DOOGEE V40 Pro Review – “A mobile gaming powerhouse”

• The DOOGEE V40 Pro lets you run graphics heavy games on the highest settings without lag
• It's 6.78 inch screen makes it easy to take in every detail
• A long lasting battery lets you game for hours on end

When I received the DOOGEE V40 Pro to review, I was a bit skeptical. Partially as I was completely unfamiliar with the manufacturer. However, I've been pleasantly surprised by this beast of a smartphone. With its large screen, 16 GB of RAM, and D7300 Octa-Core Processor, the V40 Pro was made for hardcore mobile gaming. 

DOOGEE is a rugged phone developer that aims to offer a fulfilling user experience by continuing to innovate and improve its products. The V series name was inspired by Vitcory, and previous installations include the V30 and Vmax. The DOOGEE V40 series includes the V40 and V40 Pro.

Unboxing the DOOGEE V40 Pro

The V40 Pro comes in a sleek-looking, glossy black cardboard box with a metallic rose gold rectangle covering a large area with an eye-drawing letter V inside it. Upon first unboxing the V40 Pro, you'll notice that it's considerably larger than your typical smartphone. My Samsung Galaxy S22 looks puny beside it. 

The sleek, dark exterior, combined with its rugged, armored design, makes you feel powerful just holding it. It boasts a 6.78 inch screen with a TF/SIM card slot, a button to activate the miniature screen on the left edge of the device, and traditional volume and power buttons on the right. A speaker resides on each side of the charging port on the bottom of the phone.

There are four camera lenses in a circle on the back of the phone, for the devices four cameras. These include a 200 MP main camera, a 20MP night vision camera, an 8MP long focus, and an 8MP Ultra-wide angel. Farther down, a trapezoid-shaped mini screen provides you with information like the time, date, and battery level. You can turn on this mini-screen by tapping the button below the SIM card slot.

After removing the device from the box, you'll discover a black USB C and a wall charger block. While the wall charger block does not fit US plugs, you can easily charge the device if you have a USB-C wall outlet. Remove the plastic encasing the cord and plug, and you’ll find a user manual and screen protector.

The V40 Pro is an Impressive Device

The DOOGEE V40 Pro can be unlocked via fingerprint or facial recognition or by entering your passcode. If your current surroundings are dim, the screen will fill with light in an attempt to brighten your face for facial recognition, and in my experience, this almost always worked.

Additionally, the V40 Pro has an impressive battery life. Thanks to the device's large 8680 mAh battery, I only had to charge it twice in one week, and both times were after hours of gaming and streaming movies. Further, it charges incredibly fast, so you will only need to leave it plugged in for a short time.

Don’t Block the Speakers

The device’s least impressive aspect is the sound quality. However, that's not to say it isn't good. Music and dialogue come through strong, sounding crisp and clean. I also made several phone calls using the device and found that I was easily able to hear and be heard.

However, it’s very easy when playing in landscape mode to accidentally muffle the speakers with your fingers or palm.Just be sure to leave a bit of space between the edge of the device and your hand, and you'll be able to hear everything clearly. While the speaker placement could be better, it’s not much of a hassle and isn’t an issue at all when using portrait mode.

The DOOGEE V40 Pro is Made for Gaming

Gaming on the V40 Pro is an absolute dream. Everything from Star Wars KOTOR II to Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis ran flawlessly. With 16GB RAM, it can easily run titles like Love and Deep Space and Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat at their highest graphic settings. This smartphone utilizes Wi-Fi 6 for fast and uninterrupted gaming. I never had any lag or low frame rates when gaming on Roblox. 

Additionally, the large screen makes it easy to spot every detail and gives you ample space for moving virtual joysticks while maintaining a clear view of whatever game you’re playing. It also makes it easier to press the correct button, especially in games like Neverwinter Nights, in which the buttons feel particularly cramped. 

After playing Love and Deep Space for about an hour I noticed a small area on the back of the phone near the camera lenses began to warm up. However, I continued to play for quite a while, and the spot never heated up beyond a mild warmth.

Comparing the V40 vs V40 Pro

The V40 and V40 Pro are relatively similar, with the Pro having 16GB RAM (up to 36GB) compared to the V40's 12(Up to 32GB). The V40 lacks a rear screen and has a 108MP in comparison to the Pro’s 200Mp camera. It also doesn’t include the 8MP long focus camera with 50x digital zoom. While the rear screen is cool, unless you plan to use your phone for photography, you’re probably fine sticking with the V40, which retails for $499. However, for those who like a little extra flair, the V40 Pro is the way to go.

DOOGEE V40 Pro: For Those Who Dare to Play

The DOOGEE V40 series slogan is “For those who dare to play,” and honestly, it’s pretty accurate. The V40 Pro is an excellent phone for Android gaming that exceeded my expectations at nearly every turn. The large 2.4k resolution screen takes your mobile gaming sessions to the next level, allowing you to see every detail and negating the issue of cramped together buttons. 

While I’m not entirely thrilled with the speaker placement, the device’s audio is crisp. It has an exceptionally long-lasting battery that means you can game for hours without interruption. Between the device's 512 GB ROM ability to insert a T-Flash card of up to 2TB, you'll always have space for new games. Most importantly, the DOOGEE V40 Pro performed perfectly with every game I threw at it, and at only $599.99, it honestly feels like a steal. 

If you’re interested in the V40 Pro, you can purchase it on Amazon beginning November 18th. Use promo code W8DXB74O to get 20% off. The V40 launches on 11/25 and is available for preorder via the DOOGEE website. You can use code KOL40 to get $80 off and an extended 1-year warranty.