At this early stage in its global expansion, many of the company’s phones are still only launching in Asia, though a growing number are getting European launches too, including its latest X80 Pro flagship. The company has also begun teasing an international rollout of its X90 series, already out in China, which we’re expecting to see go on sale in the UK and Europe. There’s also the company’s iQoo sub-brand to consider, which offers remixed takes on its parent brand’s devices that strike an even more competitive price/performance balance, with a slight gaming focus. A quick note on software: Vivo has two operating systems in use at the moment. Origin OS is the more recent, but is currently only available on Chinese models. Funtouch OS is found on the global launches, while the European versions of phones run a stripped back version of Funtouch with fewer pre-installed apps that’s closer to a stock Android experience – and much better for it.
Best Vivo phone reviews 2023
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(Maybe) the best camera around Fast wired & wireless charging IP68-water resistance Great battery life
Awkward-looking camera design Funtouch OS
What’s curious is that this is very similar to the older X70 Pro+, below, but is available in more countries and for a little less. The big upgrades are to the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, and a larger battery with faster charging, and those alone make this a worthy upgrade. The camera hasn’t been tweaked much, but has minor upgrades to the main image sensor and image processor – enough to make this Vivo’s best camera, and in turn our favourite smartphone camera of 2022. Vivo has also moved its trademark gimbal tech from the ultrawide to the 2x zoom lens, which is really the only move we don’t like.
Jaw-dropping quad camera IP68 rating Wireless charging
Odd design Funtouch OS Limited international availability
Specs are still top across the board: Snapdragon 888+ chip, up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, a 120Hz WQHD+ AMOLED display, and 55W fast charging. Really it’s all about the camera though, which is inarguably still one of the best in any phone right now. The four rear lenses are all fantastic (and all have OIS to boot), but the standout is the ultrawide, which thanks to gimbal stabilisation remain superior to that in the more recent model.
Great camera Slim & lightweight
Average chipset Funtouch OS No wireless charging
You won’t get the wireless charging or IP rating, and the display is smaller and lower in resolution. It’s also capped at the Dimensity 1200 chipset, though it is a custom version for Vivo. What you’ll still get is a fantastic quad rear camera, with most of the same specs as the Pro+ model. You also get an improved design, with a slimmer body, lighter weight, and no odd reflective ceramic window next to the camera.
Very fast 120W charging Dependable cameras Top-spec Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
Poor thermal management Some frustrating software
By nearly every metric that really matters, the iQoo 9T delivers, with a dependable set of cameras, strong battery life, an excellent screen, and more than enough power for even the most demanding gamers thanks to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. It even packs astonishingly fast 120W charging. It’s in small ways that the device lets itself down, with poor thermal management, weak haptics, and lots of pre-installed bloatware among other software frustrations. As such, for most people, this will be a smartphone that will meet their needs and maybe even exceed them in most ways, and for a price that won’t leave a huge hole in your pocket. Though it doesn’t quite have the ‘x factor’ to make it a true knock-out superstar, the iQoo 9T is a well-considered, accomplished smartphone that does enough to earn a recommendation.
Nice design Superb performance Great battery life
Cheap build quality Pointless macro camera Disappointing display
With a Snapdragon 695 5G chipset this is an impressively smooth phone, and performance is one of its clear strengths, along with phenomenal battery life. It also looks the part, though with lots of plastic and no water-proofing, there are limits here. The main camera is strong, despite lacklustre secondary shooters. Perhaps the main disappointment is the LCD display, which supports a smooth 120Hz refresh rate but has slightly washed out colours. Still, for those who value performance and battery life, this isn’t just Vivo’s best budget phone, but one of the best full stop.
Colour-changing glass design Impressive performance All-day battery life
No water/dust resistance or reinforced glass No software commitment update
It also boasts an unusual UV-reactive design. Shine light on the phone and the glass temporarily changes colour – allowing you to create neat temporary designs using stencils, like the one in our shot above. The downsides are that there isn’t any official resistance against dust or water, nor is there any mention of any toughened glass on the front or rear. Since the phone is only out in Asia, you’ll also have to put up with a version of FunTouch OS packed with bloatware, and without any firm software update commitment. So yes, the Vivo V25 Pro is certainly a looker, and there’s a lot to like about the hardware, but it’s not quite the perfect mid-range smartphone.
Fast performance 120Hz display Ultra-fast charging
Funtouch OS Poor selfie camera No IP rating
The 9 Pro Legend offers a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 with up to 12GB of RAM, backed up by a 4700mAh battery with incredible 120W wired charging, and 50W wireless. The cameras aren’t Vivo’s best, but they’re not bad – the 50Mp main camera is a winner, and Vivo’s excellent Night mode software shines here thanks to the gimbal stabilisation included too. For the price, this has a lot of power – though note that this is one of Vivo’s phones that hasn’t had a global launch, but you can buy it from China or India.
Smart colour-changing design Some decent cameras Solid battery life and charging
Mediocre performance Sharp-edged design Funtouch OS
You get a MediaTek Dimensity 900 chipset, a 64Mp rear camera and 50Mp selfie camera, and a fairly generous 4500mAh battery with nippy 44W charging. Still, rivals such as the Pixel 6a, the Nothing Phone (1), and the OnePlus Nord 2T offer more impressive performance and camera systems, along with longer software support as well. Given the lack of firm UK and Europe release plans for the V25, Vivo may itself have concluded that picking a fight with such titans is unwise.
Striking design Excellent triple camera Clean software option
Expensive No wireless charging
This is one of the thinnest, lightest flagship phones of the year, and features a flawless frosted glass finish. The 6.56in 120Hz AMOLED display is gorgeous, and the Snapdragon 870 processor is more than enough for most, albeit not quite the best around. The real strength, other than the design, is the Zeiss-branded triple camera: a gimbal-stabilised main lens, ultrawide, and 2x zoom portrait lens. They’re enough to make this one of the best camera phones around this year. The only real downsides here are the lack of wireless charging and waterproofing – but if you won’t miss them then the X60 Pro is a great choice, and hands-down Vivo’s best in the West.
Great screen 80W charging Superb performance
India and China only Only 2 years of Android updates Poor second and third camera lenses
The Snapdragon 870 chipset is still a powerhouse, and it drives an excellent AMOLED display. 80W wired charging is also among the fastest you’ll find at this price, and thanks to Vivo’s imaging expertise even the 64Mp main camera impresses – a rarity in gaming hardware. There are more powerful gaming phones out there, but few that deliver this much power at this price while balancing it with strong features elsewhere – not to mention an attractive design that won’t put off more casual gamers. Tech Advisor’s Deputy Editor, Dom covers everything that runs on electricity, from phones and laptops to wearables, audio, gaming, smart home, and streaming - plus he’s a regular fixture on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.
