At a look
Skilled’s Score
Execs
- (Perhaps) the very best digital camera round
- Quick wired & wi-fi charging
- IP68-water resistance
- Nice battery life
Cons
- Awkward-looking digital camera design
- Generally irritating software program
Our Verdict
The Vivo X80 Professional is an distinctive cellphone, with a shocking show, wonderful battery life, and among the finest cameras in any cellphone proper now. The software program is admittedly the one cause to contemplate trying elsewhere – it’s removed from the very best Android pores and skin round, although higher in Europe than elsewhere. {Hardware} this good deserves higher.
Value When Reviewed
Unavailable within the US
Greatest Costs In the present day: Vivo X80 Professional
Up to date 25 October & 7 December 2022: so as to add that the X80 Professional options Xensation Up protecting glass, and replace with software program expertise from a European handset.
Vivo’s flagship telephones have slowly earned a popularity for wonderful digital camera efficiency, culminating in final 12 months’s X70 Professional+ being extensively named one among – if not the – greatest digital camera telephones available on the market.
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 number 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 ranking
From the entrance, the Vivo X80 Professional seems to be like every other high-end Android flagship. It’s massive a slab, because of an unlimited 6.78in show with a central punch-hole selfie digital camera and sloping, curved sides to the display screen.
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 dimension nonetheless run a bit of heavier.
From the again although, it’s a bit of extra uncommon. That’s principally right down to the digital camera module, a wierd 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 fully new, however I nonetheless suppose it seems to be 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 extensive 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 barely out there in black frosted glass (with orange vegan leather-based and inexperienced ceramic additionally out there in China), which glitters barely within the gentle whereas nonetheless trying as understated as you’d anticipate from a plain black cellphone.
Maybe extra importantly, the end feels improbable. It’s one way or the other easy and gentle, an nearly satiny texture that merely doesn’t make sense coming from a sheet of glass. It’s sensible – although in fact received’t actually matter a lot when you throw it right into a case.
As a substitute of Corning’s Gorilla Glass, Vivo has used rival Schott’s Xensation Up protecting glass to maintain the cellphone’s show secure(r) from drops or scratches. It’s additionally invested in an IP68 ranking, so the X80 Professional ought to keep secure sufficient from water and dirt.
Show and audio
- Large 6.78in display screen
- 120Hz LTPO and QHD+ decision
- Stereo audio system
The show is likely one of the greatest clues that the X80 Professional is known as a successor to the X70 Professional+, slightly than final 12 months’s common X70 Professional. That’s as a result of it’s jumped as much as match the scale and backbone of the earlier high mannequin, with a show that’s truthfully exhausting to beat.
Dominik Tomaszewski
As I’ve already stated, at 6.78in this can be a massive display screen. The 1440 x 3200 decision makes it QHD+, extra detailed than even many different flagships. Because of utilizing the newest LTPO 3.0 show tech, the cellphone may scale its refresh price 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 screen is gorgeous to have a look at. It’s shiny, punchy, and vibrant, and even comfy to make use of in pretty direct, shiny gentle.
So long as the extra-large dimension appeals, I can’t think about anybody having a phrase of criticism about this display screen.
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 trying, and it’s additionally proved impressively quick and correct. If you need you’ll be able to 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. Meaning headphones should be Bluetooth or USB-C, and if 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 criticism.
The worldwide model of the X80 Professional is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, essentially the most highly effective Snapdragon chip out there 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.
Curiously 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 effectively although. With the specs it has, it’s no shock that the X80 Professional holds its personal with the very best telephones available on the market 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 might be an incredible alternative 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 more moderen 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 improbable in terms of its battery too.
The 4700mAh cell right here is bigger than on any of Vivo’s flagships final 12 months, and it’s paid off. The cellphone comfortably lasts by means of a day, and nearly stretched to a full second day for me – and for lighter customers I think it typically will.
That’s with me utilizing the always-on show, excessive refresh price, and max decision too, so when you’re blissful 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, among the finest 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 check it introduced the cellphone again to 60% in quarter-hour, and 98% in 30, so you might most likely plug the cellphone in whilst you bathe and get a full day’s battery again.
If you happen to’d slightly, it additionally helps 50W wi-fi charging, although as at all times this depends on shopping for Vivo’s official wi-fi charger. If you happen to’d slightly, it’ll 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 guts of the digital camera is a 50Mp important 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 number of small tweaks although. All of the lenses now profit from the brand new V1+ picture processing chip; the principle 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 principle 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 very best digital camera in any cellphone will not be precisely a small achievement although. Like most flagships the principle lens right here excels in shiny lighting, however the actual distinction for the X80 Professional is how effectively it handles low gentle, particularly utilizing HDR to steadiness out shiny 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 effectively 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 to be about pretty much as good as the principle 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. Pictures 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 gentle higher than most rivals, however there’s a transparent hole between these two lenses and the principle and ultrawide in that regard.
The massive 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 principally to facilitate steady portrait video, particularly at evening, and outcomes are spectacular. Personally, I’d anticipate to get extra use out of that tech on the ultrawide digital camera, however your mileage could differ.
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 number 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 very best outcomes might be at HD and 4K. The primary 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 among the finest 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 effectively in assorted lighting, and has loads of filters and sweetness choices if you’d like them.
Software program and updates
- Android 12 with FunTouch OS
- Numerous pre-installed bloatware when you’re not in Europe
- 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 would possibly simply be one of many worst.
It seems 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 extent of the issue varies relying on the place you reside. I first reviewed the a Hong Kong model of this cellphone operating the worldwide software program, and later a British unit with the European model. If you happen to’re in Europe you’ll nonetheless should take care of some awkward design selections, however fortunately the pre-installed software program is proscribed to frequent apps like TikTok, Twitter, and Netflix, whereas Google variations of core software program just like the SMS app and browser are the default, as an alternative of Vivo’s personal.
Exterior of Europe it’s a unique story. No cellphone this costly ought to really feel this low-cost if you set it up, but it surely’s exhausting to not have that impression when your app drawer is instantly stuffed with a bunch of Vivo apps you don’t need together with third-party choices like Seize or Agoda. There are even app-esque advertisements for ‘Scorching Apps’ and ‘Scorching Video games’, which sit in your library and are tough – although fortunately attainable – to take away.
Different annoyances vary from the ugly biking lock display screen wallpapers which can be pre-applied by default (and tough to show off) and the truth that you’ll doubtless should manually rein within the cellphone’s battery administration tech or threat 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 means of Android 13 and on to fifteen in 2024 – and can get safety patches for a similar interval.
That’s not the very best 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.
Value and availability
The Vivo X80 Professional is out now throughout Asia and Europe – you’ll be able to seize it now from Ali Specific globally, Amazon within the UK, Flipkart in India, and different retailers. European markets embrace Spain, Germany, Italy, and the UK. Sadly, it actually received’t attain the US.
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.
Dominik Tomaszewski
That’s costly, outpacing the Pixel 6 Professional, however just like the Galaxy S22 Extremely, Oppo Discover X5 Professional, and Xiaomi 12 Professional.
Try our guides to the very best Android telephones and greatest digital camera telephones for extra options, or the very best 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 shocking show, wonderful battery life and charging, and one among – if not the – greatest cameras in any cellphone proper now.
If you happen to ask me the design leaves one thing to be desired, particularly in terms of the awkward digital camera module, although FunTouch OS is admittedly the principle cause to contemplate trying elsewhere. It’s clunky, awkward, and laden with bloatware – {hardware} this good merely deserves higher.
Nonetheless, if you will get previous that then this cellphone is actually improbable, and nowhere extra so than the digital camera. Samsung should still have the periscope crown, however Vivo’s important digital camera and ultrawide are nearly actually the very best round, particularly at evening, and this is likely 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 important 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 ranking
- Schott Xensation Up glass
- 4700mAh non-removable battery
- 80W wired charging
- 50W wi-fi charging
- 164.6 x 75.3 x 9.1mm
- 215/219g