Vivo X80 Pro review

Greatest Costs Right this moment: Vivo X80 Professional

Vivo’s flagship telephones have slowly earned a fame for wonderful digital camera efficiency, culminating in final yr’s X70 Professional+ being broadly named considered one of – if not the – finest digital camera telephones in the marketplace.

With no X80 Professional+, it falls on the X80 Professional to take up the mantle. And certainly, its digital camera system is strikingly just like the X70 Professional+’s, albeit with a couple of key tweaks – particularly to the corporate’s trademark gimbal stabilisation.

Think about sooner charging and an upgraded chipset and the X80 Professional is actually a worthy successor, if not a clear-cut improve, and by any measure is an distinctive Android flagship.

Design and construct

• Uncommon massive digital camera module
• Unbelievable frosted glass end
• IP68 score

From the entrance, the Vivo X80 Professional seems like another high-end Android flagship. It’s large a slab, due to an unlimited 6.78in show with a central punch-hole selfie digital camera and sloping, curved sides to the display.

Dominik Tomaszewski

At 9.1mm it’s not the thinnest cellphone round, however with the curved edges it nonetheless feels surprisingly slender. Equally at 219g it’s not tremendous light-weight, however most telephones this measurement nonetheless run a bit heavier.

From the again although, it’s a bit extra uncommon. That’s largely all the way down to the digital camera module, an odd design which sees three of the 4 rear lenses contained in a circle, with the fourth sat beneath them however inside a bigger, mirrored rectangle that stretches throughout the cellphone’s again.

Components of this have already been seen in different Vivo telephones, so it’s not completely new, however I nonetheless suppose it seems fairly odd – not least the best way the periscope lens appears to have been inelegantly dumped beneath the opposite cameras. Nonetheless, it’s actually uncommon, and one undoubted good thing about the vast module is that the cellphone doesn’t rock from side-to-side when resting on its again.

Dominik Tomaszewski

It helps that the remainder of the cellphone’s end is phenomenal. The worldwide launch of the cellphone is just accessible in black frosted glass (with orange vegan leather-based and inexperienced ceramic additionally accessible in China), which glitters barely within the mild whereas nonetheless wanting as understated as you’d count on from a plain black cellphone.

Maybe extra importantly, the end feels implausible. It’s in some way clean and comfortable, an nearly satiny texture that merely doesn’t make sense coming from a sheet of glass. It’s good – although in fact received’t actually matter a lot if you happen to throw it right into a case.

You’ll most likely need that case, since Vivo hasn’t confirmed whether or not or not it’s used Gorilla Glass to maintain the cellphone secure(r) from drops or scratches. It has invested in an IP68 score although, so the X80 Professional ought to keep secure sufficient from water and dirt.

Show and audio

• Large 6.78in display
• 120Hz LTPO and QHD+ decision
• Stereo audio system

The show is without doubt one of the greatest clues that the X80 Professional is mostly a successor to the X70 Professional+, somewhat than final yr’s common X70 Professional. That’s as a result of it’s jumped as much as match the scale and determination of the earlier prime mannequin, with a show that’s actually exhausting to beat.

Dominik Tomaszewski

As I’ve already mentioned, at 6.78in this can be a large display. The 1440 x 3200 decision makes it QHD+, extra detailed than even many different flagships. Due to utilizing the most recent LTPO 3.0 show tech, the cellphone may also scale its refresh charge from 1Hz all the best way to 120Hz to optimise energy consumption.

These are all simply tech specs although, and what issues is that this display is gorgeous to have a look at. It’s vivid, punchy, and vibrant, and even comfy to make use of in pretty direct, vivid mild.

So long as the extra-large measurement appeals, I can’t think about anybody having a phrase of grievance about this display.

Dominik Tomaszewski

It additionally packs in a single pretty distinctive perk: an extra-large ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. The bigger sensing space makes it far simpler to unlock the cellphone with out actually wanting, and it’s additionally proved impressively quick and correct. If you’d like you possibly can even register two fingerprints concurrently for an additional layer of safety – requiring each to be scanned directly for biometric verification – however this will solely be used for app encryption, to not unlock the cellphone itself.

As for audio, it received’t shock you to listen to there’s no headphone jack right here. Which means headphones must be Bluetooth or USB-C, and while you’re listening out loud the built-in stereo audio system are highly effective for a cellphone, although in fact received’t match a devoted speaker.

Specs and efficiency

• Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
• 12GB RAM and 256GB storage
• Clean efficiency

Core efficiency is one other space the place there’s actually no room for grievance.

The worldwide model of the X80 Professional is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, essentially the most highly effective Snapdragon chip accessible in telephones proper now (the marginally sooner 8+ Gen 1 has solely simply been introduced, and never but made it into precise handsets).

It comes paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of non-expandable storage, although that’s the one choice you get.

Apparently in China there are different RAM and storage choices, together with even the choice to purchase the cellphone with the rival MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chip – although there’s simply the one model for the worldwide launch.

That’s hardly an issue when it runs this properly although. With the specs it has, it’s no shock that the X80 Professional holds its personal with the perfect telephones in the marketplace in our benchmarks, and it’s the identical story in day-to-day use. The cellphone is quick, fluid, and responsive it doesn’t matter what you throw at it, and will likely be an awesome selection for multi-tasking or intense gaming.

As for networking, you get 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC – fairly exhausting to fault. Funnily sufficient the China-only Dimensity model of the cellphone advantages from the newer Bluetooth 5.3 commonplace, however this actually doesn’t matter within the grand scheme of issues.

Battery and charging

• Wonderful practically two-day battery life
• Quick wired and wi-fi charging
• 80W wired charger provided

Prepared for extra excellent news? The X80 Professional is implausible with regards to its battery too.

The 4700mAh cell right here is bigger than on any of Vivo’s flagships final yr, and it’s paid off. The cellphone comfortably lasts by way of a day, and nearly stretched to a full second day for me – and for lighter customers I believe it typically will.

That’s with me utilizing the always-on show, excessive refresh charge, and max decision too, so if you happen to’re completely happy to drop any of those options down then it is best to discover the cellphone lasts even longer.

That have is backed up by lasting greater than 11 hours within the PCMark battery benchmark, probably the greatest outcomes we’ve seen in a flagship in a while, and a critical enchancment on the X70 sequence.

Dominik Tomaszewski

Even higher, with the quick charging on give you received’t must plug the cellphone in in a single day anyway. The 80W wired charger provided with the cellphone is the important thing: in my take a look at it introduced the cellphone again to 60% in quarter-hour, and 98% in 30, so you can most likely plug the cellphone in when you bathe and get a full day’s battery again.

If you happen to’d somewhat, it additionally helps 50W wi-fi charging, although as all the time this depends on shopping for Vivo’s official wi-fi charger. If you happen to’d somewhat, it can nonetheless fortunately cost at slower speeds on third-party Qi-certified wi-fi chargers too although.

Digital camera and video

• Highly effective quad rear digital camera
• Gimbal-stabilised 2x portrait lens
• Succesful selfie shooter

The digital camera {hardware} on the X80 Professional is one other trace that that is just about a follow-up to the X70 Professional+, as a result of nearly the very same setup is used once more right here, albeit barely re-arranged.

The center of the digital camera is a 50Mp primary lens, joined by a 48Mp ultrawide, 12Mp 2x portrait telephoto lens, and 8Mp 5x periscope lens. All use just about the identical sensors, lenses, and apertures as on the older cellphone.

Dominik Tomaszewski

There are a couple of small tweaks although. All of the lenses now profit from the brand new V1+ picture processing chip; the primary lens will get an improve to the ISOCELL GNV sensor – a customized model of the GN1 used earlier than; and the gimbal stabilisation has been moved from the ultrawide to the portrait lens.

These first two tweaks are decidedly minor. Even taking side-by-side comparability pictures it’s extremely exhausting to identify a lot distinction between outcomes out of the primary lenses from this cellphone and the X70 Professional+, suggesting that no matter advantages the V1+ and GNV are bringing, they’re comparatively slight.

Being simply pretty much as good as the perfect digital camera in any cellphone shouldn’t be precisely a small achievement although. Like most flagships the primary lens right here excels in vivid lighting, however the true distinction for the X80 Professional is how properly it handles low mild, particularly utilizing HDR to steadiness out vivid lights in in any other case darkish scenes. No different producer is shut proper now.

Even with out the gimbal stabilisation, the ultrawide nonetheless handles itself exceptionally properly too. As soon as once more, it’s at evening the place it actually units itself aside – most different flagships have highly effective ultrawides that falter in dim lighting, however this lens seems about pretty much as good as the primary digital camera even in difficult lighting.

The 2 zoom lenses are solely rather less spectacular. Each impress for essentially the most half, although the 5x periscope, whereas good, is actually no match for the Galaxy S22 Extremely. Photographs look nice on the pure 5x degree, good as much as 10x, however drop off after that because the digital zoom takes over. Each deal with low mild higher than most rivals, however there’s a transparent hole between these two lenses and the primary and ultrawide in that regard.

The large change right here is the addition of gimbal stabilisation to the portrait lens – Vivo’s time period for the 2x zoom digital camera. That is largely to facilitate secure portrait video, particularly at evening, and outcomes are spectacular. Personally, I’d count on to get extra use out of that tech on the ultrawide digital camera, however your mileage might fluctuate.

Dominik Tomaszewski

As earlier than, the rear digital camera options Zeiss branding, and all of the lenses profit from the corporate’s T* lens coating, which reduces glare and reflections. There are additionally a couple of Zeiss picture filters, in addition to a Zeiss-branded ‘cinematic’ video mode, which shoots in a large cinema-style side ratio at 24fps with a bokeh impact, designed to duplicate the Hollywood really feel.

For different video, the cellphone can shoot at as much as 8K, however the perfect outcomes will likely be at HD and 4K. The principle power right here is stabilisation – even setting apart the portrait lens’s gimbal tech, there’s wonderful stabilisation throughout each lens right here, making this probably the greatest Android telephones for capturing video.

The selfie digital camera is probably the least exceptional of the 4 lenses, but it surely’s no slouch. This 32Mp, f/2.5 digital camera handles itself properly in diversified lighting, and has loads of filters and wonder choices if you need them.

Software program and updates

• Android 12 with FunTouch OS
• Numerous pre-installed bloatware
• Three years of updates promised

If the X80 Professional has a weak spot, it’s the software program.

Dominik Tomaszewski

The cellphone ships with Android 12 and FunTouch OS, which is much from my favorite Android pores and skin round – and may simply be one of many worst.

It appears like Xiaomi and Oppo’s software program did three or 4 years in the past, with a slew of pre-installed software program, unusual default settings, and aggressive battery optimisation.

The bloatware is the most important flaw: no cellphone this costly ought to really feel this low cost while you set it up, but it surely’s exhausting to not have that impression when your app drawer is instantly full of a bunch of Vivo apps you don’t need together with third-party choices like Seize or Agoda. There are even app-esque adverts for ‘Sizzling Apps’ and ‘Sizzling Video games’, which sit in your library and might’t be uninstalled.

Different annoyances vary from the ugly biking lock display wallpapers which might be pre-applied by default (and troublesome to show off) and the truth that you’ll possible need to manually rein within the cellphone’s battery administration tech or danger lacking notifications or having your background apps killed off.

Dominik Tomaszewski

The excellent news is that Vivo has at the least improved its promise for long-term help. The X80 Professional will get three Android model updates – taking it by way of Android 13 and on to fifteen in 2024 – and can get safety patches for a similar interval.

That’s not the perfect promise round – Google and Samsung each do higher – but it surely’s an enchancment on the corporate’s earlier providing, and does put it on the higher finish of the vary for Android software program help proper now.

Worth and availability

The Vivo X80 Professional is out now throughout Asia and Europe – you possibly can seize it now from Ali Specific, Flipkart, and different retailers. European markets embody Spain, Germany, Italy, and the UK – the place it can lastly go on sale on 7 July. Sadly, it actually received’t attain the US.

Dominik Tomaszewski

As for pricing, within the UK the cellphone is £1,199, in India it prices ₹86,999, and in Europe it ranges between €1,100 and €1,300 relying on the nation.

That’s costly, outpacing the Pixel 6 Professional, however just like the Galaxy S22 Extremely, Oppo Discover X5 Professional, and Xiaomi 12 Professional.

Take a look at our guides to the perfect Android telephones and finest digital camera telephones for extra options, or the perfect Vivo telephones for the way it ranks within the firm’s catalogue.

Verdict

The Vivo X80 Professional is an distinctive Android cellphone.

Prime-notch core specs are mixed with a surprising show, wonderful battery life and charging, and considered one of – if not the – finest cameras in any cellphone proper now.

If you happen to ask me the design leaves one thing to be desired, particularly with regards to the awkward digital camera module, although FunTouch OS is de facto the primary cause to think about wanting elsewhere. It’s clunky, awkward, and laden with bloatware – {hardware} this good merely deserves higher.

Nonetheless, if you may get previous that then this cellphone is actually implausible, and nowhere extra so than the digital camera. Samsung should still have the periscope crown, however Vivo’s primary digital camera and ultrawide are nearly actually the perfect round, particularly at evening, and this is without doubt one of the few Android telephones to return near the iPhone on video.

Specs

• Android 12 with Funtouch OS 12
• 6.78in WQHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/MediaTek Dimensity 9000
• 8/12GB RAM
• 256/512GB inside storage
• 50Mp, f/1.6 primary lens with OIS
• 48Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide lens
• 12Mp, f/1.6, 2x zoom telephoto lens with gimbal stabilisation
• 8Mp, f/3.4, 5x zoom periscope lens with OIS
• 32Mp, f/2.5 selfie lens
• Fingerprint scanner (in-screen)
• Bluetooth 5.2/5.3
• GPS
• NFC
• 5G
• Twin-SIM
• IP68 score
• 4700mAh non-removable battery
• 80W wired charging
• 50W wi-fi charging
• 164.6 x 75.3 x 9.1mm
• 215/219g