Vivo’s X series has always been about pushing the boundaries of smartphone photography. The X70 Pro+ introduced their unique gimbal stabilization system and the V1 imaging chip for superior video recording. The X80 Pro continued this trend with features like handheld astrophotography mode and excellent low-light imaging. However, the X90 Pro seemed to lose its focus, struggling to deliver on both camera and performance expectations. But with the new Vivo X100 Pro, Vivo appears to be back on track. While it retains many elements from its predecessors, the X100 Pro feels remarkably different, boasting new hardware, a powerful processor, and a refined design. After spending a few weeks with this phone, I’m ready to share my thoughts and see if it truly delivers on its promise of exceptional photography and overall performance.
Vivo X100 Pro Review: Price in India
Don’t expect the Vivo X100 Pro to compete with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, as it belongs to a different price bracket. Instead, it’s likely to give Google’s Pixel 8 Pro a run for its money. Priced at Rs. 89,999 for the sole 16GB RAM and 512GB storage variant, the X100 Pro comes with a charger, a Type-C charging cable, and a sturdy silicon case in the box.
Vivo X100 Pro Review: Design
Like its predecessor, the Vivo X100 Pro is available in a single color: Asteroid Black, featuring a fluorite anti-glare glass back panel. While other brands offer a variety of colors at this price point, Vivo sticks to one. The orange vegan-leather finish launched in China remains a dream for Indian customers.
The design of the X100 Pro has undergone significant refinements compared to the X90 Pro. It’s still quite large and chunky, with the massive cookie-shaped camera bump adding to its thickness. However, Vivo has managed to make it appear slimmer through a more rounded design. This could be why Vivo continues to use its 3D curved-edge display, a design element many manufacturers have abandoned.
Vivo’s X100 Pro appears very different from the older X90 Pro model.
While the Vivo X100 Pro may be thick and chunky, it’s not the largest or heaviest phone in its class. Weighing in at 225 grams, it’s essentially the same weight as last year’s model. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra remains heavier (234g), while Apple’s titanium-clad iPhone 15 Pro Max feels smaller and slimmer but is as light (221g) as the X100 Pro. Apple’s gamble with titanium and the new folded optical design for its telephoto camera have clearly paid off.
Despite sharing some design similarities with previous X series models, the massive camera bump sets it apart and makes it quite unique. Vivo claims it was inspired by the sun’s halo with the slightly offset stainless steel ring around the large, curved-edge glass. I wish Vivo had given the ring a raised edge, as the exposed camera glass seems vulnerable given its size.
The matte finish feels luxurious but is also extremely slippery. Considering its focus on photography, it’s highly advisable to attach the included case immediately upon unboxing the phone. It’s difficult to grip and its large camera glass and sensors make it top-heavy in terms of balance.
The phone feels quite chunky but its rounded appearance make its appear slimmer.
The curved-edge front glass (from an unnamed manufacturer) remained smudge-free throughout the review period and free of scratches. The display underneath this glass screen curves on the left and right sides. It bends into the sides but not significantly, so it wasn’t distracting during indoor content viewing. However, it does reduce the viewing area with reflections when viewed outdoors.
The IP68 rating for dust and water resistance is still present and official. This, along with the wireless charging coil and a larger than usual 5,400mAh battery, seems to justify the X100 Pro’s chunkiness.
Vivo X100 Pro Review: Specifications and Software
The Vivo X100 Pro features a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC, a first in India. This processor is paired with the new V3 Imaging co-processor, which Vivo claims enhances imaging and gaming performance. The phone offers 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, with no support for expandable storage. It does provide space for two physical nano SIM cards in the SIM card tray and offers eSIM functionality along with dual 5G standby.
The 6.78-inch full-HD+ curved-edge AMOLED panel boasts a 120Hz refresh rate and uses LTPO technology, allowing the refresh rate to scale down when needed to conserve battery life. The fingerprint reader is a standard optical type embedded into the display. It worked accurately and reliably during the review period.
Communication standards include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, an infrared port, and a USB-C port (version 3.2) with support for standard satellite navigation systems. The large 5,400mAh battery (made up of two cells) can be charged using Vivo’s proprietary 120W wired charger (included in the box), though it’s limited to 100W. The phone also supports 50W wireless charging, which requires a separately sold charging dock.
Running Funtouch OS 14, based on Android 14, the phone has been updated to the latest December 2023 security update. Vivo seems committed to software updates and promises three years of security and firmware updates.
Funtouch OS 14 appears very similar to the previous version with the addition of some new Android 14 personalisation options.
The software experience with Funtouch OS 14 is not vastly different from previous models using Funtouch OS 13 (and Android 13). The Material You-esque theming engine is more polished and offers more variety in colors and swatches. Applying themes happens instantly and is less buggy compared to older software. Vivo claims to have enhanced optimization and smoothness, now offering an instant startup mode that boots the phone in 20 seconds from a dead battery after plugging it into a charger.
While the software appears refined, it’s significantly behind what Google offers with its AI-enriched Android 14 on the Pixel 8 Pro.
Vivo X100 Review: Performance
In terms of software performance, things feel remarkably smooth. Whether multitasking or running multiple apps simultaneously, the 16GB of RAM (along with 16GB of virtual RAM) seems more than sufficient for even the most demanding smartphone needs. Apps and games remain in memory for extended periods, allowing for instant recall without restarts.
Driven by the new processor, I was eager to test various benchmarks, and the results are impressive. The phone achieved a score of 20,20,631 points in AnTuTu, surpassing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered iQoo 12’s 19,83,471 points. In Geekbench, the Vivo X100 Pro managed 2,190 and 7,218 points compared to the iQoo 12’s 2,225 and 6,726 points. In GPU benchmarks, the performance seemed capped at 120fps, while the iQoo 12 reached about 140fps in most GFXBench test suites. The bottom line is that the chipset is as capable as, if not better than (in some aspects), the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which recently debuted in India with the iQoo 12.
Besides the processor, Vivo claims that the new 6nm co-processor delivers a 30 percent improvement in energy efficiency and enables the 4K cinematic video portrait camera feature. The imaging chip also helps reduce power consumption during gaming by using game frame interpolation (limited to 90fps).
Vivo retains its 3D curved edge display design from previous models.
The LTPO panel is a significant upgrade from last year’s basic 120Hz display. Vivo also claims that the display is optimized to match the software frame rate, dynamically adjusting based on screen activity and dropping to 1Hz when not needed, leading to better battery conservation. Vivo has optimized its software and GPU to sync with the display’s refresh rate, resulting in a buttery-smooth experience, free from lag or stuttering. It also offers up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness outdoors, which allows for comfortable movie watching without squinting in direct sunlight. The panel supports 2,160Hz high-frequency dimming, which worked as expected in dimly lit settings, reducing eye strain.
Several games, including Call of Duty: Mobile (CODM), already support up to 120fps with low/medium graphics and ultra frame rate enabled. Vivo’s Game Frame Interpolation feature (or MEMC for games) makes games appear more fluid, even if the system isn’t running at the achieved frame rate. While it looks smooth after enabling, there is some touch sampling lag due to the overlaid MEMC system, making it less ideal for FPS titles. Since games like CODM already support it, I found the feature useful only for titles that don’t exceed the usual 60fps target, like Asphalt 9 Legends.
The phone handles heat well, thanks to its vapor chamber cooling system. However, I noticed it does heat up during video recording, and if you continue for about 10 minutes, the viewfinder preview starts stuttering. This on-screen stutter in the camera app’s viewfinder doesn’t affect the recorded footage.
Given the large 5,400mAh battery, I expected it to be quite a challenge to deplete. In our standard video loop battery test, the phone performed well, achieving a solid twenty hours and fifty-three minutes of runtime.
Vivo promises three years of security and firmware updates with the X100 Pro.
My daily usage included WhatsApp messages, Instagram scrolling, about thirty minutes of gaming, and fifteen to twenty minutes of camera use. The phone easily lasted a day and a half without needing to charge overnight. Even on days with an hour of gaming and an hour of camera use, it managed to last a full day with about 35 percent remaining, which is impressive for a flagship phone.
Vivo’s 100W wired charging system came in handy whenever needed, allowing me to charge the massive battery quickly from 0-90 percent in 30 minutes and complete the charge in just 37 minutes. I wasn’t able to test the 50W wireless charging system as it requires the proprietary charger, which Vivo didn’t provide for this review. However, it charges well on a standard Qi charging pad.
Vivo X100 Pro Review: Cameras
Looking at the camera specs on the Vivo X100 Pro, it’s evident that despite retaining the triple camera setup from the X90 Pro, each camera has been upgraded – for the better. For consistency, Vivo claims to have adopted three 50-megapixel camera sensors for its rear camera setup this year.
The primary camera is a 1-inch type (Sony IMX989) with PDAF, laser-assisted autofocus, and OIS. It’s paired with a new Zeiss APO floating periscope telephoto lens setup, backed by a half-inch OV64B sensor, allowing users to shoot close-ups of people and objects (including macro) using the same 4.3X optical zoom camera. Finally, there’s a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera now using a Samsung JN1 sensor. Selfies are handled by a 32-megapixel camera which Vivo claims is different from the one on the X90 Pro.
The camera app has three colour modes when shooting photos.
Considering this is a camera-focused smartphone, it’s expected that the camera interface would be packed with options. However, Vivo has managed to make it user-friendly, placing all the critical controls in the right places within their respective sections. As a result, I rarely needed to enter the camera app’s settings menu, which is a positive. Vivo also allows users to select the color treatment for photos, choosing between Vivid, Textured, and Zeiss Natural. I preferred the Natural mode, as it captured colors that were mostly accurate or closer to the actual scene.
Seeing as the Vivo X100 Pro’s closest competitor is the Google Pixel 8 Pro, I’ve compared general image quality between the two smartphones. This comparison will give you a better idea about how they stack up, despite their slightly different price points.
Vivo X100 Pro primary camera sample (tap image to expand)
Vivo’s X100 Pro excels in detail and dynamic range in low light (tap image to expand)
The primary camera captures exceptionally detailed photos without excessive sharpening, something common in smartphones nowadays. Photos, regardless of lighting conditions, seem to pack in detailed textures with excellent dynamic range (an area where the Pixel 8 Pro occasionally faltered). Dynamic range seemed spot-on, capturing sufficient detail in shadows without excessive contrast. Bright lights are also handled well, thanks to the multi-lens Zeiss T* coating, which significantly reduces lens flare, especially under streetlight conditions at night.
The highlight of this year’s camera setup is undoubtedly the new telephoto camera. Beyond the typical periscope telephoto camera, Vivo and Zeiss have managed to squeeze in another lens in front of the prism. This allows users to capture close-ups of objects or people at 4.3X zoom without needing to step too far away from their subject. This is a significant advantage when shooting portrait photos.
Vivo X100 Pro telephoto camera samples. Top to bottom: 1X, 4.3X (tap images to expand)
When shooting portraits in Portrait mode, Vivo allows users to select specific professional portrait focal lengths (24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm) that have been optimized for the camera sensors and lenses. Portrait photos captured at all these focal lengths came out well with excellent detail, even under artificial or low light conditions. While I enjoyed using the various software-enabled Zeiss Style portrait modes, I found those images slightly softer compared to those taken in the regular Photo mode at its native 4.3X focal length. Those photos were tack sharp (with granular detail) and still had enough natural bokeh, which is perfect for portraits.
Vivo X100 Pro’s zoom image quality is impressive but not as capable as the Galaxy S23 Ultra (tap image to expand)
In terms of zoom range, the phone can capture as far as 100X using hybrid zoom. The Vivo X100 Pro’s zoom capabilities aren’t as impressive as the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s telephoto, mainly due to its limited native telephoto camera (4.3X versus 10X) and the fact that the former is geared more towards portraits than full-blown zoom capabilities. You can capture excellent photos up to 10X with good detail and texture, but it starts to fall apart beyond that point.
A notable new addition is a special mode for capturing sunsets called Telephoto Sunshot. This mode automatically enables between 10X-30X zoom range, which helps take perfectly exposed sunset photos and silhouettes. However, I found the colors to be exaggerated and not natural.
Vivo X100 Pro Super Macro camera sample (tap image to expand)
Just like on the iQoo 12, Vivo has also included a Super Macro mode that allows for macro photography using the telephoto camera. It lets users focus on objects as close as 18cm, resulting in sharp, detailed photos captured at 4.3X (optical) and even at 8.6X (digital) with good background separation, even before enabling software bokeh.
While Vivo’s X100 Pro excels at dynamic range, Google Pixel 8 Pro offers a much wider field of view (tap image to expand)
Finally, the ultra-wide-angle camera delivers good photos in daylight, but not so much in low light. Even with its 50-megapixel sensor resolution, I didn’t find the photos particularly impressive in terms of resolved detail. I also noticed that the photos were slightly washed out compared to what the Google Pixel 8 Pro is capable of.
Vivo X100 Pro selfie camera samples (tap image to expand)
Selfies, on the other hand, are just about passable and not the best I’ve seen on a smartphone in this class. Although skin tones are accurate, the camera tends to smudge details despite disabling all beauty enhancements. Edge detection could have been smoother as well, as it seemed to have some random and roughly cut edges when applying software bokeh.
Videos captured at 4K at 30fps from the primary camera look excellent in all lighting conditions, including low light. They offer enough detail and dynamic range, and bright spots are kept under control. Recorded videos are also surprisingly stable in low light with limited noise. Ultra-wide footage appears better in daylight but is noisy in low light. The camera also packs a Cinematic Portrait mode, which does a decent job of recording at 4K with artificial bokeh. However, edge detection leaves a lot to be desired compared to that on Apple’s iPhone 15 series.
Overall, it was easy to conclude that while Google’s Pixel had the upper hand when it came to photo editing capabilities, it was easily outmatched by the Vivo 100 Pro’s updated camera hardware.
Vivo X100 Pro Review: Verdict
In the realm of cameras, Fujifilm seems to have found its sweet spot with photographers as a favorite camera for enthusiasts. Among smartphones, Vivo seems to be best suited for smartphone camera enthusiasts or those who love maximizing their smartphone cameras. It hits the sweet spot when it comes to mobile imaging, delivering a delicate balance of AI imagery while giving sufficient emphasis to hardware. It isn’t out to defeat the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in a zoom contest or the Pixel 8 Pro with its AI smarts. Instead, it has the potential to become a favorite for those who enjoy street photography, love taking portraits (kids, pets, objects), and generally spend more time using the telephoto camera than the primary. At the same time, the Vivo X100 Pro also offers the flexibility for general camera needs.
Beyond the photography aspects, the rest of the phone is equally impressive in terms of capability, be it entertainment, raw performance, software, gaming, or even battery life. This makes it a solid all-rounder in the premium smartphone segment, with an equally impressive price tag to take on 2024’s flagships.
