The Vivo X90 Pro is the latest flagship smartphone from Vivo to hit the Indian market, bringing with it a host of high-end features and a compelling camera system. Positioned as a successor to the Vivo X80 Pro, the X90 Pro boasts a number of upgrades, including a 1-inch camera sensor, a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC, and a fast-charging 4,870mAh battery, making it one of the most compelling flagship options available. But with a hefty price tag and several other strong contenders in the market, does the Vivo X90 Pro deliver a compelling enough experience to warrant its premium price? Let’s dive into our comprehensive review to find out.
Vivo X90 Pro Price in India
Vivo has launched the X90 Pro in India in a single storage configuration. The phone comes with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage and is priced at Rs. 84,999. This puts it in direct competition with other high-end Android flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S23, the iPhone 14, and the Xiaomi 13 Pro. While the X90 Pro is slightly more expensive than the previous generation X80 Pro, pre-booking offers can bring the price down to Rs. 76,999, making it more attractive in comparison.
Vivo X90 Pro Design and Display
Vivo has refined the design of the X90 Pro, adding a vegan leather rear panel for a more premium feel and better grip. The textured surface helps resist fingerprints and smudges, while the IP68 rating ensures water and dust resistance. The phone features a large camera module on the back, housing the triple-camera setup. The LED flash and Zeiss branding are located at the top-right corner of the rear panel. A shiny chrome strip below the camera module with the "Xtreme Imagination" text may not be to everyone’s taste, but overall the phone exudes a premium look and feel.
The curved-edge AMOLED display is a highlight, sporting a 120Hz refresh rate. However, it’s disappointing that the display is not an LTPO panel like its predecessor, limiting the refresh rate options to 60Hz, 120Hz, and Smart Switch. While the 6.78-inch display delivers vibrant colors and wide viewing angles, the resolution has been downgraded from WQHD+ (3200×1440) on the X80 Pro to 2800×1260 pixels, which is a noticeable step down. However, the 453ppi density still provides a crisp viewing experience.
The display boasts a claimed peak brightness of 1,300 nits, offering excellent visibility both indoors and outdoors. Support for HDR10+ playback and Widevine L1 DRM ensures an immersive experience for content consumption on apps like Netflix and YouTube. The phone features an optical in-display fingerprint sensor, which is quick and accurate in unlocking the device. However, the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor found on the X80 Pro offered a wider recognition area and was slightly faster. The loud and crisp dual-speaker setup completes the multimedia experience, delivering a quality audio output.
Vivo X90 Pro Specifications and Software
Powering the X90 Pro is the MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC, built on a 4nm fabrication process. The phone packs a slightly larger 4,870mAh battery than the X80 Pro and supports lightning-fast 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC. The Vivo X90 Pro runs on the latest Android 13-based Funtouch OS 13, promising a cleaner and more refined user experience with numerous customization and personalization options.
The software experience on the X90 Pro has been smooth and seamless. Scrolling through the user interface is fluid and lag-free. The phone comes with the April 2023 Android security patch, addressing several known issues. While a few third-party apps are preinstalled, these can be easily uninstalled. Vivo has a good track record when it comes to software updates, and the X90 Pro is promised to receive three years of Android and security updates, which is commendable though some competitors offer even longer support.
Vivo X90 Pro Performance and Battery Life
The Vivo X90 Pro effortlessly handles everyday tasks, from casual browsing and media consumption to demanding games. Playing Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9 Legends on high graphics settings resulted in a smooth and enjoyable experience. Call of Duty: Mobile ran flawlessly even on "Max" framerate and "Very High" graphics settings. However, the phone did warm up quickly during long gaming sessions, particularly near the camera module area. Despite the heat, performance remained consistent.
Benchmark results confirm the phone’s powerful performance. In AnTuTu, the X90 Pro scored a remarkable 12,14,804 points. The phone scored 1,694 and 4,315 points in Geekbench 6’s single-core and multi-core tests, respectively. These scores demonstrate that the new Dimensity SoC provides stiff competition to Qualcomm’s flagship offerings and translates to exceptional real-world performance.
Battery life on the X90 Pro is impressive, delivering up to seven hours of screen-on time (SoT) on a single charge with average usage. Heavy users who engage frequently with the camera or games can expect SoT to drop to around six hours. The phone achieved an admirable 18 hours and 12 minutes in our HD video loop test. The included 120W charger enables a complete charge in a mere 29 minutes.
Vivo X90 Pro Camera
The camera system is a key selling point of the X90 Pro. The phone features a 50-megapixel 1-inch Sony IMX989 main camera, which is the same sensor found in the Xiaomi 13 Pro. It is complemented by a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 50-megapixel portrait camera. Vivo’s V2 imaging chip, also found in the iQoo 11 5G, further enhances the camera’s capabilities.
While the main and portrait camera sensors have received substantial improvements, the ultra-wide camera sees a resolution reduction compared to the X80 Pro. The lack of a periscope telephoto camera is another point to note, as this feature is reserved for the X90 Pro+.
The main camera boasts an eight-element lens, with *seven elements now featuring the Zeiss T coating for enhanced image quality. However, the sensor lacks the gimbal stabilization system found in the previous model. In its place, Vivo has incorporated its own custom-developed optical image stabilization (OIS), promising CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) Level 4 standards**. This ensures that despite the large sensor, the main camera lacks shutter lag.
Images captured with the main camera are rich in detail and offer impressive dynamic range. Colors are slightly more saturated, delivering a pleasingly vibrant look. The large sensor coupled with a wide f/1.75 aperture captures ample light, even in low-light conditions. Images captured with the main camera show minimal noise and demonstrate excellent exposure control across highlights and shadows.
The 2X portrait camera produces high-quality images with a beautiful bokeh effect and accurate edge detection. The six software filters, including the new Cine-Flare Style, add a touch of creativity and fun to the shooting experience. However, occasionally, the software over-smooths the texture of hair, resulting in an artificial appearance.
The ultra-wide camera falls short in comparison to the previous model. While daylight performance is adequate, low-light images suffer from a noticeable loss of detail, particularly around the edges of the frame.
Selfies are captured using a 32-megapixel front camera. The camera app automatically applies beautification filters to enhance selfies, making subjects appear slimmer and fairer. Portrait mode performance with the front camera is inconsistent, with edge detection being a hit or miss. Occasionally, the software fails to blur the background, and in some instances, it might even blur parts of the face.
The main camera of the Vivo X90 Pro can record 8K 24fps or 4K 60fps videos. Video quality during both day and night is impressive. The V2 imaging chip works in tandem with the camera hardware to deliver well-lit and detailed videos even in low-light environments. The rear camera delivers outstanding dynamic range in videos. However, stutters were observed during video recording on a few occasions.
The camera app offers Standard and Ultra stabilization options. Ultra stabilization provides a better stabilized output but crops the frame slightly. Users can leverage Ultra stabilization when shooting up to 1080p or 4K at 30fps. Standard stabilization is engaged for 1080p or 4K 60fps recordings. The difference between the two modes is subtle when the subject is in the center of the frame but becomes more noticeable with wider frames. 8K recording lacks any stabilization options.
The front camera is limited to 1080p 60fps video recording. Overall video quality is decent, with well-exposed subjects and good detail capture. However, competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S23 and iPhone 14 series offer 4K 60fps video recording using their front cameras.
Verdict
Vivo’s X series is known for offering a unique photographic experience, and the new X90 Pro continues this tradition. The rear primary and portrait camera sensors deliver exceptional performance. Images captured with the main camera often feel like they were shot with a dedicated camera. System performance, display quality, battery life, and fast charging are all top-notch. The phone flaunts a premium design and comes with the coveted IP68 rating.
However, there are a few drawbacks to the X90 Pro, especially when considering the high price tag. The ultra-wide camera falls short, and the X80 Pro offered a significantly better performance in this regard. The processed images from the selfie camera in Portrait mode are also not particularly impressive. Other areas where the phone lacks compared to its predecessor include the absence of a periscope camera, a lower-resolution and non-LTPO display, and the use of an optical fingerprint sensor instead of ultrasonic—all features found on the Vivo X80 Pro, which is still available at a lower price.
The competition has also caught up. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra sets the benchmark for versatile camera performance, albeit at a higher cost. The Xiaomi 13 Pro is a strong contender for the X90 Pro, offering nearly identical performance and features, and even a slightly lower price. The Google Pixel 7 Pro offers another compelling alternative, showcasing an excellent camera system and a unique software experience.
Ultimately, the Vivo X90 Pro offers a compelling combination of powerful performance, top-notch cameras, and a sleek design. However, the drawbacks, including the relatively high price and several areas where it falls short compared to competitors, might make potential buyers hesitate. If you’re looking for an Android flagship with an exceptional camera experience, the Vivo X90 Pro is a strong choice, but it’s important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a decision.
