Neo 10 and Motorola Edge 60 Pro. But does it live up to the hype? Is it worth your money? In this detailed review, we’ll dive into every aspect of the Vivo T4 Ultra, from its display and performance to its camera and battery life, to help you decide if this is the right smartphone for you.
Design and Build Quality: Flashy Yet Practical
The Vivo T4 Ultra immediately grabs attention with its Phoenix Gold color option, a design that shifts and shimmers under different lighting conditions. This vibrant, eye-catching aesthetic is complemented by the Meteor Grey variant for those who prefer a more understated look. The phone’s design is a standout feature, and Vivo includes a clear case to showcase it, unlike the opaque cases commonly provided by other brands.
Weighing approximately 193.8 grams (after removing the pre-applied screen guard), the T4 Ultra feels neither too heavy nor too light. Its slim profile, measuring 7.43 mm for the Meteor Grey variant and 7.45 mm for the Phoenix Gold, makes it comfortable to hold. The phone features a quad-curved design, giving it a premium in-hand feel and a near-bezel-less appearance with a 93% screen-to-body ratio.
The build quality is robust, with SCHOTT Xensation α Cover Glass protecting the display and a plastic back that mimics glass for the unique design. The phone carries an IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance, a slight downgrade from the IP68 rating of its predecessor, the Vivo T3 Ultra. While this is a minor setback, it still offers decent protection for everyday use. The inclusion of a dual nano-SIM tray, USB Type-C port, stereo speakers, and a noise-canceling microphone adds to its practicality, though the absence of an IR blaster and a 3.5mm audio jack might disappoint some users.
Display: A Visual Treat for Media Lovers
The Vivo T4 Ultra sports a 6.67-inch 1.5K quad-curved AMOLED display with a resolution of 1260×2800 pixels. This display is a highlight, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast, making it ideal for media consumption and gaming. With a peak brightness of 5,000 nits and 1,600 nits in High Brightness Mode (HBM), the screen remains legible even under direct sunlight. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and animations, though it’s not an LTPO panel, so it toggles between 60Hz and 120Hz rather than dynamically adjusting.
The display supports HDR10+ for enhanced visuals on platforms like Netflix and YouTube, making it a great choice for binge-watchers. Additionally, it comes with SGS Low Blue Light certification and Anti-Fatigue Brightness features, reducing eye strain during prolonged use, especially at night. The micro quad-curved design minimizes accidental touches, and the thin bezels contribute to an immersive viewing experience. Whether you’re streaming videos, browsing social media, or gaming, the T4 Ultra’s display delivers a premium experience that rivals higher-end devices.
Performance: Powerhouse for Multitasking and Gaming
At the heart of the Vivo T4 Ultra lies the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor, built on a 4nm process. This chipset, paired with the Immortalis-G720 MC12 GPU, delivers flagship-level performance with an AnTuTu score exceeding 2 million. Available in configurations of 8GB or 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB or 512GB UFS 3.1 storage, the phone handles multitasking, heavy apps, and gaming with ease.
We tested the T4 Ultra with demanding games like Genshin Impact, and it maintained a steady 59.4–59.5 FPS, showcasing its gaming prowess. The phone supports 90FPS gaming in titles like BGMI, though 120FPS support is absent, which could have been a nice addition given the processor’s capability. The thermal management is commendable, with temperatures reaching 41–43°C during extended gaming sessions, thanks to a 4,362mm² vapor cooling chamber. The CPU and GPU stability score of 70% ensures consistent performance, making it suitable for gamers and power users.
The phone runs on FunTouch OS 15, based on Android 15, offering a smooth and customizable user experience. Vivo promises three years of major Android updates and four years of security patches, ensuring long-term software support. While there are some pre-installed third-party apps, they can be uninstalled, and the OS includes useful features like split-screen multitasking, a revamped notification panel, and AI-powered tools such as Circle to Search, AI Note Assist, AI Transcript Assist, and AI Call Translation.
Camera: A Photography Powerhouse
The Vivo T4 Ultra’s camera system is one of its biggest strengths, positioning it as a strong contender in the mid-range segment. The triple rear camera setup includes a 50MP Sony IMX921 primary sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 50MP Sony IMX882 periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, 10x telephoto macro zoom, and up to 100x digital zoom. The front camera is a 32MP sensor, ideal for selfies and video calls.
Primary and Telephoto Performance
The 50MP primary sensor delivers sharp, vibrant images with excellent dynamic range and accurate colors, even in challenging lighting conditions. The periscope telephoto lens is a segment-first in the ₹35,000–₹40,000 price range, offering crisp portraits at focal lengths of 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm. The 10x telephoto macro capability is particularly impressive, capturing detailed close-ups with clarity. The Aura Light feature, with five adjustable tones, enhances low-light photography by providing natural illumination, making it a versatile tool for creative shots.
Ultra-Wide and Selfie Camera
The 8MP ultra-wide lens is the weakest link, producing decent but less detailed images compared to the primary and telephoto sensors. It’s functional for wide-angle shots but lacks the sharpness of its counterparts. The 32MP front camera, however, excels in capturing detailed selfies with natural skin tones and good color accuracy, making it a hit among selfie enthusiasts.
Camera Features and AI Enhancements
The camera app is packed with features, including Night Mode, Portrait, High Resolution, Panorama, Ultra HD Document, Slow Motion, Time-Lapse, Supermoon, Astro, and Snapshot modes. The AI-powered features, such as AI Erase, AI Photo Enhance, and AI Cutout, allow users to remove unwanted elements, enhance image quality, and create custom stickers. The phone supports 4K video recording at 60FPS from both front and rear cameras, ensuring high-quality footage for vloggers and content creators.
Compared to the Vivo T3 Ultra, which had a 50MP primary and 8MP ultra-wide setup, the addition of the 50MP periscope telephoto lens is a significant upgrade. The collaboration with Zeiss-inspired algorithms enhances portrait photography, delivering professional-grade results that rival Vivo’s premium V-series.
Battery Life: Reliable but Not the Best
The Vivo T4 Ultra is equipped with a 5,500mAh battery, a slight downgrade from the 7,300mAh battery in the Vivo T4 5G. Despite this, it offers impressive battery life, lasting up to 1.5 days with moderate usage (browsing, social media, and light gaming) and a full day with heavy usage (gaming, video streaming, and multitasking). Our tests showed a screen-on-time (SOT) of approximately 8.5 hours, which is solid for a mid-range device.
The 90W FlashCharge support is a step up from the 80W charging of its predecessor, allowing the phone to charge fully in about 43–44 minutes. This fast charging capability ensures minimal downtime, making it convenient for users with busy schedules. However, the absence of wireless charging and reverse charging (available in the T4 5G) is a minor drawback.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The T4 Ultra supports a wide range of connectivity options, including 5G (FDD N1/N3/N5/N8/N28, TDD N40/N77/N78), 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS with NavIC, and NFC for contactless payments. The in-display optical fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable, though its placement is slightly lower than ideal. The stereo speakers deliver excellent audio quality, enhancing the multimedia experience, and the phone supports Widevine L1 for HD streaming on platforms like Netflix.
The IP64 rating provides decent protection against dust and splashes, but the downgrade from the IP68 rating of the T3 Ultra is noticeable. The lack of an IR blaster and FM radio might disappoint some users, but the inclusion of AI features like Circle to Search and AI Call Translation adds value for productivity-focused users.
Pricing and Value for Money
The Vivo T4 Ultra is priced competitively in India, starting at ₹37,999 for the 8GB + 256GB variant, ₹39,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant, and ₹41,999 for the 12GB + 512GB model. With launch offers, including a ₹3,000 discount on HDFC, SBI, and Axis Bank cards, the effective starting price drops to ₹34,999, making it an attractive option in the sub-₹40,000 segment.
Compared to competitors like the iQOO Neo 10 and Motorola Edge 60 Pro, the T4 Ultra offers a superior camera system, particularly with its periscope telephoto lens, and a vibrant AMOLED display. However, its battery capacity is smaller than the Vivo T4 5G’s 7,300mAh, and the IP64 rating is less robust than the IP68 offered by some rivals.
Specifications Table
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 1260×2800 pixels, HDR10+ |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ (4nm) |
| GPU | Immortalis-G720 MC12 |
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB UFS 3.1 |
| Operating System | FunTouch OS 15 based on Android 15 |
| Rear Camera | 50MP Sony IMX921 (f/1.88, OIS) + 8MP ultra-wide (f/2.2) + 50MP Sony IMX882 periscope telephoto (f/2.55, 3x optical zoom, 10x telephoto macro, 100x digital zoom) |
| Front Camera | 32MP (f/2.45) |
| Battery | 5,500mAh, 90W FlashCharge |
| Connectivity | 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, GPS with NavIC, USB Type-C |
| Build | SCHOTT Xensation α Cover Glass, plastic back, IP64 rating |
| Weight | 193.8g (Meteor Grey), 195.7g (Phoenix Gold) |
| Dimensions | 160.5 × 75.02 × 7.43mm (Meteor Grey), 7.45mm (Phoenix Gold) |
| Software Updates | 3 years of Android updates, 4 years of security patches |
| Additional Features | In-display optical fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers, Aura Light, AI features (AI Erase, AI Photo Enhance, Circle to Search) |
Should You Buy the Vivo T4 Ultra?
The Vivo T4 Ultra is a fantastic choice for Indian consumers looking for a premium mid-range smartphone that doesn’t break the bank. Its strengths lie in its stunning 6.67-inch AMOLED display, powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor, and versatile camera system, particularly the segment-first 50MP periscope telephoto lens. The phone delivers flagship-level performance, making it ideal for gamers, multitaskers, and photography enthusiasts. The 5,500mAh battery with 90W fast charging ensures reliable daily use, and the FunTouch OS 15 offers a smooth and feature-rich experience.
However, there are a few compromises. The IP64 rating is a downgrade from the T3 Ultra’s IP68, and the battery capacity is smaller than the Vivo T4 5G’s 7,300mAh. The absence of 120FPS gaming support and an IR blaster might also disappoint some users. If you prioritize camera quality, display, and performance over features like wireless charging or a higher IP rating, the T4 Ultra is a no-brainer.
Who Should Buy It?
- Photography Enthusiasts: The periscope telephoto lens, AI features, and Zeiss-inspired algorithms make it a top choice for capturing stunning photos and videos.
- Gamers and Power Users: The Dimensity 9300+ and vapor cooling chamber ensure smooth performance for demanding games and multitasking.
- Media Lovers: The AMOLED display with HDR10+ and stereo speakers offers an immersive experience for streaming and gaming.
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: With a starting price of ₹34,999 (with offers), it delivers premium features at a mid-range price.
Who Should Skip It?
- Users Needing IP68 Protection: If water resistance is a priority, competitors like the Motorola Edge 60 Pro might be better.
- Heavy Battery Users: Those needing a larger battery may prefer the Vivo T4 5G with its 7,300mAh capacity.
- IR Blaster Fans: The lack of an IR blaster could be a dealbreaker for some.
Conclusion: Is It Worth It?
The Vivo T4 Ultra is a compelling choice for Indian consumers seeking a premium mid-range smartphone. Its stunning AMOLED display, powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor, and versatile camera system make it a standout in the ₹35,000–₹40,000 segment. The addition of a periscope telephoto lens and AI features enhances its appeal for photography enthusiasts, while the reliable battery life and fast charging cater to power users. However, the downgrade to an IP64 rating and the slightly smaller battery compared to the T4 5G are minor drawbacks.
If you’re looking for a smartphone that offers flagship-level performance, a vibrant display, and exceptional camera capabilities at a competitive price, the Vivo T4 Ultra is worth considering. It’s particularly suited for young, tech-savvy users who value style, performance, and photography. With launch offers bringing the price as low as ₹34,999, it delivers excellent value for money, making it a strong contender in its category.
