BLU VIVO XI+ Review
The BLU VIVO XI+ was introduced back in August 2018, and since then, the company has launched several new smartphones. However, many still consider the VIVO XI+ as one of the most impressive devices from the budget phone manufacturer.
One year after its release, has the BLU VIVO XI+ aged well? How does it stack up against the best BLU phones that came out this 2019?
To give you conclusive answers to these questions, we revisited the BLU VIVO XI+ to determine if it is still worth buying today.
Design
Build quality and design has always been a strong suit for BLU. The timeless glass and metallic scheme on the BLU VIVO XI+ demonstrates their commitment to producing attractive smartphones. Even more remarkable is how they managed to fit numerous premium features into the thin form factor of the device. These include a back-mounted fingerprint sensor, dual-cameras, integrated Qi wireless charging, and even facial unlocking.
You usually find these kinds of features on higher-end phones with double the price, so having them on the BLU VIVO XI+ is an astounding feat.
Display
The BLU VIVO XI+ keeps up with the current trends as it employs an all-screen 6.2-inch HD+ 1080 x 2246 display. The screen has an aspect ratio of 19:9 and uses Gorilla Glass 3 technology for protection.
Although the display is broader than most smartphones, the large notch at the top can be a distraction. Additionally, the BLU VIVO XI+ has an unusually cold color temperature of above 9000K that can affect color accuracy.
On the other hand, the BLU VIVO XI+ is exceptionally bright, with a peak brightness output of 525 nits. The device also comes with all the display management tools reserved for more expensive flagships.
User Interface
Software and user interface are aspects that the BLU VIVO XI+ disappoints the most. The device runs on Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. Shortly after its release, the company promised an upgrade to Android 9.0 Pie by the first quarter of 2019. However, all they ever announced was an Android 9.0 Pie Beta update that never got a stable release.
As for the skin running on top of Android 8.1 Oreo on the BLU VIVO XI+, it maintains the plain and generic look of previous phones manufactured by BLU. The software update was supposed to be the saving grace of the device, but it turned out to be a letdown.
Performance
The BLU VIVO XI+ is powered by the octa-core 2 GHz Mediatek Helio P60 chipset paired with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of expandable storage. It can handle basic operations like occasional emailing, web surfing, and social media posting without running into any issue.
However, you cannot expect to play graphics-intensive games with the BLU VIVO XI+ without a hitch. The choppy framerates make it difficult to recommend for intense mobile gaming.
The Real 3D Face ID feature allows you to unlock the BLU VIVO XI+ using your face. BLU points out that you cannot trick this feature with photos, masks, or even wax sculptures. It is not the fastest nor the most accurate, but it gets the job done.
Camera
The BLU VIVO XI+ features a dual-camera configuration that breaks down to a 16 MP primary shooter and a 5 MP depth sensor. Meanwhile, the front-facing camera also features a 16 MP sensor.
Since the BLU VIVO XI+ is a budget smartphone, you cannot expect the cameras to be on par with what flagship devices have to offer. The most noticeable downside is the lack of fine detail. Nevertheless, images shot in abundant lighting are good enough for social media posts.
The same issues plague the cameras’ performance with videos. There is too much noise when they are shot under low light, and the frame rates are choppy.
Battery Life
The BLU VIVO XI+ packs a 3000 mAh battery that provides remarkable longevity. The integration of Qi wireless charging is also a welcome addition, considering the budget price point.
You can easily get through a day without having to recharge and still have around 25% capacity before going to bed. To fully recharge the battery, you would need to wait about two hours.
Call Quality
When receiving phone calls on the BLU VIVO XI+, voices tend to exhibit some distortion through the earpiece. However, volume levels are loud enough to use in loud environments.
On the other hand, the sound coming from the microphone of the BLU VIVO XI+ seem to be distant and may struggle to pick up speech.
Overall, the call quality on the BLU VIVO XI+ may have some issues, but they are tolerable for the most part.
Conclusion
The BLU VIVO XI+ remains to be a reliable device that can keep up with even the most recent releases from the same company. If you have a tight budget, but you want a phone that comes with features usually reserved for more expensive options, the VIVO XI+ is a no brainer.
