Vivo X90 Pro Review: 'Xtreme Imagination' In An AboveAverage Phone
This story is part of Samsung Event , CNET's roundup of news, tips, and advice on Samsung's most popular products.
Vivo's latest line of flagship phones came after the company's biggest Android-based competitor. The Chinese phone maker unveiled the new X90 and X90 Pro on Friday, just days after the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S23 . The Vivo X90 Pro comes with a 120W charger and a 1-inch Sony IMX 989 main camera sensor.
I had the opportunity to use the Vivo X90 Pro for almost a week. Among other features, I tested the camera, battery life, and performance. The camera offers a variety of shots with good sharpness day and night. Photos have incredible depth of field.
However, some of the images weren't as vivid as I'd hoped, which is surprising considering the phone has a 1-inch sensor. Larger sensors are designed to let in more light and are therefore designed to produce brighter and sharper images. However, as we know from the Sony Xperia Pro-I and Xiaomi 12S Ultra , the 1-inch camera sensor isn't that big. But it's more about the phone's camera.
I like it
- fast charging
- Battery life
- Solid performance
I do not like it
- excess brand
- branded bar
- virus
Despite all the hype Vivo has created around the camera, my favorite feature is the fast charging thanks to the included 120W charger. I love the ease of fully charging my phone in half an hour. The included fast charger sets this phone apart from Samsung and Apple phones, which have discontinued chargers that come with their phones. Not only does Vivo provide a charger in the box, but it also regenerates dead batteries very effectively.
In addition to the camera and battery, the Vivo X90 Pro has all the hallmarks of a high-end flagship of 2023. It has a 6.78-inch AMOLED display, a triple camera and two 50-megapixel cameras, a large battery and fast charging 120 megapixels. The Xiaomi 12T Pro also has 120W fast charging, which is my favorite feature on this phone, despite having a 200MP camera.
Note that the Vivo X90 Pro is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 9200 chip. This is different from the latest Samsung Galaxy S23 line of phones which are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 . It also has an IP64 water and dust rating, which means it's completely dustproof, but only against splashing water. I don't like wearing this device in the rain or in the pool. Please note that this is a lower rating than the IP68 waterproof rating of the Samsung phone.
Pricing information is not currently available, but an international release of the X90 series is planned for parts of Europe and Asia. A US release is not planned. For reference, last year's Vivo X80 Pro cost £1,199 (about $1,460, AU$2,085) while the new Galaxy S23 Plus costs £1,049.
Amazing back design of Vivo X90 Pro
For a phone from 2023, the X90 Pro's design on the front looks relatively conventional. The rectangular display has curved edges and a punch-hole cutout in the center that houses the selfie camera. But flip it over and you'll see a narrow strip across the width of the frame (under the camera module).
No, it's not the camera bezel like on the Google Pixel 7 line, it's just a flat bar that says "Extreme Fantasy" running across the back of the phone. To be honest, it's an odd choice that detracts from the overall sleek design of the phone. Above this enigmatic panel is a circular triple-lens camera bulge. There's also a bold Vivo logo on the bottom, which I'm not particularly keen on, but I can see why it's there.
The Vivo X90 Pro camera is equipped with a Zeiss lens.
Vivo is promoting this phone as a professional photography tool in your pocket by developing a partnership with Zeiss, a 176-year-old company considered a pioneer in optical photography. The X90 Pro has three cameras: a 50MP main camera, a 50MP portrait camera and a 12MP wide-angle lens. Vivo even has the famous Zeiss T-Star coating on the lens. The only other phone currently sold with this coverage is Sony's Xperia line.
Photos from the phone look respectable. I love how portrait photos turn out with dramatic bokeh. However, as I mentioned earlier, some of the photos came out darker than I expected given the size of the sensor. You can see the camera in action below.
Vivo X90 Pro battery
The X90 Pro is equipped with a 4780mAh battery that can be charged with the included 120W charger or the 50W wireless charger (sold separately). Vivo claimed that the X90 Pro can be fully charged in 29 minutes, and I can confirm that this is true based on the fact that I charged the device twice from a dead battery (in balanced mode). That beats the charging time of the supposedly more expensive Galaxy S23 Ultra , which charges its slightly larger battery to 91% in 30 minutes.
According to Vivo, the Vivo X90 offers two charging modes: the aforementioned fast charging and balanced mode, which is the default setting and is ideal for everyday charging. In fast mode, the phone should charge up to 50% in 8 minutes and 10 seconds. I will save this feature for critical situations when I need to recharge a discharged phone as quickly as possible.
In my experience, the battery lasts a long time and is not subject to easy discharges. I ran CNET's standard battery life test, in which I streamed live video, made video calls, browsed social media, played mobile games, and listened to music on YouTube, all for 45 minutes at 50% brightness. . During this time, battery life has increased from 96% to 87%, indicating good battery life.
Vivo X90 Pro processor from MediaTek
Vivo has replaced the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor used in last year's Vivo X80 series with TSMC's MediaTek Dimension 9200 chip. In comparison, the Galaxy S23 features an optimized version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the same chip that Vivo put in its flagship Vivo X90 Pro plus phone.
The Dimension 9200 should provide more efficient power consumption and faster processing. It is supported by 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal memory. In my experience, the X90 Pro runs smoothly and lag-free when streaming YouTube videos, making video calls, or playing mobile games. You can see how it compares to select iPhone 14 and Galaxy S23 models in our benchmark test below.
What has Vivo changed in the X90 Pro?
Vivo has changed many features compared to last year's Vivo X80 Pro. In addition to replacing the Qualcomm chip with Mediatek, Vivo ditched the ultrasonic fingerprint reader, camera and reduced screen resolution. The under-display ultrasonic fingerprint reader (3D Sonic Max), which has a large active area and requires only one touch to set up, sets the X80 Pro apart from many flagship Android devices, so the sale was disappointing. . The X90 Pro has an optical in-display fingerprint reader that works well.
Should I buy the Vivo X90 Pro?
The Vivo X90 Pro is a solid Android phone. You can't go wrong with its solid camera, great performance, and super-fast charging. But since we don't have an international price yet, it's hard to say whether it will be a good value buy. The Vivo X90 Pro competes directly with the Galaxy S23. It has faster charging than most, if not all, of its Android rivals, and also includes a new charging pad not found in the Galaxy S23 series. But the Galaxy S23 series has a higher IP rating and a telephoto lens that the Vivo X90 pro doesn't have. It really depends on your personal needs.
How we tested the phone
Every phone tested by CNET's review team has actually been used in the real world. We tested the phone's features, played games and took pictures. We tested the display to make sure it's bright, clear and vibrant. We analyze the design and construction to determine if it has an IP rating. We achieved peak processor performance using both standard benchmarking tools like GeekBench and 3DMark, as well as our individual observations of user interface navigation, HD video recording, and high-refresh rate gaming.
All cameras have been tested in a variety of environments, from bright sunlight to dark indoor scenes. We tested special features like night mode and portrait mode and compared our results to competing phones at similar prices. We also tested the battery life by using it every day and running a series of battery drain tests. We're looking at additional features like 5G support, satellite connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus support, fast charging, a foldable display and others that you might find useful. And of course, we've compared it all to the price to give you an idea of whether this phone, regardless of the price, really is a good value.
Vivo X90 Pro Specifications
| | VivoX90Pro |
|---|---|
| Screen size, resolution, brightness | 6.78" AMOLED; 1260x2800 pixels (HD Plus) |
| Pixel density | 388 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.46 x 2.93 x 0.37 inches |
| Dimensions (mm) | 164.07 x 74.53 x 9.34 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 214.85 g (7.58 oz) |
| mobile software | Android 13 |
| cAMERA | 50 megapixels (main), 50 megapixels (vertical), 12 megapixels (wide) |
| Front camera | 32 megapixels |
| Video capture | 4K |
| CPU | Mediatek 9200 dimensions |
| RAM/Storage | 12 GB + 256 GB |
| Expandable storage space | No. |
| Battery/charge speed | Dual cell 4870mAh (120W wired charging) |
| Fingerprint sensor | on the screen |
| connective | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | No. |
| FEATURES | 5G, IP64 rating, 120W fast charging |
| PRICE | has been cleared |
