Vivo X90 Pro Review: WellBalanced With A Few Quirks

© Judison Tan/SlashGear VIVO X90 Pro

Publisher Rating: 7/10

The Android-side smartphone market is so crowded with so many brands and models (at least outside of the US) that your average user can't figure out what to buy when the time comes. Many offer similar specifications and features, and some are similar, sometimes showing common features that cross company lines. Certainly, brands are starting to create their identity through a distinct design language or a core function that spans generations. From time to time you come across something that stands out from the rest through visual or strong branding; And then there are all these labels and logos that want to send the message that these smartphones are endorsed by a more popular brand.

Thanks to its eye-catching design anyway, the Vivo X90 Pro easily falls into that bucket, at least when you put it on your back. Whether you find it attractive or not is debatable, but at least it will make you think long enough to take a closer look. The list is just like any other, with a few highlights that will make avid photographers of all skill levels think. But is it just looks or does it deliver what all the labels promise? Let's take a look at Vivo's new international flagship to see if it has everything, especially with a big name in the world of photography like Carl Zeiss.

Vivo provided us with the Vivo X90 Pro for the purpose of this review.

Design and view

© Ewdison So/SlashGear VIVO X90 Pro screen

Like the Vivo X80 Pro before it, the X90 Pro has a large circular camera and is certainly not shocking by today's standards. With such a large bezel, you might think that the phone would vibrate when placed on the table, but thankfully the bezels are wide enough to prevent this from happening.

Unlike the usual glass surface of most high-end phones, Vivo has chosen to use vegan leather to cover the back of the X90 Pro. Whether this is really as "vegan" or somewhat durable is debatable, but there's no question that the phone feels more premium and is textured for a more comfortable grip. Even when the large circle takes up the back third of the phone, this material alone can elevate the Vivo X90 Pro to a superior design. Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, Vivo's designers decided to place a metal plate on the width of the phone below the camera island. This strip has no use other than the logo area and only serves to spoil the good looks of the phone.

The 6.78-inch AMOLED display looks just as you'd expect, with curved sides that match the phone's metal body. The colors are rich and vibrant, and while it's not the brightest panel on the market, it does the job well. Curved edges can seem like a relic from a time when such design cues distinguished high-end phones. Nowadays, even the most expensive phones are flat, which is why the Vivo X90 Pro seems a little outdated in this regard.

Performance and battery

© Ewdison So/SlashGear Test VIVO X90 Pro

Vivo has decided to use the new MediaTek Dimensity 9200 5G chipset in its global flagship. The chip maker has come a long way and can match Qualcomm's Snapdragon counterparts. While the benchmark lags slightly, the differences are minimal. In real-world tests, the Dimensity 9200 can handle just about anything you throw at it, and the review unit's 12GB of RAM ensures that applications don't pause too often.

Combined with a 120Hz color display, the X90 Pro is a true portable entertainment computer. The stereo speakers provide enough volume and sound quality that you don't need to plug in headphones except for privacy. The only caveat is that the 2800 x 1260 screen resolution means you can only enjoy 1080p original content, which is the standard for any gaming and streaming standard. Overall, Vivo X90 Pro offers a good and enjoyable experience with any type of content.

The phone's compact weight makes it very light, but it packs a large 4870mAh battery. With all battery upgrade options turned on, the X90 Pro can last more than a day on a single charge. The phone supports lightning-fast 120W charging speed and can go from zero to full in 30 minutes. There is an even faster charging mode that charges the phone up to 50% in 8 minutes.

The Vivo X90 Pro isn't alone in many of these features, but it does have a few advantages that make it stand out. For example, it does not affect the longevity of the phone, it offers an amazing IP68 dust and water resistance.

Cameras

© Audison then/SlashGear VIVO X90 Pro cameras

With its camera flash and ubiquitous branding, the X90 Pro's raison d'être is its camera lineup. Not only does it have its own V2 image chip, but it also collaborates with camera expert ZEISS for the entire photography process.

On the hardware side, it's a 50MP Sony IMX989 camera with a large 1-inch sensor covered by ZEISS optics and a ZEISS T* coating. With such a long list of features and titles, it's no wonder you get sharp detailed images every time you press the shutter button. The colors are pleasant and natural, although you may get different results whether you activate the ZEISS Natural Color mode or not. The size of the sensor allows for less than perfect lighting, and the night mode really lets combinations of the sensor, ISP and ZEISS settings shine.

Judison Allora / SlashGear

The 50-megapixel Sony IMX758 "vertical" camera is no less impressive, with a 50mm focal length for great bokeh effects. This camera offers DSLR-like output quality, which helps the X90 Pro stand out from its competitors. Unfortunately, it's the phone's telephoto lens that's only capable of 2x optical zoom. Anything outside of that requires a reduction in quality. The 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, which doubles as a macro shooter, isn't impressive in every way.

Judison Allora / SlashGear

While the individual performance of the two 50MP cameras is excellent, some may experience inconsistencies when switching between them despite having the same number of pixels. Details are very smooth, and you may notice color shift when going from wide angle to telephoto, especially on cloudy days due to different sensors. Despite the camera's large blur, there's really only room for a 1-inch sensor on the block.

User experience

© Ewdison So/SlashGear OS VIVO X90 Pro Funtouch

Vivo X90 Pro runs Funtouch OS 13 international Android operating system. Fortunately, it is already based on Android 13 so there is no need to guess when it will get the new version. Of course, Android 14 is on the way, so the next question is when this flagship will receive this update in early 2023. Unfortunately, Vivo doesn't have much experience with updates, so the only guarantee is that the X90 Pro will get at least this update and maybe another one.

The Funtouch operating system remains one of the most popular Android apps and is perfect for fans of the brand. You can make many changes to customize the look of your phone, but the least you can do without much effort is to match the color scheme common to all Android devices with the current wallpaper colors. 13 Vivo has added a lot of features to the camera app, from filters to video editing.

Unfortunately, Funtouch OS is still known for its collection of applications that you may never want, otherwise known as viruses. At least you have the option to hide or even remove some of these pre-installed apps, but it still gives you a good chance when you boot your phone for the first time. It's not a complete breakthrough these days, but it's still one of those rough edges that definitely sets these brands apart.

Final thoughts

© Ewdison/SlashGear VIVO X90 Pro back cover

The Vivo X90 Pro is a well-balanced phone with a modern design that delivers impressive performance and takes stunning photos in most cases. The hardware can handle browsing, streaming and gaming effortlessly, and the 50MP wide and fixed cameras are perfect for what's created. The ZEISS label is well-deserved, although a slight color mismatch may turn off more experienced mobile photographers. The vegan leather definitely helps protect the phone in your hand, but that thin metal completely ruins the aesthetic for no reason. There are also some paperbacks, such as an outdated screen design and a display that doesn't work up to the 2K or 1440p mark, neither of which is a big deal for most buyers.

While the phone is traditionally a strong competitor to Samsung and Apple, its availability and price may hurt its chances. Unlike the more expensive X90 Pro+, however, it's only available worldwide in select markets. The price is also slightly lower, around $1,000 or so depending on the region. For now, you might have a better choice for photography like the Google Pixel, or a cheaper option for powerful hardware like some gaming phones. However, getting both in one phone can be difficult, especially in a well-packaged body, and this is where the Vivo X90 Pro really shines.

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