You likely won’t have the ability to buy the Vivo Nex when it takes place sale later this month, yet that doesn’t quit it being one of one of the most innovative (and exciting) mobile phones released in 2018.

The Nex is the most current flagship phone from Chinese firm Vivo, as well as so much the company has only reported schedule for its house market. We have high hopes it’ll come to other areas around the globe, however so far absolutely nothing has actually been confirmed.

The Vivo Nex features an in-display finger print scanner, a pop-up selfie electronic camera, an AI-toting twin sensing unit rear electronic camera, 256GB of storage space, a top-end processor as well as a lot more finished up inside a premium design.

The Vivo Nex isn’t the very first phone ahead to market with an in-display fingerprint. Two previous Vivo phones have been available in China with the tech, plus there’s the minimal version Huawei Companion 10 Porsche Style that’s on sale in some markets, however the feature is still quite in its infancy.

It definitely seems like a novelty on the Vivo Nex, yet that’s not a criticism. Consistently in our first 24 hours we discovered ourselves strangely rubbing our finger on the rear of the phone to locate the scanner or delicately cleaning a thumb along the bottom edge of the display to no avail.

When you wake the device, a helpful finger print logo comes near remind you to tap your thumb or finger to unlock … however it’s going to take a while for muscle memory to kick in. 

The fingerprint scanner is rapid (although it’s not as fast as the standard scanners we’re used to) and from what we’ve located so far it appears to be accurate.

You can’t location your finger anywhere along the bottom of the phone to open it – you have to appeal the finger rundown that you could see in the photo over. And also you require to be precise with it also, it won’t work if half your thumb is hanging off the side of the image.

It’s not perfect, but it’s surely amazing tech that we really hope continues to serve, efficient and also, of training course, a protected means to unlock the phone.

2. The software is presently really various to exactly what we’ve used before 

The Vivo Nex we’re using at the moment doesn’t utilize the conventional version of Android or a light overlay that we’re used to. Instead it runs Vivo’s very own software application overlay called FunTouch OS (this is variation 4.0) and also it looks absolutely various to just what Google meant with its software.

It’s developed by Vivo as well as based upon Google’s Android 8.1 update, but there are some features missing from the OS. It reminds us of older versions of Feeling UI on the similarity the Huawei P9 as well as earlier.

It takes a great deal of motivation from iOS, and while it includes attributes to the operating system that match a Chinese audience, it does eliminate a great deal of the layout selections and also subtleties we like in the stock version of Android. 

As our device we’re currently utilizing is China-centric, some of the apps remain in the wrong language as well as we don’t have access to Google’s services.

That currently means we don’t have the Google Play Shop on the phone, so downloading and install apps is a little harder than we’d have hoped for. 

That’s something Vivo will have to change for a worldwide release (if it happens) as the company has done so before for markets such as India. Anticipate the look of FunTouch OS 4.0 to remain though.

 3. The constructed in AI is extra Bixby compared to Google Assistant 

Vivo’s very own voice aide comes pre-built into the phone. It’s called Jovi, and currently only functions in Mandarin Chinese so we haven’t had the ability to examine out the attribute totally in our first day with the phone.

It’s clear Vivo intends to put a huge emphasis on the technology though. There were 15 mins of journalism seminar dedicated to the technology at the China launch event, and also possibly a lot more tellingly the company has placed a button on the side of the phone that will automatically launch the Jovi assistant too.

It advises us of the means Bixby is integrated right into modern Samsung devices such as the Galaxy S9 as well as Galaxy Note 8. Most of the features are comparable as well, with a video camera mode that’s created to identify items and also a voice regulates that conveniently transform the settings on your phone.

4.  We like the audio impact of the selfie camera 

This is a minor one, but it’s something that excited us as quickly as we left the launch event. If you didn’t already know, the Vivo Nex includes a pop-up front dealing with camera that rises from the top of the phone when you start up selfie mode in the camera app.

It’s an unique idea, but the firm has actually likewise consisted of a sound result that we didn’t notice when testing the tool at the noisy launch occasion. Actually, it’s an audio result that you could change.

By going into the Settings within the camera application as well as pushing “camera pop-up sound” you’re welcomed with 4 options. Default is the Sci-Fi audio effect that seems like a tiny Star Wars droid aiming to interact with you and afterwards there’s likewise Maker that seems a little bit extra like a traditional camera taking a shot of you.

Rhythm is a bit more like the audio result your phone will make when you obtain a text message, plus there’s additionally an option so you could mute it as well. Also when the camera noise gets on mute you’ll have the ability to listen to a very quiet noise, however this is simply the mechanics of the cam moving up.

Right now we’re loving the sound impacts though, particularly as the precise sound changes slightly relying on whether the camera is rising or dropping. It’s a tiny thing, but it’s one of those little features that includes in the enjoyable of a currently dramatic way of taking a selfie. 

5. All display phones are simply amazing as you hoped 

Each time we’ve taken the Vivo Nex from our pocket, we’ve immediately been struck by exactly how various the screen looks. There is very little bezel around the screen – it’s not practically bezeless, like a few of the advertising and marketing materials would have you believe – but it looks impressive in the hand.

The screen isn’t the most effective on a smart device right now. It’s an AMOLED, which is a good for punchy shade recreation, however it only has a Complete HD+ resolution. Stretched over 6.2 inches, it suggests the pixel thickness is much reduced than its QHD resolution rivals.

While it’s not as sharp as the similarity the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, LG G7 ThinQ or Huawei P20 Pro, it’s still striking to see a display that makes up very much the whole front of the phone.

There’s a small chin below the front of the gadget, but the phone has a screen-to-body proportion of over 91% and also the fact technology isn’t hidden inside a notch on top of the screen is admirable as well. 

Vivo has actually achieved something really remarkable, and also this makes sure to establish the tone for phones that wish to have all-screen fronts in the coming One Year or, maybe, even longer.

We’ve currently heard Lenovo prepares to launch a phone with an even much better screen-to-body proportion also, and others make sure to follow. Even if you can’t get your hands on the Vivo Nex, it shouldn’t be too long up until you can try out a phone where it’s all screen on the front.

• Want to recognize even more? Review our extensive hands on Vivo Nex review