Vivo X200 Pro is the latest entrant in the Indian flagship phone market. However, unlike other flagship phones we’ve seen, the essence of the latest X200 Pro is its camera – as evidenced by the massive camera module on the back. The X200 Pro builds on its predecessor, the Vivo X100 Pro, bringing enhanced camera technology, refined design, and flagship-level performance. Vivo aims to stand out with the X200 Pro and become the first choice for photography enthusiasts.
But is the Vivo X200 Pro really the all-around flagship it claims to be? Let’s get into the details.
design
The Vivo X200 Pro looks and feels like a premium flagship. The device features a sturdy aluminum frame and a stylish matte glass back that resists fingerprints and adds to its classy appeal. It’s available in two colors: Titanium Gray and Cosmic Black, both of which exude elegance and subtlety.
The rear panel houses the massive circular camera module, an iconic design element that immediately reflects the phone’s photographic prowess. While visually striking, the mod adds a noticeable top-heavy feel that can feel awkward when used for extended periods of time, especially when gaming or streaming.
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In terms of durability, Vivo has gone a step further by offering Armor Glass protection on the display and an impressive IP69 certification for resistance to high-pressure water jets, a step above the competition’s IP68 rating. The layout of buttons and ports is standard: the power button and volume rocker are on the right, while the USB Type-C port, speaker grille, and SIM card tray are on the bottom.
Despite its weight of 208 grams, the phone’s rounded edges and slim profile make it surprisingly comfortable to hold. Vivo’s design has been meticulously designed to ensure it feels solid and premium in the hand, while staying in line with current flagship trends.
exhibit
Vivo X200 Pro is equipped with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1.5K (1260 x 2800) and an adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate. The display dynamically adjusts between 1 Hz and 120 Hz to ensure smooth visuals while optimizing power efficiency. With support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, the display delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks and excellent contrast, making content consumption a pleasure. Whether you’re streaming HDR content on Netflix or watching videos on YouTube, the visuals are crisp and immersive. The display has a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, ensuring best-in-class outdoor visibility even in harsh sunlight.
Operating systems and artificial intelligence
Vivo X200 Pro runs Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15. However, while most unwanted apps can be uninstalled, pre-installed bloatware remains.
The phone features tools like AI Erase, AI Photo Enhancer, and AI Note Assistance for organizing notes, adding real value to the user experience. Vivo also includes Instant Call Translation, which translates conversations instantly, making it ideal for multilingual users. Gemini Assistant integrates with Google apps to simplify tasks, while features like Circle to Search increase productivity with seamless on-screen searches. Just log in to a separate Vivo account.
Performance
The latest Vivo X200 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset, built using the 4nm process, which was previously used in Oppo’s Find X8 Pro. Vivo decided to stick with MediaTek instead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, which surprises me since most flagships like the Realme GT 7 Pro and iQOO 13 already run it. By January 2025, it will be the OnePlus 13 that uses it. So, the X200 Pro may have more room to dominate than the competition in the long run.
Combined with 16 GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512 GB UFS 4.0 storage, the phone can handle multitasking, media consumption, and heavy workloads with ease. In day-to-day use, the device performs very well – apps open quickly, animations are smooth, and multitasking feels seamless. In terms of gaming performance, we’d say the phone performs well, but not on par with competitors like the GT 7 Pro or iQOO 13.
camera
The camera is the star and main focus of the vivo X200 Pro. We would rather call it a camera phone than a phone with a camera. The phone comes with a powerful triple-camera system – 200 MP periscope telephoto lens with OIS, 50 MP main ZEISS True Color sensor (f/1.57) and 50 MP ultra-wide-angle lens (119° field of view).
Vivo X200 Pro camera samples | Photo credit: Haider Ali Khan
The 200 MP periscope telephoto lens is undoubtedly the most eye-catching. It supports up to 100x digital zoom and is good at capturing detailed shots, whether it’s distant landscapes or complex subjects.
Vivo X200 Pro camera samples | Photo credit: Haider Ali Khan
Portrait photos at 2x or 5x zoom are particularly impressive, with precise edge detection and natural background blur (bokeh). Zoom images retain excellent sharpness, dynamic range, and balanced colors that are rare even among flagships.
Vivo X200 Pro camera samples | Photo credit: Haider Ali Khan
Macro lenses allow you to explore so much more and you’ll enjoy shooting them as much as I do.
Vivo X200 Pro camera samples | Photo credit: Haider Ali Khan
The 50 MP main sensor also delivers excellent results, especially in daylight. Photos are sharp, detailed and have excellent dynamic range. Vivo’s V3+ imaging chip ensures realistic colors and accurate white balance, keeping tones natural without being oversaturated. Skin tones look especially realistic, and the sensor performs well in tricky lighting conditions.
Vivo X200 Pro camera samples | Photo credit: Haider Ali Khan
Low-light performance is also noteworthy. With Night Mode enabled, the main sensor captures shots that are vibrant and detailed, with shadows and highlights perfectly preserved. Image noise is minimal, and color reproduction remains consistent even in dimly lit environments. The ultra-wide-angle lens complements the main sensor well, capturing vast landscapes with good detail and minimal distortion, although low-light performance is slightly worse compared to the main sensor.
Vivo X200 Pro camera samples | Photo credit: Haider Ali Khan
The 32 MP front-facing lens captures clear, natural-looking selfies in daylight with excellent dynamic range. Portrait selfies are clear, background blur is smooth, and skin tones are accurate. Low-light selfies are usable, and Vivo’s software does a good job of reducing noise and enhancing exposure without over-softening facial details.
In terms of video, Vivo X200 Pro supports up to 8K recording, as well as tools such as 4K 120 FPS and LOG video format suitable for professional content creators. Video stabilization is solid, with video clips maintaining clarity and accurate color in varying lighting conditions. Overall, Vivo has perfected the camera system, making the X200 Pro a great choice for mobile photography enthusiasts.
Battery
The Vivo X200 Pro is equipped with a large 6,000 mAh battery, one of the largest in its class. During testing, the phone easily lasted a day even after extended use. Charging is equally impressive, with 90W wired charging taking just about 45 minutes to fully charge. In addition, the phone also supports 30W wireless charging, providing the convenience of wireless charging.
judgment
The Vivo X200 Pro is a photography-first flagship that excels in camera performance, battery life, and design. The 200 MP periscope telephoto lens and versatile camera system make it an excellent choice for photography enthusiasts and content creators. However, in an Indian market where established brands like Samsung and Apple dominate the flagship segment, Vivo will need to convince buyers beyond photography enthusiasts. If camera and battery life are your top priorities, the Vivo X200 Pro is an excellent choice. It is priced at Rs 94,999 and comes in 16 GB/512 GB variants.
Published – December 20, 2024 at 2:10 pm (IST)