I’ve all the time loved utilizing Vivo’s X collection units, but it surely wasn’t till the X90 Pro that the model actually began showcasing what it could possibly do on the imaging aspect of issues. Vivo turned that up a notch earlier this yr with the X100 Pro; the telephone continues to have among the finest digicam packages round, and it is solely bested by the China-exclusive X100 Ultra — no small feat.
While the X100 Ultra is the most effective telephone digicam I’ve ever used, the truth that it is not accessible globally makes it a non-starter. Thankfully, Vivo is addressing that with the introduction of the X200 Pro. The telephone has the identical 200MP telephoto lens because the Ultra, and it additionally takes magnificent portrait photographs. You get a brand new 50MP foremost digicam, and whereas it does not have a 1-inch sensor just like the X100 Pro or Ultra, it takes standout images and movies in difficult situations.
Honestly, that is all you might want to know in regards to the X200 Pro — it brings the most effective options of the X100 Ultra to a worldwide viewers, and takes images of the identical caliber. That alone makes the telephone instantly worthy of consideration, and also you get loads of different extras, together with a brand new design, brighter AMOLED panel, extra environment friendly MediaTek {hardware}, a a lot greater 6000mAh silicon battery, and IP69 ingress safety.
I used the worldwide mannequin of the X200 Pro for every week, and this is why I believe that is the digicam telephone to beat in 2025.
Vivo X200 Pro: Pricing and availability
Vivo unveiled the X200, X200 Pro, and X200 Pro mini in China in October 2024, and the telephones made their world debut on December 12 in India. Vivo is not bringing the X200 Pro mini outdoors China, however the X200 and X200 Pro can be found in world markets, beginning with choose areas in Asia over the approaching weeks.
I bought used to the 1TB mannequin of the X100 Ultra, however Vivo is not bringing that storage variant to world markets; the X200 Pro is as an alternative bought in a single 16GB/512GB configuration outdoors China. This 16GB/512GB variant is now accessible in India for ₹94,999 ($1,120). The customary X200 can also be on sale within the nation at ₹65,999 ($778) for the 12GB/256GB configuration, and Vivo has a further 16GB/512GB mannequin that prices ₹71,999 ($849).
Vivo X200 Pro: Design
Most Android producers have switched to iPhone-esque designs, and Vivo is not resistant to the development both. The X200 Pro has a distinctly boxier design with flat sides, and it does not look as elegant because the X100 Pro. While I nonetheless desire units with clean curves, I’ll admit that Vivo did a great job with the design; the telephone is rather more snug to carry than the iPhone 16 Pro Max or Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Predictably, the digicam island dominates consideration on the again; Vivo has steadily elevated the scale of the housing over the past three years because it slotted in greater digicam sensors, and the module on the X200 Pro stretches almost throughout the width of the system. I’d have favored the inside of the housing to have the identical colour because the again — just like the OnePlus 12 — however Vivo went with a regular black design. That stated, the ring encircling the digicam housing differentiates the design a bit bit.
I bought the Titanium variant of the system, and it feels nice to carry and use. The boring gray sheen makes the system look understated, and the again glass has a satin texture that is a lot better than the standard shiny finishes, and it minimizes smudges. The sides are made out of aluminum, with Vivo mimicking the texture of titanium.
The design is cleaner than earlier years, with Vivo eschewing the assorted taglines and metal-etched accouterments it added on the X90 Pro and X100 Pro. The general aesthetic feels mature, and whereas the gray mannequin does not entice consideration as a lot, the blue choice is the best way to go if you need a colour that stands out.
Thankfully, Vivo put the ultrasound fingerprint module greater up this time round, and I did not run into any points accessing it. While I desire optical modules, Vivo is utilizing a Goodix sensor that is among the many greatest round; it is quick to authenticate, and does not have any issues with oily or moist fingers.
Coming in at 228g, the X200 Pro is without doubt one of the heaviest telephones I used not too long ago, in addition to the largest; that stated, Vivo did an important job with the load distribution, and regardless that it has large cameras on the again, it does not really feel unwieldy within the least. I now put circumstances on telephones which have flat sides as I do not just like the in-hand really feel, however I did not have to take action on the X200 Pro; though it has a flatter design, the beveled edges and refined curves on the again the place it meets the mid-frame make it a lot simpler to carry and use.
The energy and quantity buttons have higher tactility than the Pixel 9 Pro XL and Find X8 Pro, and the remainder of the ports are customary: you get a dual-SIM tray, IR blaster, and twin stereo sound. The X200 Pro picks up IP68 and IP69 ingress safety, giving it added resilience towards water jets. While I did not check that but, the telephone fell right into a bowl of chutney and got here away unscathed, and that is adequate for my use case (I eat a variety of chutney).
Vivo X200 Pro: Display
The X200 Pro retains the 6.78-inch dimension as its predecessor, and also you get the identical 2800 x 1260 decision. What’s completely different this time is the brightness; it manages to hit 4500 nits in HDR content material, and there is an simply noticeable distinction in each day use as effectively.
What’s significantly nice is that the X200 Pro bought simply as brilliant because the X100 Ultra in outside use, and in my testing, solely the Pixel 9 Pro XL managed to outmatch the system. It does a a lot better job on this space than the X100 Pro, and it is evident when utilizing the telephones subsequent to one another. You get the standard LTPO tech, and the telephone will get 2160Hz PWM dimming in any respect brightness ranges, giving it a definite edge over Google and Samsung telephones.
While it does not have wherever near the identical curvature as earlier fashions, the panel has a really refined curve across the sides that makes it a bit higher to make use of. Colors and distinction ranges are wonderful out of the field, and like all high-end telephones, you get an important vary of customizability in tweaking the colour stability. Vivo has helpful eye safety options as effectively, together with an anti-fatigue mode and automated blue mild filter.
There’s an honest collection of always-on kinds too, and the telephone has a clean transition from the lock display screen to the house display screen, which is one thing you may see on ColorOS as effectively. I did not have any points streaming HDR content material on the telephone, and after a dozen hours of gaming, there have been no issues on this regard both. The onboard sound is healthier than the X100 Pro, and also you get a great stereo impact.
The solely situation with the panel is that the oleophobic coating is beginning to wear down after only a week of use; my each day utilization hasn’t differed, however the high edge has a visual line the place there isn’t any coating, and that is troublesome. By distinction, the X100 Pro has been in common use all through 2024, and it does not have any points with the coating. I noticed the same incidence on the Find X8 Pro too, and I’ll present an replace as soon as both model confirms what the issue could be — it may simply be the coating that was used on these two units.
Vivo X200 Pro: Performance
While the X100 Ultra switched to Qualcomm {hardware}, Vivo is clearly intent on utilizing MediaTek’s Dimensity on the remainder of the X100 collection, and that is a great resolution. The X200 Pro makes use of the Dimensity 9400 — identical because the Find X8 Pro — and it’s improbable in each day use. I did not see any slowdowns or lag, and it dealt with gaming with out breaking a sweat.
The telephone tends to get a bit hotter than the Find X8 Pro, however simply by two levels Celsius. The stability rating of 49% in 3DMark’s Steel Nomad Light check is on the decrease finish of the dimensions, however fortunately, you will not see any jitter even in demanding video games, and whereas it throttles in prolonged gaming periods, it nonetheless delivers regular framerates. With 16GB of RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage onboard, you do not have to fret about multitasking or storage points.
Category | Pixel 9 Pro XL | Vivo X200 Pro | iQOO 13 |
---|---|---|---|
PCMark Work 3.0 (Overall) | 13028 | 15731 | 16043 |
PCMark Work 3.0 (Web Browsing) | 10322 | 13716 | 16307 |
PCMark Work 3.0 (Video Editing) | 7606 | 5823 | 6899 |
PCMark Work 3.0 (Writing) | 15582 | 24744 | 20445 |
PCMark Work 3.0 (Photo Editing) | 19293 | 13582 | 39044 |
Geekbench 6 (single-core) | 1895 | 2381 | 2954 |
Geekbench 6 (multi-core) | 4111 | 7175 | 6650 |
Geekbench AI (Quantized Score) | 2620 | 2436 | 3915 |
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (rating) | 2483 | 6070 | 4514 |
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (FPS) | 14.865 | 36.35 | 27.025 |
3DMark Solar Bay (rating) | NA | 11021 | 7287 |
3DMark Solar Bay (FPS) | NA | 41.91 | 27.695 |
Given that the iQOO 13 additionally runs Funtouch OS and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite as an alternative, we will see how the 2 units differ. Obviously, there isn’t any distinction between the 2 in common use, however the iQOO 13 holds up a bit higher in gaming — it does not throttle as early. Other than that, you get the same degree of efficiency.
I did not see any points with mobile connectivity, however calls had been garbled at instances; I’m unsure if this was right down to the place I used to be on the time or the mobile sign, however I do not often run into this downside, so thought to focus on it. There’s the standard LDAC and LHDC codecs along with AptX HD, and also you get dual-band Global Positioning System, NFC, and a USB-C port primarily based on the USB 3.2 customary.
The new vibration motor has beautiful suggestions, and it makes utilizing the system that rather more partaking. Overall, there is not a lot amiss with the X200 Pro on this space, and it’s has among the finest {hardware} packages round.
Vivo X200 Pro: Battery life
Like most different 2025 flagships, the X200 Pro picks up an enormous battery, with Vivo slotting in a 6000mAh unit contained in the system. It additionally makes use of silicon-carbon tech to ship higher density, and the elevated dimension together with higher effectivity permits it to final two days. Even with heavy use, I solely needed to cost the telephone each different day, and it is liberating.
There’s no battery anxiousness in any respect with the system, and when you might want to plug it in, the X200 Pro makes use of Vivo’s 90W charging customary, and the requisite charger is bundled within the bundle. It takes slightly below 50 minutes to cost the battery, and it is on par with the most effective telephones on this space.
Vivo X200 Pro: Cameras
The X200 Pro will get a brand new 50MP Sony Lytia-818 imaging sensor with a 1/1.28-inch sensor, and whereas it is not as large because the 1-inch sensor on the X100 Pro, it does an important job in its personal proper. The spotlight is the inclusion of the 200MP Samsung HP9 telephoto lens, which is similar one used within the X100 Ultra to nice impact. The wide-angle lens is a 50MP Samsung JN1, which is unchanged from final yr, as is the 32MP entrance module.
Vivo makes use of a customized V3+ imaging module at the side of the Dimensity 9400, and this enables the model to eke out higher element with HDR video. The X200 Pro has 4K60 Dolby Vision video out of all of the sensors and focal lengths on the again, and the telephone does a standout job with video on the whole. There’s portrait video, 10-bit LOG, and a avenue mode that provides a noticeable vignette to resultant photographs.
The digicam interface itself hasn’t modified, and also you get an honest variety of taking pictures modes and filters. Vivo’s collaboration with Zeiss is obvious within the portrait photographs and tonal stability of the images, and you may decide between three kinds: Vivid, Textured, and Zeiss Natural. The Vivid mode has the most effective colours, and that is the one I used as default when testing the X200 Pro.
As you’d think about, there are not any points with images taken in daylight situations. The X200 Pro does an important job preserving element, and also you get vibrant colours with wonderful dynamic vary and white stability. While the sensor itself is not as giant as final yr, tweaks to the tuning permits the X200 Pro to ship the same caliber of images.
The foremost digicam does an unimaginable job in low-light situations as effectively, delivering correct colours and particulars. Honestly, I haven’t got something to fault with the principle digicam, and the X200 Pro delivers the whole lot I want — picture high quality is all the time constant, it does a great job with fast-moving objects, and there isn’t any shutter lag in any respect.
The largest change this time is the 200MP telephoto lens; it goes as much as 3.7x through optical zoom and has OIS, and whereas the elevated focal size is clearly helpful, the place the lens really shines is at portrait photographs. The X200 Pro takes pleasant portrait photographs, with class-leading segmentation and bokeh. The better part in regards to the mode is that you simply get to decide on between 5 focal lengths, supplying you with loads of choices to border a topic.
Although the wide-angle lens is an older sensor, it does an honest sufficient job more often than not. It’s solely in demanding low-light situations which you could make out its limitations, however in all different taking pictures situations, it delivers usable images. The solely quibble I’ve on this space is that the selfie lens is not fairly as much as scratch. It’s nonetheless an honest module and takes good images, but it surely does not have the identical high quality because the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Vivo ought to have switched to a more recent sensor.
Outside of that, the X200 Pro has what’s arguably one of many strongest digicam packages, and the mixture of the 50MP foremost lens and versatile zoom lens provides it a definite benefit. I’m intrigued to see what Vivo does with the X200 Ultra, as a result of barring that, I do not see another system outmatching the X200 Pro in 2025.
Vivo X200 Pro: Software
I like what Vivo is doing on the software program aspect of issues. The X200 Pro runs Funtouch OS 15 primarily based on Android 15, and it’s completely different sufficient to ColorOS 15 and its derivatives that you do not really feel such as you’re utilizing the identical UI. The interface is clear and optimized extremely effectively to make the most of the {hardware}, and I now desire it to ColorOS or MIUI — a giant deal contemplating its iOS-esque heritage.
I haven’t got any negatives on this space; I did not see any issues with push notifications or errant crashes, and the UI was fluid within the week I used the system. That’s simply with this system; as talked about earlier, I used the X100 Pro as a secondary telephone for a lot of 2024, and did not run into any points there both.
Like each different interface, you get an honest quantity of AI-backed utilities, together with Circle to Search, AI observe summarization, transcribing, and translation. Whether they’re really usable is right down to your wants; I do not see the purpose of most AI instruments of their present state, and the one one I take advantage of with any regularity is the transcribe function that lets me convert audio to textual content.
Vivo does a great job with software program updates, and the X100 Pro picked up constant updates over the course of the yr. The X200 Pro will obtain 4 Android OS updates together with six years of safety updates, and whereas that is not on par with Google and Samsung, it’s according to what different Chinese producers are doing.
Vivo X200 Pro: The competitors
The Find X8 Pro is the closest rival to the X200 Pro, with each telephones that includes the identical MediaTek Dimensity platform and delivering standout cameras. With the X200 Pro confined to Asian markets, the Find X8 Pro is a viable selection for those who want a tool with versatile cameras. While Vivo’s telephone has the sting at portrait photographs and zoom, the Find X8 Pro does an important job by itself. I like Vivo’s colour tuning higher, and Funtouch OS is healthier to make use of than the newest iteration of ColorOS, so the X200 Pro wins out.
Vivo X200 Pro: Should you purchase it?
You can purchase this if:
- You want among the finest digicam packages accessible right now
- You desire a improbable telephoto lens
- You want a telephone that takes gorgeous portrait photographs
- You need class-leading battery life
- You want the newest {hardware}
You should not purchase this if:
- You want the most effective selfie digicam
- You need long-term updates just like the Pixel 9 Pro XL
- You want a tool that is bought within the U.S. or U.Okay.
Vivo did not want to vary too many issues with the X100 Pro, and fortunately, the model retained the most effective options from the system. The X200 Pro has among the finest digicam packages you may discover right now, and the addition of the 200MP telephoto lens provides it a definite benefit. The portrait photographs you get out of the telephone are really unimaginable, and whereas the X100 Ultra nonetheless has a slender edge, it is not a lot.
I like the whole lot else in regards to the telephone. The AMOLED panel is among the many greatest I’ve used, the {hardware} is on par with the most effective from Qualcomm, and the battery lasts two days between prices. The software program is nice to make use of as effectively, and Funtouch OS 15 delivers a great stability between a fluid UI and loads of customizability.
The solely level of rivalry is that the selfie digicam is not fairly on the identical degree as different flagships. And with the telephone restricted to Asian nations, there isn’t any dependable strategy to come up with it within the U.S. or U.Okay., and that is an actual disgrace. But for those who’re in a rustic the place the system is bought by Vivo, it’s best to think about choosing it up.
Having used the iPhone 16 Pro Max, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Find X8 Pro within the final three months, I’m satisfied that the X200 Pro has the most effective cameras of the lot, and my SIM is staying put on this system lengthy after the assessment is completed.