Unbeknownst to us, the X100 series is already a year old. Its harmonious yet unobtrusive design, impressive performance, and " Transcending levels " (cross-level) imaging capabilities make it one of the most worthwhile purchases in its price range in 2024. I've recommended the vivo X100 to many friends, and the reason is simple: compared to those ultra-premium models starting at RMB 6,000-7,000, the vivo X100 is more accessible to the masses in terms of both pricing and specifications.

(Image source: Leitech)

So, can the newly launched vivo X200 live up to the consistently high standards of the vivo X series? As a user who received the product two weeks in advance, I'm eager to share my thoughts on the vivo X200.

Familial Design: Both Continuity and Innovation

In terms of design, last year's vivo X100 series was my favorite, with its centrally located camera module complemented by an external decorative ring and a seamless transition between the two circles, exuding a sense of sophistication rather than overbearing camera prominence.

As an iteration of the X100 series, the design language of the vivo X200 remains consistent with the X100, but with notable improvements in the four-sided curved screen design and the more ergonomic frame. These design elements create an illusion that despite no change in screen size or weight, the X200 appears sleeker and lighter.

(Image source: Leitech)

By the way, the vivo X200 measures 7.99mm thick and weighs 202g, with a well-balanced center of gravity, resulting in an excellent grip. The only disappointment is the relatively large area occupied by the camera module, which can easily be pressed by the index finger when held with one hand.

(Image source: Leitech)

Let's briefly summarize the core specifications: globally premiering Dimensity 9400 processor, 6.67-inch 1.5K 120Hz screen, equivalent to a 5800mAh Blue Ocean battery, 90W Super Flash Charge, and a large-sized X-axis motor. Additionally, features such as IP68+IP69 dust and water resistance ensure peace of mind for users.

One minor gripe is that vivo seems to be gradually lowering charging power expectations. While the vivo X100 launched last year featured 100W dual-chip fast charging, subsequent iterations like the X100s downgraded to 90W, and now the X200 comes with a more modest 80W charging solution. Although the battery capacity has indeed increased, why can't we have both fast charging and a large battery? Besides, the actual power difference between these three is not significant.

Overall, considering all aspects of the vivo X200's configuration, it's clear that this is a well-rounded device with few shortcomings, making it a potential sales leader within the X200 series.

Unleashing the Potential of Dimensity 9400: Is the Performance Terrifyingly Impressive?

Frankly, I'm no longer as concerned with mobile processors as I once was. Even processors like the two-year-old Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or Dimensity 9200 don't impact daily usage. They can even handle gaming demands flawlessly. However, MediaTek's newly launched Dimensity 9400 deserves special mention for its significant reduction in power consumption, meaning the vivo X200, as the global premier of this chipset, will excel in temperature control and battery life.

Regarding the Dimensity 9400's specifications, the CPU comprises a Cortex-X925 supercore with a clock speed of up to 3.62GHz, three Cortex-X4 supercores at up to 3.3GHz, and four Cortex-A720 cores at up to 2.4GHz. Notably, the Cortex-X925 supercore boasts advanced process and architecture, akin to a PC-level processor.

(Image source: MediaTek official)

On the GPU side, the Immortalis-G720 has been upgraded to the flagship-grade Immortalis-G925, retaining 12 cores and introducing a new generation of OMM (Optical Memory Management) ray tracing technology, rivaling PC-level performance in mobile devices.

This technology optimizes ray tracing rendering, accurately rendering irregular shapes and translucent objects, significantly reducing shader workload and enhancing complex object ray tracing performance, thereby elevating ray tracing graphics to a new level.

The combined CPU and GPU enhancements allow the Dimensity 9400-powered vivo X200 to reduce theoretical power consumption by 40%, an impressive feat indeed.

Alright, let's dive into some data.

The first test is a theoretical performance benchmark. The vivo X200 scored 2,518,527 on AnTuTu, while the Dimensity 9300-powered vivo X100 scored 2,162,338, representing an impressive 19% improvement.

(Image source: Leitech)

Next up is GeekBench 6, where the vivo X200 achieved a single-core score of 2717 and a multi-core score of 8487, far exceeding expectations. For comparison, the vivo X100 scored 2254 on single-core and 7552 on multi-core.

(Image source: Leitech)

However, these benchmarks only test theoretical performance. Actual gaming performance requires further examination.

To ensure an authentic Genshin Impact experience, I ran a half-hour gameplay session in Sumeru, engaging in combat with any enemies encountered and setting all graphics options to their highest settings to fully utilize the Dimensity 9400's capabilities.

(Image source: Leitech)

As evident from the framerate graph, the vivo X200 maintained a stable 60fps throughout the half-hour gameplay, as anticipated. Current mid-range processors can already handle Genshin Impact smoothly, let alone the brand-new flagship Dimensity 9400.

During gameplay, I noticed another advantage of the Dimensity 9400: low power consumption. In previous tests, I often had to pause after half an hour to let the phone cool down, lest it overheat and throttle.

However, the vivo X200 did not exhibit such behavior. After half an hour of Genshin Impact, the phone remained merely warm, and no frame drops were observed even after an additional 20 minutes of gameplay. This demonstrates the vivo X200's exceptional sustained performance.

Familiar vivo Imaging Style, AI Pushes the Limits Yet Again

I've always had faith in vivo's imaging capabilities. Since the x80 series two years ago, vivo has consistently delivered top-tier imaging performance, earning praise from both casual users and photography enthusiasts.

Before delving into sample image analysis, let's briefly discuss the vivo X200's hardware. Its primary camera features a 50MP sensor with a 1/1.56-inch size. Enhanced by vivo's self-developed Ultra Sensing Algorithm, the X200 achieves light intake comparable to that of a one-inch sensor, particularly evident in low-light conditions.

The telephoto lens has been upgraded to the new IMX882 sensor, offering 50MP resolution, a 1/2-inch size, an f/2.57 aperture, Zeiss T* coating, and up to 100x digital zoom. In practice, photos taken within 20x zoom retain impressive resolution and image quality.

The ultra-wide-angle lens is a 50MP, 15mm lens, covering a commonly used focal range of 15mm-70mm optically. Its periscope telephoto lens supports up to 100x Zeiss Super Clear Zoom, enhancing practicality.

(Image source: Leitech)

The sample images showcase the exceptional imaging quality of the vivo X200's primary and telephoto cameras. With algorithm optimization, the overall color rendition is pleasing and natural, enhancing the overall visual appeal without compromising photo integrity.

(Image source: Leitech)

However, telephoto performance is limited to within 10x zoom. vivo acknowledges that AI intervention is necessary for zoom levels far exceeding the optical zoom range, a common practice among smartphone manufacturers.

(Image source: Leitech)

The issue lies in the apparent overzealousness of the X200's AI intervention. As seen below, when zoomed to 20x, textures on the lighthouse are reconstructed by AI, resulting in an unnatural appearance.

Similarly, when photographing objects like murals, the X200 may "reinterpret" them, transforming the intended subject into something entirely different.

If vivo fails to address the X200's excessive AI intervention in high-zoom scenarios soon, it could significantly impact user experience.

Elsewhere, the well-received Street Photography mode from the X100s and X100 Ultra has been carried over to the X200. Accessible by swiping up on the camera interface, it offers a more professional and detailed shooting experience, significantly boosting photo quality.

(Image source: Leitech)

With this mode enabled, the overall brightness of the image decreases, enhancing the ambience in poorly lit scenes by automatically adding vignetting.

(Image source: Leitech)

My favorite filter is the Black and White, which transitions smoothly between black and off-white, avoiding the harsh color inversions common in other filters.

Overall, the vivo X200's imaging performance exceeds expectations. While vivo's AI reconstruction could use improvement, its robust hardware and algorithms already satisfy most users' mobile photography needs.

OriginOS 5: The Interactive Revolution of True AIOS

As one of the first devices to ship with OriginOS 5, the vivo X200 introduces changes that surpass my expectations, making it arguably the most user-friendly UI in the Android market.

The most intuitive change is that our long-time companion "Jovi Voice" has become "Blue Heart Xiao V", which not only supports voice and gesture wake-up but can also be woken up at any time. It also supports continuous voice chat, lowering the threshold for human-machine interaction.

Thanks to Blue Heart Xiao V's enhanced intelligence, we can now long-press the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen and circle the image we want to inquire about. Xiao V will then "solve problems and relieve troubles" for you, eliminating the need to search for information on Baidu bit by bit.

Of course, it can also automatically generate WeChat Moments/Xiaohongshu captions based on user needs, but this feature is now commonplace, so I won't elaborate on it here.

Another notable change is that vivo has adopted the "Dynamic Island" concept. Initially, I thought this was just another trend-following feature, lacking novelty and even potentially infringing on existing designs. However, after actual experience, I believe that vivo X200's "Atomic Island" is truly deserving of the "Dynamic" moniker.

While Apple's Dynamic Island has been around for two years, it primarily serves to display partial app information without much practical functionality. The so-called interaction merely enlarges the "island" to show more information, which is of little use.

(Image source: Leitech production)

Beyond achieving all the current functions of the Dynamic Island, vivo X200's Atomic Island can also interact with Xiao V's circling feature.

For example, when a colleague invites me to go camping somewhere over the weekend, I can drag the address they sent me onto the Atomic Island. At this point, the X200 automatically determines the appropriate context for the text, such as prioritizing the map for addresses or e-commerce platforms for products, saving the hassle of switching back and forth.

(Image source: Leitech production)

All of this is made possible by vivo OriginOS 5's new PhoneGPT, which understands the content and settings of different system/APP interfaces without the need for third-party interfaces. By processing active user commands or intelligently recognizing user intent, it can perform related system/APP operations on behalf of the user.

In other words, phones equipped with OriginOS 5 will become increasingly attuned to users' needs in the future, aligning with our expectations rather than simply offering empty promises.

Given space constraints, I won't delve into updates such as new desktop widgets, more personalized lock screen customization, underlying technology upgrades, and Unfair Scheduler 3.0. If you're interested, I'll publish a detailed OriginOS 5 experience report later.

In summary: A well-rounded "polygon warrior"

As per usual, here's a summary of the vivo X200 review based on the Leitech evaluation template:

Advantages:

1. Excellent grip and design

2. Impressive imaging performance, highly competitive at its price point

3. Significantly improved battery life

Disadvantages:

1. Flaws in the AI algorithm for telephoto lens

2. Lack of wireless charging and reduced wired charging speed

Regarding pricing, the official prices for the vivo X200 are as follows:

vivo X200:

12GB+256GB version: 4,299 yuan

16GB+256GB version: 4,699 yuan

16GB+512GB version: 4,999 yuan

16GB+1TB version: 5,499 yuan

Undoubtedly, the vivo X200 is a well-rounded product with excellent configurations across the board. While no single aspect stands out as top-tier, the combination of features at this price point is rare. Its imaging performance far exceeds expectations for a phone in this price range. The increasingly intense competition in the mobile phone market ultimately benefits consumers.

The vivo X200 not only inherits the advantages of the X series but also addresses previous shortcomings. Combined with its affordable price, it emerges as a highly competitive option in its price segment for 2024 and beyond.

Source: Leitech