Vivo T4 Ultra 5G Review
Introduction
Vivo’s T-series has always been about delivering maximum performance for the price, but with the new vivo T4 Ultra 5G, the company is aiming for something more. This isn’t just another spec-heavy mid-ranger; it’s a direct assault on the flagship territory. Armed with a top-tier processor and a periscope camera—a feature typically reserved for the most expensive phones—the T4 Ultra 5G promises a premium experience without the premium price. But in a market full of “flagship killers,” does this device have the substance to back up its incredible specs? We’ve put the vivo T4 Ultra 5G through its paces to find out.
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RATING
- Flagship-Tier Performance:Â The MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor is an absolute beast, handling everything with blistering speed.
- A True Periscope Powerhouse:Â The 50MP periscope telephoto lens offers phenomenal optical zoom, a true rarity in this segment.
- A Visually Stunning Display:Â The 120Hz quad-curved AMOLED screen is bright, fluid, and incredibly immersive.
- All-Day Powerhouse Battery:Â The massive 5500mAh battery easily powers through the most demanding days.
- Versatile and Capable Main Camera:Â The 50MP Sony main sensor with OIS delivers consistently excellent photos.
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- Archaic USB 2.0 Speeds:Â A USB-C port limited to USB 2.0 speeds is a major bottleneck for transferring large files.
- Lacks Robust Water Protection:Â An IP64 rating only protects against splashes, not submersion like higher-end phones.
- Funtouch OS Isn't for Everyone:Â The software is feature-packed but lacks the clean aesthetic of stock Android.
The vivo T4 Ultra 5G is a triumph of focus. It pours its budget into the three areas that create a "wow" factor: a world-class processor, a genuinely game-changing camera system, and a gorgeous display. It delivers an experience that legitimately rivals phones twice its price in those key areas. While the compromises in data transfer speeds and water resistance are noticeable, they are smart trade-offs. For anyone who prioritizes performance and photography above all else, the vivo T4 Ultra 5G isn't just a great option; it's one of the most compelling and high-value smartphones on the market today.
SPECIFICATIONS
Display
6.67" Full HD+ (1260p) Quad Curved AMOLED Display
Rear Camera
50 MP / 8 MP / 50 MP Periscope
Front Camera
32 MP
Processor
MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ Processor
Resolution
Full HD+ (2800 x 1260) 460ppi
RAM
8GB & 12GB RAM*
Operating System
Android v15
Storage
256GB & 512GB built-in* UFS3.1
Battery
5500mAh
Waterproof
IP64 dust and splash resistance*
Dual Sim
Yes
Dual Sim (Nano)
Quick Charging
Fast Charging Supported
DESIGN
Holding the vivo T4 Ultra 5G, the first thing you notice is the display. The quad-curved glass on the front elegantly spills over the edges, making the phone feel thinner and more comfortable in hand than its dimensions suggest. Our Meteor Grey unit has a premium matte finish that feels silky to the touch and does a fantastic job of hiding fingerprints.
The front is almost all screen, with minimal bezels contributing to an impressive 92.89% screen-to-body ratio. However, the focus on a premium look comes with a trade-off in durability. The phone carries an IP64 rating, which means it’s protected from dust and light splashes of water, like rain. While welcome, it falls short of the IP68 rating found on true flagships, so you’ll want to avoid any accidental dunks in the pool. It’s a reasonable compromise for the price, but one to be aware of.
DISPLAY
Let’s be blunt: the display is spectacular and a clear highlight of this device. The 6.67-inch AMOLED panel boasts a crisp Full HD+ resolution (2800 x 1260 pixels), making text and images razor-sharp. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures that every scroll, swipe, and animation is buttery smooth, making the phone feel incredibly responsive.
Where it truly punches above its weight is brightness. With a High Brightness Mode of 1600 nits and a staggering local peak brightness of 5000 nits for HDR content, this screen is an absolute torch. We found outdoor visibility to be exceptional, with the screen remaining perfectly clear and vibrant even under direct sunlight. With support for HDR10+, content on platforms like Netflix looks phenomenal, with deep blacks and brilliant highlights. This is, without a doubt, a flagship-grade display.
PERFORMANCE
At the core of the T4 Ultra 5G is the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, a true top-tier processor. In our testing, this phone didn’t just feel fast; it felt instantaneous. Paired with 8GB of RAM and fast UFS 3.1 storage, apps launch in a blink, and multitasking is completely seamless.
For gamers, this phone is a dream. The powerful Immortalis-G720 GPU chewed through demanding games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty: Mobile at the highest settings without breaking a sweat, maintaining smooth and stable frame rates. This phone offers raw performance that is indistinguishable from the most expensive flagships on the market.
However, there’s one baffling decision here: the USB-C port is limited to USB 2.0 speeds. For a phone that can shoot high-resolution photos and 4K videos, transferring those large files to a PC via a cable is painfully slow. It’s the most significant cost-cutting measure and the biggest “con” on an otherwise flawless performance sheet.
BATTERY
A powerful phone needs a powerful battery, and vivo delivers. The massive 5500mAh cell is a marathon runner. During our testing with heavy usage—including gaming, streaming video, and lots of camera use—we consistently ended the day with over 30% battery left. Lighter users could easily stretch this into a two-day phone.
When it’s time to recharge, the included fast charger gets you back in the game quickly. While vivo doesn’t advertise the exact wattage in the highlights, it’s speedy enough to provide hours of use from a short 15-20 minute top-up. The inclusion of reverse charging also means you can use the phone’s massive battery to power up your earbuds or another device in a pinch.
CAMERA
The camera system is the star of the show, and the reason to choose this phone over its rivals. Vivo has packed a truly versatile and powerful trio of lenses on the back.
The 50MP main camera, featuring a high-end Sony sensor and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), is the reliable workhorse. It captures photos with excellent detail, wide dynamic range, and vivo’s signature vibrant-but-natural color science. In low light, it produces bright, clean images with impressive clarity.
The 8MP ultrawide camera is decent for capturing wide landscapes or group shots, but the real magic lies elsewhere.
The 50MP Periscope Telephoto lens is a game-changer. This is not a digital crop; it’s a proper optical zoom system with OIS. In our testing, the 3x optical zoom produced images that were just as sharp and detailed as the main camera. The “10x Telephoto Super Stage” feature is phenomenal for capturing concerts or events from a distance, delivering shockingly clear shots of subjects far away. This kind of hardware is virtually unheard of in this price bracket and elevates the T4 Ultra 5G into a class of its own.
The 32MP front camera is also excellent, delivering sharp and detailed selfies with pleasing skin tones.
SOFTWARE
The vivo T4 Ultra 5G runs Funtouch OS 15, which is based on the latest Android 15. This ensures you have the most up-to-date features and security. Funtouch OS has come a long way and is packed with customization options and useful features. From gesture controls to an eye protection mode and extensive personalization, there’s a lot for power users to dive into.
However, the aesthetic is distinctly different from the clean, minimalist look of stock Android. If you’re a fan of the Google Pixel experience, Funtouch OS might feel a bit busy. That said, it’s fast, fluid, and stable, never once getting in the way of the phone’s powerful performance.
Should You Buy It?
Yes, absolutely—if you are a power user or a mobile photography enthusiast. The vivo T4 Ultra 5G makes a clear statement. It sacrifices ultimate durability (IP64) and modern data transfer speeds (USB 2.0) to deliver a mind-blowing camera system and chart-topping performance at an aggressive price.
If you are someone who takes tons of photos, especially zoom shots, or a gamer who demands the smoothest performance, this phone is an absolute steal. It offers core experiences that genuinely compete with devices that cost thousands more. For this target audience, the vivo T4 Ultra 5G isn’t just a good choice; it’s an exceptional one.