1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Realme 8 | vivo V30 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-03-25 | 2024-03-04 | vivo V30 is a much newer phone with potentially updated software and hardware. |
| Foldable | Standard | Standard | Both are standard phones, no folding capabilities. |
| Dimensions | 160.6 × 73.9 × 8 mm | 164.4 × 75.1 × 7.5 mm | vivo V30 is slightly taller and wider but thinner. Realme 8 might feel slightly more compact. |
| Weight | 177g | 186g | Realme 8 is slightly lighter, potentially more comfortable for longer use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.4" | 6.78" | vivo V30 has a noticeably larger display, better for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1260x2800 | vivo V30 offers a sharper image due to higher pixel density. |
| PPI | 411 | 453 | vivo V30 provides a slightly clearer display, with finer details visible. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both have excellent contrast and vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | vivo V30 offers smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1000 nits | 0 nits | Realme 8 provides much better outdoor visibility under bright sunlight. The brightness for the Vivo V30 is missing from the spec, so I will assume it to be significantly lower than the Realme 8's 1000 nits. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G95 (12 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4 nm) | vivo V30 has a much more powerful and efficient chip, leading to better performance and battery life. |
| Antutu Score | 409,874 | 866,863 | vivo V30 has significantly faster performance, suitable for demanding games and multitasking. |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 720 | vivo V30 has a more powerful GPU, providing better graphics performance. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both should offer comparable battery life, though the newer chipset of the V30 might improve efficiency. |
| Charging | 30W | 80W | vivo V30 charges much faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable | Standard for both phones. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.79, 1/2", 0.7µm | 50MP, f/1.88, 1/1.55", 1.0µm | Realme 8 has a higher megapixel count, but vivo V30 has a larger sensor and larger pixels, potentially better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.45, 1/3.13", 1.0µm | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | vivo V30 has a higher megapixel count and wider aperture for better selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.25 | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | vivo V30 provides much higher resolution and a brighter aperture for wide-angle photos. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Realme 8 has a dedicated macro lens while the V30 doesn't. |
| Black & White | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Realme 8 has a dedicated B&W lens while the V30 doesn't. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | Both offer 4K video, but Realme 8 doesn't have electronic stabilization enabled. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera, Ultra stable video | Dual camera, OIS, PDAF, RAW | vivo V30 has Optical Image Stabilization for smoother videos. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 14 | vivo V30 has a newer operating system version with potentially improved features, security and access to latest applications. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5, Dual band | Wi-Fi 6 | vivo V30 supports newer Wi-Fi standards for faster speeds. Realme 8 additionally supports: Dual band, Wi-Fi MiMO |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE | 5.4 | vivo V30 has a newer Bluetooth version. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | vivo V30 supports more satellite systems, potentially more accurate location data. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both support Dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64GB or 128GB | 128GB, 256GB or 512GB | vivo V30 has more options for storage and goes up to 512GB. |
| RAM | 4GB, 6GB or 8GB | 8GB or 12GB | vivo V30 has more RAM, better for multitasking and future-proofing. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio | Basic audio features | Realme 8 offers higher quality audio playback. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both have basic fingerprint sensors for biometric authentication. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Screen protection is unknown for both phones. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Realme 8 features a Magnetometer. vivo V30 features a Compass. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Realme 8 Advantages:
- Higher Brightness Display: With 1000 nits, it offers better outdoor visibility compared to the vivo V30 with unknown brightness, which I will assume to be lower.
- Dedicated Macro and B&W Lenses: Offers more camera versatility for niche photography.
- Hi-Res Audio: Provides a better audio experience for audiophiles.
- Magnetometer: Includes a magnetometer, which is useful for applications needing magnetic field measurement.
vivo V30 Advantages:
- Newer and More Powerful Chipset: Offers much better performance, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming capabilities, also more power efficient.
- Significantly Higher Benchmark Score: The Antutu score demonstrates the substantial performance difference in favor of the V30.
- Higher Refresh Rate Display: 120Hz screen offers a much smoother user experience.
- Larger, Higher Resolution Display: Provides a better viewing experience for media consumption.
- Faster Charging: 80W charging reduces charging times significantly.
- Better Main and Selfie Cameras: Larger sensor and aperture mean potentially better low-light performance and sharper selfies.
- Better Wide-Angle Lens: Offers a more usable wide-angle camera with significantly higher resolution.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): Improves video quality and low-light photos by reducing blur.
- Newer Operating System: Offers the latest features, security updates, and app compatibility.
- Newer Bluetooth Standard: Better connectivity with compatible peripherals
- Larger RAM: For smoother multi-tasking
- More Internal Storage Options: Offers more storage options up to 512 GB.
Trade-offs:
- Realme 8 sacrifices performance and several modern features for a brighter screen, macro camera, B&W lens, magnetometer and Hi-Res Audio.
- vivo V30 sacrifices Macro and B&W lenses, the Magnetometer, Hi-Res Audio and potentially outdoor screen visibility (if its brightness is lower than that of Realme 8), for far better performance, a superior display, and better cameras and overall better features.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Realme 8 Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those who prioritize a lower price point over top-tier performance.
- Outdoor Users: Users that spend a lot of time outdoors in bright sunlight and need a bright display to see their phone properly.
- Macro Photographers: Users who want a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography and a B&W lens for artistic shots.
- Audio Enthusiasts: Users who want to experience higher-quality audio via headphones or speakers.
Realme 8 Use Cases:
- Casual social media browsing.
- Basic mobile gaming.
- Outdoor photography in bright sunlight.
- Listening to music on headphones or external speakers.
vivo V30 Ideal User:
- Performance-Oriented Users: Gamers and heavy multitaskers who need a powerful device.
- Media Consumers: Users who enjoy watching videos and movies on their phone.
- Mobile Photographers: Users that value high-quality photos and video, especially in low-light conditions.
- Users that appreciate new features: Users who want the latest Android OS and cutting-edge tech on their phones
vivo V30 Use Cases:
- Demanding mobile gaming.
- High-quality photography and videography.
- Smooth multitasking with multiple apps open.
- Watching videos and movies with excellent display quality.
- Use of the latest mobile software and apps.
Price-to-Value:
- The vivo V30 offers a significantly better performance and modern features for what is probably a higher price point.
- The Realme 8 will be a more budget-friendly option but might not be able to keep up with future requirements, with an older chip and less RAM.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is display brightness for outdoor use? If outdoor visibility is critical, the Realme 8's brighter screen may be preferred.
- How important is performance and fast charging? If you are a gamer or heavy multitasker, the V30 is significantly better.
- How important is a good camera and the latest OS? If you care about image quality and want the newest Android features, the V30 is the better choice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget buyer needing a reliable daily driver. If budget is the primary concern, and your main usage is light social media and casual use, the Realme 8 may be adequate, but the difference is so big that you would be better off saving more money and buying the V30.
- Scenario 2: User who values performance, gaming and photography. The V30 is the clear winner in this scenario, with a much more powerful chipset, higher refresh rate, OIS, better cameras and fast charging.
- Scenario 3: Outdoors user needing a bright display and some versatility. The Realme 8 has a big advantage in screen brightness, making it more visible outdoors and includes dedicated lenses and Hi-Res Audio, which may outweigh the V30's other benefits if that's important to you.
What I would choose and why!
I would choose the vivo V30. While the Realme 8 has a brighter display and some niche camera features, the performance difference is too significant to ignore. The V30 offers a much smoother experience with its 120Hz display, significantly faster performance, far better cameras with OIS, and quicker charging. The newer operating system and more RAM also make it a more future-proof device. Unless I had an extreme need for the Realme 8's specific feature set (which is the brighter display, Macro and B&W lenses and Hi-Res audio) , the vivo V30 is the much better overall smartphone.
