Vivo X90 Pro primary camera samples(tap to see full size)
Images shot using the 2X portrait camera offer a good bokeh effect and edge detection. The six software filters that Vivo and Zeiss have offered, including a new Cine-Flare Style, add a fun element to the shooting experience. That being said, I noticed that the software tends to smoothen the texture of hair on a person’s head at times.
Vivo X90 Pro 2X portrait mode samples (tap to see full size)
The ultra-wide camera is a bit weak in terms of performance compared to the previous model. While daylight performance is good, there is a noticeable loss of details in low-light shots, especially around the edges of the frame.
Vivo X90 Pro ultra-wide camera samples(tap to see full size)
For selfies, there is a 32-megapixel front camera. The camera app, by default, beautifies selfies by applying a bunch of filters to make you look slim and fair. Portrait mode images are a hit or miss in my experience when it comes to edge detection. There are instances where the software missed blurring out the background and in some cases, it also blurred out parts of my face.
In terms of video, the Vivo X90 Pro’s main camera can record 8K 24fps or 4K 60fps videos. Camera performance during both day and night time is quite impressive. The V2 imaging chip, along with the camera hardware, ensures that the videos captured during the night are well-lit and offer good details. The dynamic range performance of the rear camera in videos is also quite impressive. That being said, there were a couple of instances where I noticed stutters when recording videos.
Vivo X90 Pro selfie camera samples: (top) Portrait mode, (bottom) Photo mode
The camera app offers Standard and Ultra stabilisation options, but the latter crops the frame a bit. You can use Ultra stabilisation when shooting up to 1080p or 4K at 30fps. On the other hand, the camera switches to Standard stabilisation when you shoot at 1080p or 4K 60fps. There’s not a major difference between the two modes if your subject is in the centre of the frame, however, when you have a wider frame in focus, that is when you’ll see the benefit of the Ultra stabilisation mode. There is no stabilisation option when shooting in 8K.
The front camera can only shoot 1080p 60fps video and the overall video quality is decent. The subject is well-exposed and you also get a good amount of details. That being said, the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the iPhone 14 series offer 4K 60fps video recording using the front camera.
Verdict
Vivo’s X series has a reputation of offering a unique photography experience and the new X90 Pro is no different. The rear primary and portrait camera sensors deliver excellent performance. Photos taken by the main camera at times felt like they were captured using a dedicated camera. System performance, display quality and battery life with quick charging are very good as well. The phone has a premium design and comes with an IP68 rating.
However, there are a few misses along the way in the Vivo X90 Pro which do stack up, especially when you factor in the price. The ultra-wide camera is not very impressive and we feel that the X80 Pro did a much better job. We weren’t too happy with the processed images from the selfie camera either when using Portrait mode. Other misses would be the lack of a periscope camera, a lower-resolution and non-LTPO display, and an optical fingerprint sensor instead of ultrasonic — all of which are present on the Vivo X80 Pro, which is still available and is a bit cheaper.
The competition has also caught up. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (Review) has set a benchmark when it comes to providing a versatile camera experience, but it’s also quite a bit more expensive. The Xiaomi 13 Pro (Review) is probably the closest competitor to the X90 Pro right now and apart from not having an official IP rating in India, it easily matches (and exceeds in some areas) the performance of the X90 Pro while costing a bit less. There is also the Google Pixel 7 Pro (Review) which offers an excellent camera system and a unique software experience.
