Romanticizing life with the vivo V70

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Editor’s note: This content is sponsored by vivo and was produced by BrandRap, the sales and marketing arm of Rappler. No member of the news and editorial team participated in the production of this piece.

While the term “romanticizing my life” has been around since the pandemic plagued the world as we knew it, I admit I haven’t quite mastered it.

Acknowledging the beauty in the mundane, though, is not the crux of the matter – I’d like to think I often navigate life with a grateful and curious lens. It’s more of preserving these memories through photography as well as I’d like: clear, creative, and conveying my exact emotion during that time I pressed the shutter.

It’s not that I have nothing to take photos of; it’s how challenging it is to find a camera that captures how a memory plays out in my point of view. After all, I have two audiences I look forward to sharing these memories with: my online mutuals, and all the more my future self who’ll obsessively revisit her old archives in a few years – just like what I do now with my decade-old files.

Since well-performing digital cameras can be pricey and even bulky to carry, having a smartphone – which you can both easily fish out from your pocket and deliver the best results for your next Instagram monthly dump – sounds like the next best thing. So when I got the chance to have a free trial with the new vivo V70, I wasted no time in spending the next week of my mundane day-to-day maximizing its photography features – the established magnum opus of the brand’s V-series. What makes this iteration stand out, though?

Minimalist but not plain; dreamy but not overwhelming

My vivo V70 loaner unit came with a clear TPU case, and honestly, it’s the first time I appreciated it this much – all because of the phone’s design that needs no further fuss. In the first place, it’s a far cry from the V60’s vibrant color palette, as this one packs a simple but ethereal charm, especially its Golden Hour variant in partnership with Pop Mart (the other colorway is Alpine Gray). The details change like the waves when the phone catches some sunlight – which means more motivation to head out and collect new memories. So, outside I went!

Ever since I took the vivo V70 out on my daily errands and hangouts, I’ve had three people ask me what phone I was holding, intrigued by its overall look. 

Their next question? Its price point, which makes the product an alluring purchase given its other physical properties: a pill-shaped camera module (the V60 had a rounded square), a sleek bezel design, an aerospace-grade aluminum alloy frame, a 1.5K ultra clear OLED display, a 6.59-inch immersive screen, and a triple-lens camera system (a 50 MP ZEISS OIS main camera, a 50 MP ZEISS super telephoto camera, and a 8 MP ZEISS ultra-wide angle lens) co-engineered by technology leader ZEISS, among others. 

Then, there are AI features like the 20x ZEISS Telephoto Stage Mode, which uses AI enhancements to take clearer shots of stage performances like concerts, even when zoomed in.

Potrait-ready, whatever form it may be

Whether you’re a mirror selfie enjoyer (a staple for “me time” sessions), a go-to portrait model of a friend, or a self-portrait connoisseur (a.k.a. treats the traditional selfie as part of the story), you won’t need to stress out over getting a good photo of yourself – even lighting doesn’t seem to be a concern. This phone’s cameras deliver crisp images with popping colors, and features a ZEISS Multifocal Portrait Mode to boot. With focal lengths ranging from 23 mm to 100 mm, you’ll get flattering shots whatever the location. You can even choose whether or not to keep your chosen bokeh effect after the photo’s taken.

In this set, I took the first photo using the default Photo mode with the Vibrant filter (hence the added warmth), while the next two were taken using the Portrait mode with varying ZEISS Style Bokeh effects. 

Meanwhile, the last two photos were shot using the 50-MP selfie camera using the default settings. I knew I looked like a mess given all the walking I did during the day – combined with the humid weather – so I was surprised to see I still looked put together in these quick snapshots.

On the weekend, I also decided to tag along with my mother for her morning run. During her cool down, I became amused by the phone’s bokeh feature even more, as I took some candids. Here, the active atmosphere of the crowd is felt, while spotlighting an apparent main character.

Reaching faraway places

Confession time: I get major FOMO when there’s an astronomical event that can be witnessed with the naked eye, and I don’t have a decent camera to immortalize it. Shortly after the recent total lunar eclipse, I wanted to contribute to the avalanche of “blood moon” photos I saw on my feed. Unfortunately, my phone at that time couldn’t zoom in smoothly, much less capture the sky clearly. My attempt ended up like a blurry white dot.

I was heading out of a heritage building when I discovered that this fantasy can be a reality, all thanks to the vivo V70’s breathtaking zoom capability, which can go up to 100x. As I was taking the first photo of this set, the device suggested I turn on the dedicated Supermoon mode. When I did, the view I was looking at my screen became even more magical, and the camera didn’t falter in capturing the moon’s distinct details with clarity as I zoomed in further. These are instant wallpapers, and I’m Googling the date of the next eclipse as we speak.

The world in motion

When you’re basking in solitude, sometimes there’s nothing more romantic than people-watching. I’m glad I can rely on the vivo V70 for this, too, as it isn’t difficult to get stable shots of people and things in motion – whether they’re runners beating their personal record, bikers enjoying their moderate speed, or the graceful splash of water. 

While the cityscape in this context is dominated by neutral colors, the photos remain fun to stare at because of the overall vividness. Even switching to a black-and-white filter isn’t boring – if anything, it creates a whole different narrative!

Even little indoor activities, like playing jackstones, give off an action-packed vibe because of the phone’s flexibility in capturing movement.

Picturesque plants and pets

Stopping to smell the flowers is also a treat for vivo V70 users. In capturing plants, I liked switching between the default setting and the Texture filter – can you guess which ones have it?

Either way, you get a delightful view of nature. Despite the abundance of spider lilies and bougainvillea in the Philippines since time immemorial, I suddenly found myself appreciating them even more because of the perspective this phone offers.

Just like when I was capturing the moon, the camera’s sensor notified me while I was shooting these lantana flowers. It disappeared when I took a step back and tried a different framing.

Of course, a romanticized life stars our furry friends as well. Although I’m used to taking photos of my dog almost every day, using the vivo V70 gave me a refreshing experience, especially with its ability to smoothly capture natural light.

Astonishing AI capabilities

One of the standout offerings of this model is its advanced AI-powered features that transform a single photo into different moods. Inside a historic building in Escolta, I tried this for the first time. The one on the left is the original photo, while the second one is the result when I picked the Twilight option and the AI Eraser. All I needed was an internet connection and a few seconds.

In this example, Twilight feels like closing time: The blue hour, the lessened objects (especially those that looked “fun”), the absence of everyone, the silence, and the slightly clinical feel as opposed to the original’s festive spirit. 

During my mom’s morning run, I also tried this feature as I thought it would feel more apt – I now have a particular subject, and the background can feel a little too crowded. 

Here are the results for Morning Glow and Spring, respectively. The first one offers a more natural and realistic feel, while the second one appears like a fun experiment.

I also wondered how it would turn out if I did it indoors. Given the place’s gritty aura, I tried the Cyber option for this photo of my best friend, and see if it could somehow pass as a deleted scene from “Blade Runner 2049”. How cool is it that purple light suddenly became an attractive detail here, when the light wasn’t even turned on in the original photo? Look at that peeking window view dominated by blues, too.

If you want something more grounded, the vivo V70 also offers AI Magic Weather effects. Since everyone’s been feeling the heat’s wrath lately, this feature piqued my interest. How cool would it be to see different reimaginings of the current harsh conditions?

Here, my friend tried the Morning Glow, Clear Sky, and Evening Glow, respectively, in taking photos of me.

Amazed yet? Let me reveal what the original photos looked like:

An ace, no matter the lighting

One of the things I loved about utilizing the vivo V70 through different locations is the ease of capturing everything, sans the effort of constantly updating settings or doing test shots before continuing. I felt this the most when I realized I went to spots with varying lighting conditions – from low lighting to accent lighting – and the results remained flawless. I seldom used filters, too. 

True to my penchant for slice-of-life, I can’t wrap up my day without a hearty meal photo. When my camera asked me to switch to Food Mode, I was glad to see an appetizing view, with enhanced colors and increased contrast. It’s best for close-up shots as the background automatically blurs; think macro mode.

Whimsy agenda-friendly

The entire time I was shooting the vivo V70, I kept forgetting that this is technically a mid-range priced smartphone. Apart from the high-quality photography capability – that’s almost akin to professional-level – it boasts of premium inclusions that make it a high-value, durable choice. 

Frankly, this model isn’t a huge leap from its predecessor foundation-wise, given some of its similar features like the 2.8 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 SoC chipset. But it’s a clear testament to vivo’s goal of refining the photography experience further – not to control the user’s creative decisions, but to expand their imagination with a variety of options, and moreover rewarding them with a solid result. 

I’ve also proven how its battery can hold up for a long period of time. After a whole afternoon to early evening of shooting, its fully-charged 6500 mAh BlueVolt battery dropped only to 89%. I managed to use it the next day for four more hours for some morning shots, and it didn’t even reach 50%.  And even though it packs a high-density battery, it never felt like a burden to hold. It felt secure, even as I explored different environments. That’s what IP68 and IP69 ratings for water and dust resistance are for, too! 

Come to think of it, the prerequisite to easily romanticizing your life is ease and convenience – and it’s possible to freeze memories while being present in the moment. No overthinking, no overdoing.

BlueVolt battery dropped only to 89%. I managed to use it the next day for four more hours for some morning shots, and it didn’t even reach 50%.  And even though it packs a high-density battery, it never felt like a burden to hold. It felt secure, even as I explored different environments. That’s what IP68 and IP69 ratings for water and dust resistance are for, too! 

Come to think of it, the prerequisite to easily romanticizing your life is ease and convenience – and it’s possible to freeze memories while being present in the moment. No overthinking, no overdoing.

Ready to add some whimsy to your everyday life? The vivo V70 retails at P31,999 (8 GB + 256 GB), P35,999 (12 GB + 256 GB), or P39,999 (12 GB + 512 GB) and is available in vivo’s official website, Shopee, and Lazada.

Some photos in this article may have been compressed for easier online viewing. – Rappler.com