Vivo X80 Pro: price, features, review

Chinese manufacturer Vivo packs a punch with its X80 Pro, a photography-oriented Android smartphone, which benefits from a partnership with Germany’s Zeiss. A high-end model that immediately plays in the big leagues.

Vivo begins to be noticed. In the first quarter of 2022, the Chinese brand even ranked among the top 5 smartphone manufacturers in the world according to Canalys, a company specializing in market research. Still relatively unknown in France, Vivo does not hide its ambitions and, after some successful models such as the X60 Pro or the V23 5G, the manufacturer is now aiming with its X80 Pro, the top of the basket to come and rub shoulders with the tenors of the category signed Apple, Samsung, Google, Xiaomi or Oppo. Sleek, powerful, versatile and devilishly gifted for photography thanks to a partnership with German optics specialist Zeiss, who not only supplied the lenses but also collaborated on the design of the software, the Vivo X80 Pro has more to seduce. .

What are the technical characteristics of the Vivo X80 Pro?

Vivo has not skimped on the components that equip its X80 Pro to build a solid technical sheet capable of facing the competition.

Design. On the front, the Vivo X80 Pro does not in any way revolutionize the design codes of current smartphones. It has a beautiful 6.78-inch OLED screen curved at the edges and decorated with a center punch at the top to accommodate the selfie photosensor. Obviously, it is at the rear that the Chinese can afford a little more originality. Here the photo block occupies more than a third of the surface with its four sensors and the flash. We also note the use of a satin coating that is smooth to the touch and has the advantage of not leaving fingerprints. Finally, the case is splash, water and dust resistant. Im benefits from an IP68 waterproof rating (it can remain submerged at a depth of 1.5m for half an hour).

Display. The screen of the Vivo X80 Pro reaches a definition of 3200 x 1440 pixels and a refresh rate of 120 Hz for better fluidity. This WQHD+ Oled panel benefits from infinite contrasts and is bright enough to remain readable in direct sunlight. The lower part of the screen hides a fingerprint reader large enough and therefore very practical to unlock the device without having to point it straight ahead. It is quite reactive.

Processor. LThe Vivo X80 Pro is powered by a supported Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 with 12GB of RAM. A winning duo that allows the smartphone to remain responsive in all situations and especially for gaming without overheating.

Autonomy. The device has a battery with a capacity of 4700 mAh. It’s a bit below today’s high-end standards, but it allows you to last a full day without keeping an eye on the gauge. As for recharging, Vivo has also put the package there by providing an 80W wired charger in the box. About fifteen minutes of charging thus recover 50% of the battery. Wait a little over half an hour for a full charge. Please note that the smartphone also supports induction (wireless) charging.

System. Like most smartphones released in 2022, this Vivo X80 Pro runs on Android 12, the latest updated version of Google’s mobile system. The brand also indicates that it will provide 3 years of major Android updates, enough to go up to Android 15 at a minimum. Vivo adds its FunTouch OS software overlay. It offers an elegant interface but, contrary to what its name suggests, it lacks a bit of joviality. However, it is smooth and pleasant to drive. Android regulars will have no trouble finding their reflexes and orientation.

Photo and video. High-end model that requires, the Vivo X80 Pro is equipped with a sensor array prepared for all situations: a 50 megapixel (Mpx) main module; a 48 Mpx ultra wide angle module; a 12 MP 2X module for portraits; uOne 8MP 5X telephoto module; a 32 Mpx front module for selfies. As for the video, the device is capable of filming in 8K at 24 frames per second and in 4K at 60 frames per second.

What is the price of the Vivo X80 Pro?

With such solid features and since it is among the high-end models of this year 2022, the Vivo X80 Pro, available from the end of June in most distributors, also sports a “premium” price. Vivo markets it at 1,299 euros in a single version at the moment. More affordable versions are likely to be expected later in the year.

Vivo X80 Pro: the review

We were able to drive and test the VivoX80 Pro for a few days. Here is our feeling with this premium smartphone.

Design and ergonomics. The VivoX80 Pro seems a bit heavy at first (215g), but after a few minutes its weight is forgotten. We especially appreciate the rear coating that does not leave fingerprints and is quite soft to the touch. Be careful, it can be slippery at times. All buttons are distributed on the right edge and remain easily accessible even for small hands. The under-display fingerprint sensor is a joy to use, as the recognition surface is wide and recognition is fast. On the back, the imposing photo block does not upset the balance of the smartphone when placed on a table. Finally, the case is a pretty good size (75.3 x 164.6 x 9.1 mm) to easily fit in your hand.

Performance. During our hands-on, we weren’t able to put in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and the 12GB of RAM that comes with it by default. The device remained responsive with multitasking operations (around twenty applications open simultaneously) and did not overheat during gaming phases, despite the rather high ambient temperature in early summer. In short, the Vivo X80 Pro lives up to the market leaders without, however, standing out.

Photo. Obviously, it is for this reason that the device wants to make a difference. And we were not disappointed. The shots offer impressive sharpness and striking colors. The partnership with Zeiss plays a big part in this, especially since the Photos app has a Zeiss button. His goal: to go from the slightly enhanced colors offered by most smartphones, to more natural colors. They are less flattering and less flashy but suddenly closer to reality. The ultra wide angle is also very effective with relatively little distortion and impeccable sharpness. The 2X module, on the other hand, produces spectacular macro results with amazing sharpness, even when the camera is not on a mount. This same module also allows the realization of portraits with a small software key signed Zeiss. It allows you to play with the background blur without distorting the shot with an artificial appearance. Finally, the 5X telephoto lens also offers great performance with impressive sharpness. Only when ambient light drops do the photosensors of the Vivo X80 Pro show their limit. There is a slight loss of sharpness. However, nothing unacceptable.

Autonomy. Vivo had the good idea to provide an 80W charger in the box to very quickly replenish the power of the device. Because in intensive use (GPS, photos, games, Internet) the 4,700 mAh battery has a hard time going far. We managed to last only the day. In normal use, however, there is no problem. At the end of the day, the battery still shows 40% charge.

How much is the Vivo X80 Pro worth?

Vivo did not lie about the high-end performance of its device. The ergonomics are there, the features are there, but above all, it has serious advantages for amateur or experienced photographers. It’s hard to miss landscape, portrait, close-up or paparazzi-style shots with the 5X zoom. There are some improvements to be made to low-light photos, even if most are still usable. A versatile and efficient device.