During the weekend, while cleaning my room, I found a box full of old phones that I had almost forgotten about. I charged them one by one and started fiddling with their cameras. Hours passed by, and I couldn’t help but wonder when we started identifying our phones through their cameras. Now, the first thing I try whenever I receive a new smartphone for review is the camera, and I believe it must be the same for you as well. So when Vivo approached me to review the new X100 Pro, I subconsciously gravitated towards checking its camera first and then the other features.
The camera is the biggest reason why people upgrade to a new smartphone, and Vivo is attempting to make the X100 Pro a smarter camera phone in every sense. Yes, it is a phone, but it feels like I am using a camera embedded in a phone’s body.
I made a tough call to separate myself from my iPhone 15 Pro for a few days and switch to the Vivo X100 Pro as my primary smartphone. Here’s how my experience went.
Vivo X100 Pro price in India (as reviewed): Rs 89,999
The camera
I take a lot of photos, so much so that I have 7000 photos stored on my phone. I do it for myself because I love photography. I also own a DSLR as well as a point-and-shoot camera, and I use both of them alongside my phone camera.
Over the years, I have learned that no camera is perfect. It’s all about trial and error to understand the type of photographer you are. At times, I just use my DSLR, and at other times I am happy using my phone to take photographs. So, it is very hard to put me in a bracket.
I have been an iPhone user for a very long time, and naturally, I am used to the camera, the picture quality, and the interface. But I have always been open to trying different types of camera phones. I started using the Vivo X100 Pro last month, and it’s been a couple of days since I have had the device with me. In all those days, I have taken the X100 Pro to Hong Kong as well as covered my hometown Delhi. I was left with a lot of photos and some unique perspectives, and I’m excited to share my take on the X100 Pro’s camera.
Cameras have always been a highlight of the Vivo X series, and the X100 Pro is no different. Here is the camera configuration:
- 50MP main camera with 1-inch sensor
- 50MP 4.3x floating telephoto camera
- 50MP Ultra-wide
- 32MP selfie camera
So the main camera is the same as the one on last year’s X90 Pro, meaning the X100 Pro still uses Sony’s IMX989 sensor and has a 23mm equivalent focal length with an aperture of f/1.75. However, Vivo says it has upgraded Zeiss T* coating, resulting in a 50 per cent reduction in reflectivity and better image clarity. The ultrawide has been upgraded to 50MP from 12MP and is also slightly wider, with a 15mm equivalent focal length. However, the true highlight for me, at least, is the new telephoto camera which uses a 50MP sensor with a 4.3x optical zoom and a 100mm equivalent lens. It comes with Zeiss’ APO “floating design” with new Vario-Apo-Sonnar elements. Essentially, this means the lens can shift forward and backward, allowing it to focus on subjects at various distances.
Having a 50-megapixel telephoto lens is the most obvious difference between the X100 Pro and other smartphones I have used recently. What it does is that this 50MP zoom lens with 4.3x optical zoom enables sharper shots of faraway subjects. I travel a lot, and a phone that lets me take photos with that longer lens has my heart. I think it’s the telephoto lens that gives the X100 Pro an edge, making it the photographer’s phone (of course you can agree or disagree with me). You can capture your subject from a distance and add drama to the background. The telephoto lens also does a great job in low-light, very rare in smartphone cameras.
Phone cameras have gotten better over time. You don’t really need to upgrade to a new smartphone every year just to get an upgraded camera experience. However, the Vivo X100 Pro is wired differently, if I may say so. It mimics a professional camera a lot, I would say, catering to a different audience. And the pictures show details and clarity not many are able to understand or figure out. For example, the zoom lens is so good, and the level of portrait shots you get is on the next level. It pushes you to think about the angles and the light before you take a shot. It’s both fun and a learning experience at the same time.
You can choose from four focal lengths (24mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 100mm), making the X100 Pro one of the most versatile camera smartphones I have used in a long time. For casual photography, or if you are doing a special project, I think the X100 Pro fits the bill. What also impressed me, and I was not expecting this, was that whether it’s people, animals, or buildings, detail is retained in skin and hair, and texture.
Here are a few sample shots.
The other stuff
Design and display
The Vivo X100 Pro is indeed a rather large phone, featuring a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen (btw, the display is extremely bright reaching up to 3000 nits). Whether you consider that a good thing or a bad thing will depend on personal preference. It’s not to my taste, for sure, but I know people who don’t settle for a phone with a screen size of less than 6.5 inches. Anyway, having a large phone has its pros and cons. It’s great for watching videos, playing games, taking notes, and viewing photos, but it feels less ergonomic when texting or calling—especially if you have smaller hands like I do.
Additionally, it’s quite difficult to fit the X100 Pro into a jeans pocket. However, it’s the same story with every smartphone these days; phones are getting bigger while pockets are getting smaller, no pun intended. That being said, the X100 Pro is undeniably premium. It has a bold look with a glass back that appears to have a smooth silky finish. Though fairly hefty at 225g, the stainless steel mid-frame, as well as a dual-curved design, provides a sturdy feel in hand.
When it comes to the quality of these materials, I cannot complain at all. Everything looks and feels top-notch, and since consumers are paying a lot of money for a high-end phone these days, the quality should be rather premium. What enticed me more about the design is the circular camera island on the back with a stainless steel ring that encircles the camera housing and Zeiss branding in the middle. It reminded me of the Nokia Lumia 1020’s huge camera module, but Vivo takes that concept even further with the X100 Pro. With an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, the phone can withstand submersion in 1.5m of water for 30 minutes.
Processor and battery
The X100 Pro becomes interesting with its choice of the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 over a flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon processor despite the clear flagship phones vibes. Frankly, I wasn’t concerned about the processor until I stumbled upon the information about the device’s processor on the website. The performance has been blazing fast, courtesy of four large Cortex X4 cores and four Cortex A720 cores (if you’re unfamiliar with Cortex and cores, feel free to ignore them). My review unit boasts ample RAM (if I’m not mistaken, it’s 16GB) and 512GB of storage. I haven’t observed any stutter or lag during intense multitasking and resource-intensive apps like Google Docs and LinkedIn. Gaming is smooth and responsive with no overheating.
The X100 Pro packs a large 5400 mAh battery, delivering excellent battery life. My phone hasn’t come close to dying any day in the last few days, easily providing more than a day of use from a full charge. Vivo includes its 120W charger in the box. A full charge takes just over 35 minutes, and you can reach the 50% mark in just over 12 or 13 minutes. However, the charger is bulky, and carrying it on a trip can be a hassle.
Software and updates
My biggest gripe with Vivo smartphones has always been with their user interface. It makes me uncomfortable, especially seeing the bloatware on the device. The X100 Pro runs Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14 out of the box, and it has a cleaner user interface and less bloatware. This is a good sign, and I hope a cleaner UI will also come to Vivo’s mid-range and low-end offerings. The brand promises four years of software upgrades, so the X100 Pro will get long-term updates.
Should you buy the Vivo X100 Pro?
I like the Vivo X100 Pro. It looks great, is fast, has fantastic cameras, and a capable processor. That being said, a lot also depends on whether you are open to spending Rs 89,999 for a high-end Vivo smartphone. I don’t recommend the X100 Pro to everyone who is looking to buy a high-end Android smartphone. The X100 Pro is a niche device, a tool for photographers who are looking for authenticity in their photos. And Vivo succeeded in doing that. I hope Vivo makes a smaller “pro” version of this device with the same set of cameras.
