Last June 2022, vivo launched their top contender in the flagship space — the vivo X80 Pro. Continuing its strong partnership with Zeiss, vivo is plotting its path to providing an even more innovative camera technology that is designed to let you ‘Own Your Masterpiece.’ Nothing is more enticing than achieving professional-grade images in such a compact and versatile device. However, is it as good as they say? And does it excel in other facets to rise above the flagship race?
Design and build
If minimalist smartphone designs appeal to you the most, then the vivo X80 Pro must be on your radar as its one and only colorway — Cosmic Black — possesses the elegance you might be looking for! Even better, built in Fluorite AG Glass, it leaves you with a silky smooth back surface that’s satisfying to touch, while eliminating everyone’s pet peeve — fingerprint smudges.
However, its camera setup might be a hit or miss for some. Featuring a large square plate encompassing the round camera module, it certainly looks innovative and premium but unconventional. In contrast to the rest of the back cover, this area is a magnet for smudges.
As expected of a flagship phone, it’s hefty at 219g and is relatively thick at 9.10mm. That said, sustained hours of internet browsing might not be as comfortable as you’d hope for.
Located on the right side of the phone are the volume and power buttons. While at the bottom you’ll find the Type-C USB port, speakers, and dual SIM card tray. Worth noting is the unique faux leather phone case and protective film the smartphone already came with; the former suits the overall aesthetics.
Display
Sporting a 6.78-inch WQHD+ 120Hz AMOLED screen display, users can indulge themselves in a visual feast as they watch their favorite series on Netflix or even just browse through social media. The fusion of the popping colors and crisp details make the screen very lively. Interacting with the phone is seamless and responsive as well. Its curved edges reinforce an immersive experience to keep you in the zone, and at the same time, offer a comfortable grip for users. Meanwhile, unlocking the phone was a breeze given the large ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. Finally, viewing your screen outdoors will remain effortless as it packs up to 1500nits of brightness.
Camera
As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” so the best way to tell your story is by using the right tools. Prices of camera equipment can cost a fortune, so we keep a lookout for the next best thing. We want to let our creative juices flow without being hampered by the steep prices. The technology behind the Zeiss Professional Imaging is set to elevate mobile photography, making it possible to capture professional-grade photos in just a few taps.
My brief experience playing around with the camera of vivo X80 Pro proved that you can recreate the mundane and transform it into something dramatic and extraordinary. As mentioned earlier, there is a round camera module where three lenses are situated — 50MP main camera, 48MP wide-angle camera, and 12MP 2x Portrait camera — while the 8MP 5x periscope lens can be found just right below this. In front, you’ll find the punch hole 32MP selfie camera.
Backed by the V1+ imaging chip, lighting is hardly an issue since it can produce high-quality photos even in low-light conditions. The rear lenses get further enhancements through the Zeiss T* Coating, significantly reducing reflections. Using the 50MP ultra-sensing GNV sensor was an absolute delight. It took me little to no effort to take beautiful photos. Even the ordinary looked extra special. Vibrance of colors and sharpness of details were uncompromised in dark scenarios.
The Portrait camera receives gimbal stabilization, helping you take clean and smooth stills or videos. It also highlights the subject of the photo through the seamless transition of the blur of the background from the subject.
Front camera is also commendable because of how it clearly captured facial features even in less favorable lighting; however, you might want to tone down the excessive beautification to look more natural.
As for creating video content, you can get artistic and experiment with the different movie LUTs available to achieve the mood you’re after. There’s a Cinematic Video mode that uses a film aspect ratio at your disposal. What’s more, your overall output gets the benefits from stabilization.
Performance
Unsurprisingly, user experience was plain sailing thanks to its powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and Vapor Chamber cooling system. The role of the aforementioned becomes crucial during long hours of intensive mobile gaming. When you’re trying to level up, you must only focus on your game. Thus, experiencing frame drops due to performance instability or overheating issues should be the least of your worries.
Playing Asphalt 9 at the highest visual setting remained smooth all throughout. However, this was done only for a short period of time. Nonetheless, for everyday use, running multiple apps and multi-tasking through the split screen can be done hitch-free.
It’s also equipped with 12GB RAM that further boosts the smooth experience, while the sizable 256GB memory will more than suffice for downloading several apps and storing all photos and videos for your content creation.
After running the device through 3D Mark and Geekbench, here are the results:
- Wild Life: 8021
- Wild Life Extreme: 2069
- Geekbench Score: 1197 (Single-Core Score), 3314 (Multi-Core Score)
Battery
Conveniently, the 80W FlashCharge enables you to reach 100% in just 48 minutes. That’s a short period of waiting time given that it can power you throughout the day as it’s amply paired with a 4700mAh battery life. With light use during work hours, it leaves you more room to capture photos of your Instagrammable dinner and catch up on the latest K-dramas.
Verdict
Rightfully, the professional imaging technology behind the vivo X80 Pro makes it stand out. vivo deserves to be given credit for continuously taking strides to make something good even more refined. It gives content creators, photographers, enthusiasts a chance to unleash their creative side without breaking the bank. During my brief test drive, I didn’t encounter any notable dealbreakers. The smartphone seems very promising as it puts its best foot forward in all other aspects — from its premium and ergonomic design down to its immersive and smooth user experience. It falls on the better end of the spectrum in the flagship race with a reasonable price tag: P59,999.
