Review – Vivo X90 Has A Compatible Combination Of Performance And Photography


 The smartphone market in Malaysia is very hot because it is quite open. Smartphone brands from the four corners of the world can enter the Malaysian market at various price points. In the flagship device category, Apple and Samsung are often on top using a combination of premium finishes, attractive features, solid software support, very satisfying performance and best-in-class photography capabilities.



In the last category above – best-in-class photography capabilities – Apple and Samsung's position is already faltering. Oppo, Huawei and Vivo in the last five years have been able to offer better photography capabilities in our opinion. Vivo, for example, has collaborated with Zeiss and the result is that last year the Vivo X80 Pro was named the third best device throughout 2022.


That was last year. How about 2023? Can last year's excellence continue or is it just a one time banana? Here's our full review of the Vivo X90.


Specifications

Vivo X90

6.78″ AMOLED screen

1260 x 2800 pixels

HDR10+

Mediatek Dimensity 9200 processor (4nm)

1 X 3.05 GHz Cortex X2 chip

3 X 2.5 GHz Cortex A710

4 X 1.8 GHz Cortex A510

Arm Immortalis-G715 Graphics Chip

RAM 12 GB LPDDR5

Internal Storage 256 GB UFS 4.0

Primary Camera 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS (Wide Angle)

12 MP, f/2.0 (Ultra Wide Angle)

12 MP, f/2.0 (Telephoto) 2x Optical Zoom

4K 60p

Front Camera 32 Megapixel f/2.5

4K 30p

4810 mAh battery

120W wired charging

SIM/Telephony Dual SIM Nano /5G

NFC Yes

Infrared Yes

Waterproof IP64

Fingerprint Scan System under the screen

Sale Price Starts at RM3699

Screen

6.78″ AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate support. The screen is quite large which makes it good as a media player but is a little distracting because there are two curves on the sides of the screen. Vivo continues to use this design because it makes it look premium as if there is no side bezel when viewed from the front.


We favor more practical flat screen designs. Whenever a video is watched in full screen mode, it overflows to the side until part of the content is clipped. It also exposes this side screen to impact if the device falls on the floor.


Supported HDR content is HDR10 and HDR10+. We managed to watch HDR content from YouTube and Netflix without issue so far. Because this is a high refresh rate AMOLED panel, all content is clear even under the scorching sun and the color display is vivid.



The bezels on all four corners are also thin in keeping with the X90's status as a flagship device. There is still a small camera hole in the front. Due to the relatively large size of the screen, we found it a little difficult to access the entire screen, especially if using the 3-button navigation system.


An optical fingerprint scanner is also placed below the screen. Its position too far down makes it again a bit difficult to scan the thumb when the X90 is held in one hand. This is a bit of a disappointment as we are used to the higher sensor locations on previously reviewed Samsung, Oppo, Realme and OnePlus devices.



We were a little disappointed with the X90's screen description system. When the automatic brightness setting is selected, the screen is still quite dark especially at night. When the light is turned on in a dark room, the screen does not return to brightness quickly. The X90's light sensor may need to be recalibrated as it was so inconsistent we had to manually change the description throughout the duration of this review.


Design

The basic design of the X90 is still the same as the X80 where the main tri-camera system is placed in a large round shaped hump. Missing this year is the black secondary square hump. The round hump of the camera is placed directly on the back panel of the device which is made of metal.


This metallic finish is not shiny and does not trap dirt easily. There is a prominent Zeiss logo on the back and a metal strip with the Xtreme Imagination slogan. For those who are not familiar with the Vivo X series, it focuses on photography capabilities compared to other models offered by them.



The hump of the camera was quite large making the device unstable when placed on a table surface. A silicone frame is given with every X90 purchase in Malaysia which solves this issue. When the frame is installed, the relatively exposed side of the screen that we mentioned a few paragraphs above is also protected from shock if the device falls.


On the right side there is an elongated audio adjustment button and a relatively small power button. Both are made of metal material which is not only comfortable to press but also sturdy making the device feel premium.


The infrared emitter for the remote control is placed on top while the USB-C charging jack below is sandwiched by the audio grille and SIM tray. Dual SIM nano 5G can be used simultaneously on Vivo X90. Currently no eSIM support is provided. Also missing is support for adding storage using a micro SD card.


No 3.5mm audio jack is provided but stereo speakers on this device are not present with Dolby Atmos audio system which is usually provided by default on Android devices.



A metal frame surrounds the body of the X90 which makes the build sturdy. The device is not easily bent even when a strong force is applied. Overall the X90 has a solid build, feels premium and comfortable in the hand. It even passes the IP64 standard. This is not the highest standard of IP68 but it is better than nothing at all.


Interface And User Experience

The Funtouch OS 13 operating system based on Android 13 is used with it similar to the original Android launcher. This is certainly to be expected as Google is tightening the amount of interface customization that manufacturers can use if they want to continue using GMS. News for Android users who are used to the standard interface. With Android 13 comes the customization of automatically matching the color of interface elements with the background and also a more diverse selection of widgets.



As we have published in several reviews before, Android 13 does not bring sudden interface changes. If you've previously used Android 13, the Funtouch OS 13 interface won't surprise or confuse you.


What is confusing is the device settings screen which uses the same green circular symbol for all categories. The white icon in the green circle that is used is not very clear. Every time we want to make changes to the settings, we have to read what is written for each category because they are also changed compared to stock Android.



Vivo needs to borrow what Samsung has done with One UI and Oppo with ColorOS on the settings screen. Each symbol has a different color and a clear icon. This may seem small but if you want to find a specific category (Display for example) on the X90 settings screen you will definitely get confused.


Vivo still offers some additional applications such as the V-Appstore store that allows applications to be downloaded outside of the Play Store. Very useful if you want to use Antutu 3D which has been banned. The iManager application is a local center to see the health level of the device system. The process of optimizing RAM and cleaning storage can be done directly from within this application.



It's not all good because Vivo includes several Booking.com, Agoda, Viu and Shopee apps built-in. We are less fond of the existence of fat applications. 256GB of storage on this device seems like a lot but with the app sizes getting bigger, it would be better if there were no fat apps at all. Fortunately the app can be uninstalled by the user.


There is an Extended RAM feature that adds up to 8GB of memory virtually when needed. Funtouch OS 13 only allows the addition of 8GB without the option of a smaller size. Disappointing because on other Android devices 2,4,6 and 8 GB RAM options are given.


On the reviewed device, the amount of RAM that can be used is up to 20GB if necessary. We have to admit not using this feature very much because 12GB is enough RAM size for 99% of situations. Throughout the review period we simply turned this feature off without any performance penalty.



The experience of using Vivo X90 with Funtouch OS 13 is very smooth. No stuck issues or apps can't run. With a 120Hz screen everything feels as smooth as butter on the table of a roadside burger joint. This is just a short-term use of the X90 so far. In the full review later we will try to state if there is a situation where the device fails to operate properly.


The only issue we've noticed so far is not being able to download the Netflix app from the Play Store because official support for the MediaTek Dimensity 9200 chip hasn't been given. The application needs to be sideloaded but can work without issue including watching at HD and HDR resolutions. There is also no heating issue after a moderately long video game session. Dimensity's reputation for cool chips continues on the X90.


Bench mark

Here are some scores recorded by the Vivo X90 with Dimensity 9200 when popular benchmark tests were performed. This chip is in the same class as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This is a comparison of the benchmark scores of the X90 compared to the iQOO 11 5G (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) and the iPhone 14 Pro Max (Apple A16 Bionic).


Geekbench 5


Vivo X90 – 1372/4192

iQOO 11 5G – 1457/4702

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 1875/5469

Antutu 3D


Vivo X90 – 1,147,029

iQOO 11 5G – 1,248,937

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 974,941

3D Mark Wildlife Extreme


Vivo X90 – 3176

iQOO 11 5G – 3763

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 3373


The performance of two weeks of safe use is very good. It feels smooth all the time helped by the fast 120Hz screen. Only sometimes we realize that there is a frame drop while scrolling the screen. This only happened for the first three days before not happening again. Maybe the X90 is still trying to optimize the system with the applications installed at that time.


Playing different types of prema no problem. COD Mobile, Diablo Immortal and Genshin Impact can be launched quickly and on high settings. The device also does not overheat after more than four COD Mobile sessions. Just warm as the heat from the hand is transferred to the back metal panel. The Dimensity 9200 chip may not be as fast as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and A16 Bionic but it heats up like the two flagship chips. If you are a gamer, the Dimensity 9200 is a good chip and most importantly cool.


Telephony and GPS

The device is equipped with a sub-6GHz 5G modem but at this time it is not yet supported by the DNB network. During the review period only the 4G LTE+ network can be tested through the Digi telco. Phone calls are crystal clear with VoWiFI support as well but no VoLTE support. WiFi speed is also very satisfactory due to support up to WiFI 6.


GPS performance is also as good as cellular performance with locations that can be tracked in Waze and Google Maps apps quickly. While driving the signal is not interrupted even in the middle of Kuala Lumpur which is full of tall buildings.


Camera

The main camera 50MP Sony IMX866 wide-angle OIS, 12MP ultra-wide-angle and 12MP telephoto that supports 2x optical zoom are placed on the back. The front camera is 32MP. Zeiss lenses are used on the main and front cameras. Also included is the Vivo V2 ISP chip to process every picture taken.



The camera application is easy to understand with various interesting additional features such as dedicated modes for architecture and landscape, Astro, Long Exposure, Double Exposure and Supermoon. Custom color modes by Zeiss are also accessible. Here are some sample photos we took using the Vivo X90 camera.


In good lighting situations objects in the picture look sharp, accurate color reproduction and no overexposure issues.


The quality in dark mode is still good but the image looks a little soft.


There is no extreme digital zoom system as it is limited to 20x with optical zoom up to 2x. Based on the observation of the picture below, the zoom quality is still satisfactory at the 10x setting. Below we attach pictures at 1x, 5x and 10x zoom settings. The color in the picture is the same as the actual situation and was taken when the weather was hot. However, no overexposure issues were detected. Images are sharp and colors appear vivid.





Battery

With a 4810 mAh battery it is moderately large with it being divided into to support a 120W charging system. In heavy usage, the device lasts around 11 hours with SOT reaching 9 hours. On more casual use, the device can last up to 26 hours with a SOT of around 6 hours. This is for use almost entirely at home with WiFi.



The battery can be recharged in about 25 minutes via the 120W charger included in the box. USB-C to USB-C type charger that also supports USB-PD charging format. Therefore it can also be used to charge laptops. Buy Vivo X90 and get a universal charger with a small size. The only downside to the X90 is no wireless or reverse charging support.


Audio

Audio from the stereo speakers is bright and balanced. Even on medium settings it's loud enough to be heard. The audio quality from the speakers is satisfactory although the X90 does not come with the Dolby Atmos audio system that usually improves the audio quality. Audio support via TWS and wired connection is also excellent.


What's In The Box

Here is what was included in the box we received.


1x Vivo X90

1x Translucent silicone frame.

1x 120W three-pin charger.

1x USB-C to USB-C charging cable.

1x SIM Pin.

1x Manual.

Conclusion

A good start for Vivo this year as the X90 does not disappoint. It works well, capable of running at high settings, useful additional features and very satisfying camera capabilities aided by Zeiss lenses.



At a price of RM3699 in Malaysia, it may seem a bit expensive. But throughout 2023 the price of the device is predicted to jump up compared to 2022. In our opinion Vivo X90 is still worth it because it has everything needed for a flagship Android device in 2023. The lack of battery is not so noticeable because of the 120W fast charging support. If you've been waiting to use a Vivo device, the X90 is a device that will not disappoint.


Pro


Fast and bright 120Hz AMOLED screen.

The Dimensity 9200 is a fast benchmark processor.

Support 120W charging.

Camera system with good Zeiss lenses.

IP64 waterproof.

Cons


The screen is curved on the sides.

The fingerprint scanner is too far down.

No wireless charging support.

No 5G DNB support at this time.

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