Review of Vivo X50 Pro - a smartphone with 5x zoom and super stabilization of the camera

Vivo smartphones are not as popular as Huawei or Samsung. Nevertheless, there are unique models among them, the X50 Pro among them. The novelty has received advanced camera stabilization, recognizable design and modern hardware, but is this enough to justify the 65 thousand rubles price tag? Let's sort it out in order.

Specifications
Design and ergonomics
Screen
Software and performance
Sound and vibration
Camera
Autonomy
Outcomes

Specifications

Platform	Android 10, Funtouch 10.5 firmware
Display	6, 56 inches, 2,376 x 1,080 pixels, OLED, 90 Hz, 398 PPI, Always on Display
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620 video accelerator
Memory	RAM - 8 GB, ROM - 128/256 GB
Cameras	Primary: 48 MP, 1/2 ″, f / 1, 6, PDAF, Gimbal IS; 8 MP, 1/4 ″, f / 2, 2, 16 mm (wide angle); 13 MP, 1/2, 8 ″, f / 2, 5, 50 mm (2x zoom), PDAF; 8 MP, 1/4, 0 ″, f / 3, 4, 135 mm (5x zoom), PDAF, OIS. Front: 32 MP, 1/2, 8 ″, f / 2, 5, 26 mm
Connection	2 × nanoSIM, Wi-Fi 5, GPS, GLONASS, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, GSM / GPRS / EDGE / LTE / 5G
Battery	4315 mAh, fast charging (33 W)
Dimensions (edit)	158.5 × 72.8 × 8mm
The weight	181 gram

Design and ergonomics

Vivo X50 Pro is made according to the general principles for flagship smartphones: an aluminum frame, a glass "back", a curved screen and a massive block with cameras. The devil is in the little things, such as the decorative insert on the top and the arrangement of the lenses. The novelty is similar to its competitors, but it cannot be called faceless.

The smartphone is painted in steel gray, which, together with the matte back glass, adds austerity to the design. The case collects almost no prints, while maintaining a presentable look. The quality of materials and workmanship is excellent - however, you can't expect anything else from a model for such a price.

The dimensions and weight of the device are decent, but the streamlined shapes and competent weight distribution mask them well. Owners of small palms will be able to use this gadget without significant inconvenience.

Vivo X50 Pro: streamlined shape and competent weight distribution

Thin side edges, on the other hand, are problematic, failing to provide adequate grip. The smartphone is very slippery, and given the abundance of glass in the structure, the very first collision with the asphalt will be fatal for it. This drawback is corrected with a complete silicone case.

The edges of the screen are curved, which makes it visually larger. The front camera with face recognition is located in the circular cutout in the upper left corner. An optical fingerprint sensor is also built into the display, which responds quickly and accurately.

The power and volume control buttons are located on the right side. At the bottom there is a USB-C connector, a multimedia speaker and a slot for two nanoSIM-cards. The latter has a rubber seal that prevents moisture from entering, but the gadget does not have a certified protection against water.

Screen

Almost all flagship smartphones now come with OLED displays, and the Vivo X50 Pro is no exception. The 6, 56-inch screen has a matrix on organic diodes with Full HD + resolution. The refresh rate is 90 Hz and the sensor polling rate is 180 Hz. All this makes animations smoother, and reactions to touch more accurate and faster.

With this ratio of diagonal and resolution, the pixel density is 398 PPI - however, the real value is lower due to the structure of the Diamond (there are twice as many green diodes as red and blue). On meticulous study of small text, grain is visible, although in normal use it is not noticeable.

Otherwise, we have an excellent display with all the advantages of OLED technology. The black color is deep, the viewing angles are maximum. The brightness reaches 1,300 nits, which gives full HDR10 +.

The color gamut covers 100% DCI ‑ P3, the smartphone is suitable for photo and video processing. The picture looks saturated, but the acidity characteristic of the first OLED screens is not here. However, lovers of rich colors can adjust the image to suit their tastes.

PWM flickering occurs at low brightness, causing fatigue for some users. In the settings there is a flicker suppression mode, as well as a UV filter to reduce eye strain at night.

Software and performance

The smartphone runs Android 10 with a proprietary shell Funtouch OS. For a long time, Vivo shamelessly copied the iOS interface, right down to the icons and the control center. However, by the tenth version of the launcher, the company has developed a corporate identity that combines minimalism and bright colors.

Everything can be customized individually: icon design, start screen appearance, unlock animations and other little things that affect the overall perception of the system. Also, the firmware is very fast and stable, no bugs were found in two weeks of testing.

Hardware platform - Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G with overclocked graphics core Adreno 620. The amount of RAM is 8 GB, and the built-in storage is 256 GB. The novelty also supports VEG (Vivo Energy Guardian) technology, which prevents overheating and optimizes performance under load.

In games, everything is just fine, World of Tanks: Blitz produces 50-60 FPS at maximum settings. Of course, the performance is not as impressive as that of the Snapdragon 865 models, but still sufficient for any task. The smartphone will last for a couple of years to come.

Sound and vibration

Vivo has often relied on the musical capabilities of its devices, equipping them with quality DACs and powerful speakers. The company also promises cool sound in the X50 Pro. However, in reality everything is not so simple.

The novelty did not receive stereo speakers. The only multimedia speaker is located at the bottom and easily overlaps with a palm in a horizontal grip. The quality itself is not bad, but the Pocophone F2 Pro has a louder speaker and better bass. What can we say about models with stereo sound, for example Xiaomi Mi 10.

Vivo X50 Pro: the multimedia speaker is located at the bottom

The smartphone has a DAC with an AK4377A chip, but there is no audio jack. What is the logic here is not clear. Perhaps the DAC chip is located in the adapter from the USB-C port to the 3.5 mm connector. One should not expect outstanding sound from such a solution. Nevertheless, it is worth giving credit to the headset that comes with the kit. It is of decent quality, the sound is balanced across the entire frequency spectrum.

Vibration is standard for Android smartphones, the model does not offer a wide range of tactile responses to different types of actions. Instead, you get a simple linear response, albeit quite powerful and precise.

Camera

The main feature of the Vivo X50 Pro is the main camera with stabilization on the gimbal. Thanks to the hinges, it deflects up to 3 degrees in any direction. This stabilization is 300% more effective than traditional OIS cameras.

The standard module is based on the Sony IMX 598 sensor with a size of 1/2 ″ and a resolution of 48 megapixels, complemented by a high-aperture lens with an aperture of f / 1. 8 megapixel zoom. The latter is also equipped with stabilization designed to compensate for hand shake. Front camera resolution is 32 megapixels.

The smartphone shoots excellently in any conditions, but when there is a lack of lighting, it overestimates the ISO. Because of this, noise is visible in some frames. The algorithms do not crush it too aggressively, while maintaining decent detail. The "portrait lens" with software blurring of the background performed very well.

Standard camera

Wide-angle camera

Portrait mode

2x zoom

5x zoom

Selfie

Stabilization can be fully appreciated when recording video. The smartphone produces a smooth picture even on the run, the result is comparable to a well-implemented EIS. The difference is that the new product does not crop the frame to compensate for shake, and its stabilization is equally effective when recording both Full HD and 4K.

Autonomy

The smartphone has a 4,315 mAh battery. Taking into account the energy efficiency of the OLED screen and the Snapdragon 765G chipset, this capacity is enough for a day of use with web surfing, watching YouTube and taking photos - about 30% of the charge remains by the night. Half an hour of playing World of Tanks: Blitz consumes 6% of the battery.

FlashCharge 2.0 fast charging is also supported. The included 33W adapter replenishes the battery in 70 minutes. But wireless charging is impossible - the new product does not have an induction coil for its implementation.

Outcomes

The Russian price of Vivo X50 Pro is 65 thousand rubles. That is, the smartphone competes with such models as the iPhone 11, Huawei P40 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S20. In this regard, a number of questions arise for the new product.

The company relies on high-quality sound, but there are no stereo speakers, which looks strange. You can find fault with the lack of certified moisture protection and wireless charging, as well as not the most powerful hardware.

At the same time, the smartphone offers a really good camera, convenient firmware and decent performance for any task. Is that enough to keep up with the competition from more popular brands? It is up to the consumer to decide. However, having one more option to choose from never hurts.