Getting started: Vivo X90 Pro, a premium smartphone that tries to compromise

If Vivo is a smartphone heavyweight in China, the brand remains quite confidential in Europe. However, it has a fairly extensive catalog, and covers all price ranges in France. But it is with its X series, reserved for premium devices, that the manufacturer shows all its know-how in our regions.

The Vivo X60 Pro and X80 Pro had moreover convinced us. On paper, the Vivo X90 Pro has nothing to envy to recent very high-end smartphones. We were able to take it in hand.

A rather massive smartphone

Despite its dark leatherette coating, the Vivo X90 Pro does not go unnoticed. Its imposing dimensions (164.1 x 74.5 x 9.3 mm) and its 215 grams do not allow it to be forgotten too easily. But it is above all its large photo island that stands out, in particular by its very important relief, which can be annoying if you slip it into a little tight jeans.

The smartphone therefore cannot be used flat, but the protuberance is such that it remains stable, although slightly tilted. The general finishes are excellent and the device benefits, like its predecessor, from an IP68 sealing certification, attesting to its resistance to water and dust. The set seems very solid.

Clever concessions on the side of the screen?

Like last year, Vivo opted for a 6.78-inch Amoled panel, HDR10+ compatible. Careful observation, however, shows that it is not the same as on the X80 Pro. It occupies about 91% of the front face and displays 1260 x 2800 pixels. A lower definition than the previous model (1440 x 3200 pixels); the resolution is mechanically reduced from 517 to 453 dpi. Finally, this new screen is no longer compatible with LTPO 3 technology, which allows you to switch from a refresh rate of 1 to 120 Hz as needed. We must therefore be satisfied with a rate varying between 60 Hz, 90 Hz and 120 Hz.

The switch to a SoC from MediaTek also prevents it from taking advantage of the excellent fingerprint sensor under the screen of the X80 Pro, to which we had dedicated an article. We will therefore be satisfied with a classic version, certainly effective and reactive, but we would have really appreciated to find it here… and on other models.

This step back is surprising, but on a daily basis, the experience does not seem to be really compromised. The Vivo X80 Pro offered a display mode allowing you to take advantage of excellent values, and you will have to wait for the test to see if this model stands up to it.

An expected SoC at the turn

To power the set, Vivo has chosen the latest MediaTek Dimensity 9200 coupled with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. A promising chipset, which will however have a hard time facing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, whose latest results on the Galaxy S23 are impressive. The test will also be an opportunity to check whether the manufacturer has preferred to clamp its chip as on the X80 Pro, in order to limit heating.

Versatility in photography

The huge photo island offers a very solid configuration, which is becoming more popular in the high-end segment. We take advantage of a main sensor of the 1 inch type, 50 megapixels, with a lens opening at f / 1.8, an ultra wide-angle of 12 Mpx (f / 2.0) and an X2 telephoto lens 50 Mpx (f / 1.6) dedicated to portraits. The most attentive will notice that the periscopic module has disappeared.

We can expect good versatility in photography, despite a rather light optical magnification. We can’t wait to see what this large sensor can bring, especially for night shots. The first outdoor photos seemed convincing to us, but we will have to try to put it in more difficulty to compare it to the other tenors in its range.

The promise of greater autonomy?

This X90 Pro benefits from a 4870 mAh battery against 4700 mAh previously. An increase which, it is hoped, will have a positive impact on autonomy. This was the weak point of the X80 Pro, and Vivo says it fixed it. Switching to a lower definition could be a good choice, but above all it will be necessary to control the consumption of the Dimensity 9200.

The mobile is compatible with 120 W charging, and a charging block is included in the box. The firm promises to refuel in less than half an hour, which seems quite plausible and would make the X90 Pro one of the fastest devices in this exercise.

In view of this grip, we see that Vivo has advanced by making small compromises, especially on the screen. It would seem, however, that this has made it possible to relocate attention to the weak points of the previous version. But we will have to wait for the final verdict to be convinced.

The Vivo X90 Pro will be available from March 8 for €1,199. A high price, which places it in the face of fierce competition.