- Analysis by KJ David
BLU's 2018 Vivo XI, which hit the market alongside a Plus sibling, is a middle-class phablet whose 5.9-inch 19:9 curved-glass display 
, despite being one of the most-spacious screens BLU had to offer around the time of this technical pros-and-cons review, winds up as a slight con in our book, seeing that it settles for an underwhelming 1520 x 720 sharpness 
. In comparison, some of the best phablets around boast at least 1080p definitions, with a select few rocking ultra-high-end QHD-1440p interfaces.
This 2018 Vivo model also drops the ball on the storage front, offering no more than 32GB of native memory , which can at least be expanded by a maximum of 128GB. Its hardware specs, however, also include a 2GHz MediaTek Helio P22 eight-core processor clubbed with AI accelerated technology , which essentially means that it is compatible with more AI content than several of its mid-range rivals. By the way, do not forget to check out Phonerated's list of the best octa-core smartphones here. Also accompanying its CPU is a so-so (by 2018 standards) 3GB RAM.
The real highlights of the Vivo XI's mix of pros and cons, though, come in the form of its rear and front cameras. Its rear cam is a dual-lens setup consisting of a 16-megapixel primary lens and a 5-megapixel sub-lens for depth-of-field analysis , among others. It offers phase-detection laser focusing, a dedicated Portrait Mode, and AI-aided bokeh shooting.
Sitting right above its display is a 16-megapixel selfie camera rigged with a 5P lens and BLU's version of the 4-cell technology that combines 4 pixels into one sensor unit as a method of improving the overall image quality. It also comes with its own dedicated LED flash and it features Facemoji, allowing users to craft playful AR (augmented reality) emojis for their social media conversations.
Related: The Best Selfie phones 2024
A few other pros and cons up its sleeves include a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor coupled with an encrypted file management system, a 3000mAh battery that powers up through a 5V/2A quick charger, and 4G LTE network connectivity.
This relatively-heavy (It weighs 187 grams) Vivo edition is offered in Quick Silver and Midnight Black, topping it off as a large-screen phablet for mobile photography enthusiasts who do not want to go for a full-fledged premium-caliber Android just yet.
You Should Also Check These Out:
Full Menu
