Written by Ankita Chakravarti on Twitter: Can a phone take the role of a camera? The discussion about whether smartphones can replace professional cameras rises every time a new camera-focused phone hits the market. Smartphones may undoubtedly duplicate the capabilities of DSLRs to some level, if not totally, even if they have a long way to go before they can completely replace professional cameras. After using the Vivo X90 Pro for a considerable length of time, I feel exactly the same. I'm starting to wonder if I still need to bring my Nikon DSLR on vacation.
When smartphones like the Vivo X90 Pro can function just as well, do I really need that big device? The Vivo X90 Pro is much more than simply a photography-centric phone; it's a sleek and practical gem that can lure a customer seeking the whole shebang. To the typical user, I would characterize it as a smartphone with great camera performance.
The Vivo X90 Pro significantly improves upon the renowned photography capabilities of the Vivo X series. Along with the somewhat less costly Vivo X90, this most recent addition to India's roster of camera-centric smartphones was officially unveiled today. We'll concentrate on the former in this assessment.
Although the Vivo X90 Pro's camera is its standout feature, it also has a potent set of internals. The smartphone includes a 4870mAh battery with 120W charging capabilities, an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 9200 CPU, and other features. So, does the Vivo X90 Pro have a chance to stand out in a world filled with Pixels, Galaxies, and iPhones? Let's read the review to find out.
X90 Pro design by Vivo
Although aesthetics are a matter of taste, I find the Vivo X90 Pro's design to be undoubtedly alluring. The design draws attention to the focal point, the camera, and the vegan leather finish on the rear is reminiscent of some mirrorless Fujifilm or Leica cameras' leather finishes.
All eyes are drawn to the round camera bump that is tucked behind the vegan leather back panel. The camera hump is large and may cause the phone to rotate when put on a flat surface, despite the fact that it is eye-catching. Users may also experience issues while putting the smartphone into their skin-tight pants pockets due to the large camera bump.
Right next to the cameras, there is a Zeiss T-coated glass finish logo emphasizing the collaboration between the two companies. The location of the logo is identical to that of Sony cameras if you are acquainted with those.
Vivo has added a glittery ring with the words "Xtreme imagination" on it below the camera module. Although some people might think that the shiny band detracts from the aesthetics of the back panel, I think it livens things up. The phone has a stylish design and a high-end feel. In actuality, the gadget may be used without the included silicone cover thanks to the excellent grip given by the vegan leather back panel. This is the first phone I've had that hasn't made me fearful of dropping them and breaking them open.
The Vivo X90 Pro has a curved display up front, which has become a hallmark of recent high-end flagship devices. The Vivo X90 Pro has a sleek look, but I found it to be heavier than I would have liked. Nevertheless, it wasn't too difficult to carry the phone around.
The power button and volume rockers are too near to one another on the right side of the phone. I frequently unintentionally touched the volume buttons when pushing the power button. The two buttons needed to be separated by a bit more room. Despite this tiny inconvenience, using an otherwise bulky smartphone with one hand is a snap.
Vivo X90 Pro's Display (screen)
The 6.78-inch AMOLED display on the Vivo X90 Pro is brilliant and has a resolution of 2800 x 1260, making for a wonderful viewing experience. Watching movies and other multimedia material on the display is perfect since it is HDR10+ certified, which means it can generate a larger variety of colors and contrasts. On the Vivo X90 Pro, I enjoyed watching a web series on my four-hour journey to Vietnam.
With 1300 nits of brightness, the display is fairly bright. The display is clearly visible even in direct sunlight because to its high brightness rate. However, because of the display's curved edges, it might be difficult to avoid inadvertent touches when playing games on the device.
The gadget is ideal for entertainment because of its vivid bezel-less display and two stereo speakers that deliver an immersive audio experience. The display is exceptionally fluid because to the 120Hz refresh rate, making it possible to navigate and interact with the operating system with ease.
Vivo X90 Pro battery life and performance
I can tell with confidence that the Vivo X90 Pro's performance is amazing after testing it. The Dimensity 9200, the newest flagship processor from MediaTek, drives it. Notably, the Vivo X90 Pro is the first smartphone in India to sport Dimensity's top-of-the-line 9200 CPU.
Daily use of the phone is quick and responsive. Any game may be played at its highest settings on the phone without the device overheating. I played Asphalt 9 on my phone for over 30 minutes straight without experiencing any latency or heating problems.
The battery % did, however, slightly decline after the lengthy game session. The phone barely slightly heated up when in continuous use of the camera and video mode for roughly 15 to 20 minutes. When touched, the phone became a bit warm.
Vivo chose a Mediatek CPU instead of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which has been utilized in all other flagship handsets. In terms of benchmarks, the Vivo X90 Pro performs a little worse than smartphones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. It received a single-core test score of 1685 and a multi-core score of 4111. The iQOO 11, the latest 8 Gen 2 phone I examined, received scores of 1,455 on the single-core test and 4,515 on the multi-core test. The performance was better, and the score was higher. However, in actual use, it might be challenging to distinguish between them.
Although it could easily last a day, the battery life is not as lengthy as other Snapdragon-powered devices, such as the iQOO 11. The smartphone's 4870mAh battery provides a day's worth of use. It is made up for by the fast-charging capabilities of the Vivo X90 Pro. With the provided wall adapter, it should take less than eight minutes to charge from zero to fifty percent thanks to the 120W FlashCharge and 50W wireless charging.
The phone's software interface is comparable to that of the Vivo phones I've examined in the past because FunTouch OS 13 is based on Android 13. The skin isn't terrible, and it has some helpful functions, but there is a lot of bloatware already on the device, which takes away from its premium appearance. I'm hoping Vivo will fix this in the next versions. The Vivo X90 Pro is a fantastic option for individuals looking for a high-performing device because it offers superb performance overall and rapid charging capabilities.
Vivo X90 camera quality
My fave aspect of the Vivo X90 Pro is the camera. I brought the camera on a trip to beautiful Vietnam and never once felt the need to bring my go-to phone, the iPhone 13.
The Vivo X90 Pro is equipped with cutting-edge capabilities that allow it to take pictures with excellent quality even in dim lighting. The phone has a ZEISS 1-inch primary camera with the biggest IMX989 sensor on the market.
According to the manufacturer, the phone also sports a 50MP portrait camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), a big IMX758 sensor, and a large aperture of f/1.6. A stabilization mechanism, a unique large-aperture lens, and 4-in-1 sensor technology support the camera. The manufacturer also asserts that the camera has intelligent OIS, which is more intelligent than the conventional OIS seen in other mid-range handsets.
The camera performance seems much better in practice than it does according to the fancy specs.
I've never seen a smartphone take portrait photos as well as the Vivo X90 Pro does. A shallow depth of field is captured by the 50-megapixel portrait camera's big IMX758 sensor, which effectively blurs the backdrop and isolates the subject from it. You can use the photo I took of two young boys posing in front of a lake as an illustration. The boys' clothing's colors seem brilliant thanks to the excellent lighting, while the background's green tones provide a wonderful, realistic bokeh effect. Regardless of the illumination, the camera sensor functions effectively. The portraits captured in low-light conditions are crisp and well-illuminated.
The specialized night mode of the Vivo X90 Pro is supplemented with the Zero Shutter Lag Motion Snapshot technology, which makes it the nightlife king. This indicates that there is no delay between pressing the button to snap a photo or to begin recording video and the camera actually doing so. When photographing swift-moving action, this is crucial since you don't want to miss the opportunity while you're waiting for the camera to react. The quick shutter speed is also very helpful when taking pictures in daylight. You may use the illustration of a lady rowing a boat as an example. Although she is moving, the camera makes it appear as though she has paused for the shot.
Aside from that, the photographs taken in night mode are crisp, well-exposed, and record a lot of information. If you zoom close on a photo after you take it, you can learn this.
The Vivo X90 Pro's low-light imaging skills are comparable, in my opinion. You may look at the photo of an old phone to check how well the camera works; I have taken some intriguing low-light images. The photographs don't look at all drab since the details are so wonderfully caught. Whatever the circumstance, the subject remains in focus on the camera.
The camera's macro capability is another feature that users love. Even when you approach the subject too closely, the camera remains steady, and as you get closer, a lovely bokeh effect is created. The backdrop is obscured, and the topic is accentuated. I didn't have to wait long to get the picture of the fly perched on the leaf. Take a look at how well the camera captured the blue and black tones on the fly's back. The Vivo X90 Pro deserves praise for its ability to control both shutter speed and focus simultaneously.
Every smartphone does a good job with daytime photos, and the Vivo X90 Pro is no exception. Although the visuals were clear and detailed, there were occasions when the hues lacked impact. That is not a huge problem, though.
Additionally, the phone has an astrophotography mode that can record moon images like to those from the Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, I thought the moon photos captured with the Vivo X90 Pro were more authentic and weren't unduly edited. The Vivo X90 Pro only features a 40X zoom, compared to the 100X space zoom of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. To be honest, I don't think this is a big deal as long as the pictures are clear and not blurry.
The Vivo X90 Pro's front camera works admirably as well. However, the default portrait mode is always activated when you open the front camera, which might be a bother to alter every time. Vivo should have given customers the option to choose their favorite mode.
The Vivo X90 Pro's camera performance is outstanding all over and can hold its own against some of the best smartphones currently available.
Review of the Vivo X90 Pro: Is it worth it?
For individuals who place a high value on elegant design and camera capability, the Vivo X90 Pro is a great smartphone. The camera app has a number of settings and filters that may add drama to your photos. Even a portfolio can be captured in its RAW mode. The phone operates well in daily use, with a battery life that may last a day with moderate usage, even if the camera is the device's outstanding feature. Additionally, the 120W rapid charging capability fully recharges the battery in less than 8 minutes, solving 50% of potential issues.
The phone has a high-end design, however, the camera bump could be problematic. As with earlier released Vivo phones, the ecosystem still has the bloatware. The 12GB RAM and 256GB edition of the Vivo X90 Pro cost Rs 84,999, which is more expensive than average. Even if the price is reasonable, a little bit lower pricing would make the smartphone even more appealing.
I had a wonderful overall experience with the Vivo X90 Pro, especially while using its camera in stunning Vietnam. It's an excellent tool for photographers wishing to advance their abilities since, if you haven't already, it will inspire you to discover your passion for the art.