Vivo X90 Pro Review: 'Xtreme Imagination' in an Above-Average Phone
We tested the X90 Pro to see if Vivo's battery charge claim checks out. Spoiler: It did.
Vivo's newest flagship phone line arrived on the heels of the company's biggest Android rival. The Chinese phone maker announced the new X90 and X90 Pro on Friday, just days after Samsung's Galaxy S23 launch. The Vivo X90 Pro's standout features are its 120-watt charger and the 1-inch Sony IMX 989 main camera sensor.
I had a chance to use the Vivo X90 Pro for nearly a week. I tested the camera, battery life and performance, among other features. The camera serves up a versatile range of shots with good clarity during the day and night. Photos have a lovely depth of field.
Some images didn't turn out as bright as I'd expected, however, which was a surprise since this phone is equipped with a 1-inch sensor. Larger sensors are designed to allow more light in, and therefore are meant to allow for the production of brighter, clearer images. And yet, as we know from the Sony Xperia Pro-I and Xiaomi 12S Ultra, a 1-inch camera sensor isn't actually an inch big. But it is on the larger size for a phone camera.
For all the hype Vivo created around the camera, my favorite feature was fast charging, thanks to the 120-watt charger included in the box. I loved the convenience of being able to charge my phone fully in half an hour. A bundled fast charger distinguishes this phone from those made by Samsung and Apple, both of which have stopped including chargers in the box with their phones. Not only does Vivo offer a bundled charger, but that charger is impressively efficient when revitalizing a dead battery.
Apart from the camera and battery, the Vivo X90 Pro has all the hallmark features of a high-end flagship in 2023. There's a 6.78-inch AMOLED display, three cameras headlined by two 50-megapixel cameras, a large battery and zippy 120-watt charging. Xiaomi's 12T Pro has 120-watt fast charging too -- it was my favorite feature on that phone, despite its 200-megapixel camera.
It's worth pointing out that the Vivo X90 Pro runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 9200 chip. That's a divergence from Samsung's latest lineup of Galaxy S23 phones, which run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. It also has an IP64 rating for water- and dust-resistance, which means it's protected fully from dust, but only from sprays of water. I wouldn't be comfortable carrying this device around in the rain or by the poolside. Take note, this is a lower rating than the IP68 rating on Samsung's phones, which can withstand being submerged under water.
Pricing information isn't available at this time, but expect an international release in parts of Europe and Asia for the X90 series. A US release isn't planned. For reference, last year's Vivo X80 Pro cost £1,199 (which converts roughly to $1,460, AU$2,085) and the new Galaxy S23 Plus costs £1,049.
The Vivo X90 Pro's odd design on the back
For a phone in 2023, the X90 Pro's design appears relatively ordinary from the front. The rectangular display has curved edges and a punch-hole cutout in the center housing the selfie camera. But flip it over, and you'll see a narrow bar running through the width of the chassis (below the camera module).
No, it's not a camera bar as seen on Google's Pixel 7 lineup, it's simply a flat bar emblazoned with the words "Xtreme Imagination" running across the rear of the phone. Frankly, it makes for a bizarre choice that undermines the overall sleek design of the phone. Above this perplexing bar, is the circular camera bump housing three lenses. There's also bold Vivo branding at the bottom, which I don't particularly take to but I can understand why it's there.
The Vivo X90 Pro's cameras have Zeiss lenses
Vivo touts this phone as a piece of pro photography equipment in your pocket, flexing its camera partnership with Zeiss, a 176-year-old company considered a pioneer in optical photography. There are three cameras on the X90 Pro: a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel portrait camera and a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens. The Vivo even has Zeiss' famous T-star coating on the lenses. The only other phones currently sold with the coating are from Sony Xperia's lines.
Photos from the phone look respectable. I love how portrait photos come out with a dramatic bokeh effect. However, as I said earlier, some photos turned out to be more shadowy than I'd expected, given the sensor size. You can see the cameras in action below.
2023-02-15 19:39:38
