vivo X90 Pro Review: Cameras, Performance and Battery Life

The vivo X90 Pro arrived on 6 December 2022, after being announced on 22 November 2022, with a clear purpose: to put a large camera sensor, a flagship chipset and very fast charging into a phone that still felt like a daily companion rather than a camera brick. Its global launch followed in February 2023, and sales in India began on 5 May 2023. This vivo X90 Pro review looks at the phone on its published specifications and on the picture that formed around it in reviews and user reports, covering the camera system, the MediaTek Dimensity 9200, the 120Hz AMOLED display, the 4870 mAh battery and the software it shipped with. A vivo X90 Pro camera review with ZEISS optics has to start with the sensor itself, because that is the part that separates this phone from most rivals of its year, and the rest of the phone has to be good enough not to waste it.

Readers searching for a vivo X90 Pro unboxing and first impressions review often want the same two answers: what makes the camera different, and whether the phone is comfortable to live with for a year or more. The short answer is that the 50MP main camera uses a 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor, the largest type used in a phone camera at the time, paired with ZEISS optics and the vivo V2 imaging chip. The longer answer, in this vivo X90 Pro review, is about balance: a bright 6.78-inch display, 8GB or 12GB of RAM, 256GB or 512GB of storage with no microSD slot, IP68 protection, and charging that can refill the battery in a fraction of the time older flagships needed. The vivo X90 Pro price in India and availability also shaped how it was judged, since it arrived as a premium camera phone rather than a value flagship, and buyers compared it directly with other camera-led phones of late 2022 and early 2023.

Design and Build Quality

The vivo X90 Pro design is easy to recognise. A large circular camera housing dominates the back, a vegan leather finish gives the rear panel grip and a warmer feel than glass, and the frame is metal. At 214.9g the phone is heavy by the standards of slim phones, yet the weight is spread across a wide body, so it sits flat in the palm rather than feeling top-heavy. The vivo X90 Pro weight and in hand feel review notes from owners often mention the same trade-off: the camera module makes the phone wobble on a flat table, while the leather back makes it less slippery in the hand than a glossy glass flagship. Colour options in global markets included a dark blue-black finish with a lighter camera ring, a look that was meant to recall a classic camera.

In-Hand Feel and Weight

At 214.9g, the vivo X90 Pro weight is something a buyer should expect rather than discover later. It is a two-handed phone for long photo sessions, and a case adds a little more bulk, yet the curved edges of the display and the curved rear panel help the phone settle into the hand. The buttons sit on the right edge within easy reach, the USB-C port is centred on the bottom edge, and there is no headphone jack, which was already normal for this class of phone. For a phone built around a 1-inch sensor, the thickness is reasonable, and the camera housing is the price paid for the optics inside it.

IP68 Protection and Durability

The vivo X90 Pro IP68 rating means the phone is protected against dust and against immersion in water under the conditions defined by that rating, and a vivo X90 Pro IP68 water resistance rating explained in plain terms is this: it is built to survive splashes, rain and an accidental drop in water, not to be used as an underwater camera. That protection matters for a camera phone, because people take it out in rain, near pools and on trips where a splash is likely. The display is covered by protective glass, the frame feels solid, and the leather back resists fingerprints far better than glass, even if it needs a wipe after a long day. This is a phone made to be carried outside, not kept in a drawer.

Display and Audio

The vivo X90 Pro display is a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1260 x 2800 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. A vivo X90 Pro display quality and 120Hz refresh rate check shows a screen that is sharp, vivid and smooth in scrolling, with deep blacks that AMOLED panels are known for and strong colour for photos and video. The 6.78-inch AMOLED panel runs at 120Hz with a 1260 x 2800 resolution. The panel supports HDR content, and the curved edges give the front a modern look, although they can catch a little glare at an angle. For watching video, reading and editing photos on the phone itself, the display is one of the strongest parts of the package, and it is bright enough to stay readable in most daylight.

Screen Brightness and 120Hz Smoothness

A vivo X90 Pro screen brightness outdoor sunlight visibility test in published reviews found the panel stayed usable outdoors, with high peak brightness for HDR highlights and for direct sun. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling through a photo gallery or a long article feel fluid, and the phone can drop to a lower rate for still content to save power. The vivo X90 Pro display is curved at the sides, so the image seems to run to the edge of the phone, and the in-display fingerprint sensor sits near the bottom of the screen. The panel is a good match for the camera: photos taken on the 1-inch sensor look rich and detailed when viewed back on this screen, and the colour tuning leans vivid rather than flat.

Outdoor Visibility in Sunlight

Outdoor visibility depends on more than a single brightness number. The AMOLED panel keeps contrast high in sunlight, the automatic brightness response is quick, and the anti-reflective quality of the glass helps in bright conditions. In practice, framing a photo outdoors on a sunny day is comfortable, and reading a map or a message in daylight does not need the screen shaded by hand. That is a practical strength for a phone whose camera is meant to be used outside.

The vivo X90 Pro speakers are stereo speakers, and a vivo X90 Pro stereo speakers sound quality and volume check describes clear sound at normal volume, with enough loudness for video in a quiet room and for hands-free calls. They are not a replacement for a separate speaker, and bass is limited by the size of the phone, as it is on almost every flagship. For video playback, the combination of the large AMOLED display and the stereo speakers works well, and the sound stays clean when the volume is pushed up for a short clip.

Cameras and ZEISS Optics

The vivo X90 Pro camera is the reason most buyers chose this phone. The rear system has three cameras: a 50MP main camera with the 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor, a 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide camera. ZEISS optics and the ZEISS T* coating are part of the lens system, and the vivo V2 imaging chip handles processing. This is a camera system built for still photography first, with portrait work, low-light scenes and zoom shots as its strengths, and it is the part of the phone where the vivo X90 Pro review has to spend the most time. A vivo X90 Pro camera app modes and ZEISS effects explained in simple terms would start with the portrait modes, which offer different ZEISS lens looks, and continue to the night mode, the pro mode and the video modes that use the same large sensor.

Main Camera With 1-Inch Sensor

The 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor is the heart of this phone. A larger sensor gathers more light, and that helps in two places: in low light, where noise is lower and detail holds up better, and in portraits, where the natural depth of field gives a soft background without heavy software blur. The main camera has a wide aperture and optical image stabilisation, so handheld shots in the evening stay sharp more often than on phones with a smaller sensor. Daylight photos from the main camera show strong detail, natural skin tones in portraits and colours that are vivid without looking artificial. The vivo X90 Pro portrait mode camera samples review coverage of this phone often praised the way faces were rendered, with the ZEISS portrait styles giving a choice between a clean modern look and a softer, more classic lens character.

Portrait Mode and ZEISS Effects

The portrait system is where the ZEISS partnership is most visible. The vivo X90 Pro portrait style can be changed in the camera app, and the 50MP telephoto camera at 2x gives a natural focal length for portraits, keeping faces in proportion and keeping the background softly out of focus. The vivo X90 Pro video recording quality 8K test coverage also noted that the phone could record high-resolution video, although most owners will use 4K for everyday clips, where stabilisation and colour are more useful than the highest resolution number. For stills, the portrait mode is fast, the edge detection around hair is generally reliable, and the results look like they came from a dedicated camera rather than a phone filter.

Portrait Results in Low Light

In good light, the portrait mode works at both the main camera and the telephoto camera, and the ZEISS effects change the shape of the background blur rather than only its strength. In low light, the main camera is the better choice, because its larger sensor and wider aperture gather more light than the telephoto camera. The vivo X90 Pro night mode photography low light test reports found that night mode on the main camera kept colours natural and kept bright signs from blowing out, which is a useful sign of good processing rather than simple brightness boosting.

Telephoto, Ultrawide and Selfie Cameras

The vivo X90 Pro telephoto zoom camera image quality is strong at its native 2x zoom, where detail is sharp and colours match the main camera closely. The vivo X90 Pro zoom at 2x is the most useful range for portraits and for closer subjects, and digital zoom beyond that is usable for a quick shot, but detail softens as the zoom increases, as it does on every phone. The vivo X90 Pro ultrawide camera distortion and detail balance is good for landscapes and group shots: the 12MP ultrawide keeps straight lines reasonably straight for a wide lens, and detail in the centre of the frame is solid, even if the corners are softer. The vivo X90 Pro selfie camera 32MP photo quality review reports describe a 32MP front camera that takes sharp selfies in good light, with natural skin tones and a portrait mode that works for video calls as well as for photos. The front camera is fixed-focus in its design, so it is best for arm-length selfies rather than close-up shots.

For readers comparing this phone with its closest sibling, a vivo X90 Pro vs vivo X90 Pro Plus comparison is useful. The X90 Pro+ uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, has four rear cameras and a 4700 mAh battery with 80W charging, while this phone uses the Dimensity 9200, has three rear cameras and a 4870 mAh battery with 120W charging. That difference is not a small detail: the two phones share the 1-inch main sensor idea, but they are different phones with different chipsets, camera counts and charging speeds. A separate vivo X90 Pro+ Review: Strengths, Trade-Offs and Everyday Use covers the Plus model in full, so buyers should not mix the two sets of specifications. The standard X90 is also different, with a smaller IMX866 main sensor rather than a 1-inch sensor, a 4810 mAh battery and no wireless charging, and that difference is covered in the vivo X90 Review: Build Quality, Software and Daily Speed article.

Performance and Gaming

The vivo X90 Pro chipset is the MediaTek Dimensity 9200, built on a 4 nm process, and the vivo X90 Pro performance in daily use is fast and smooth. Apps open quickly, switching between the camera, the gallery and a browser is fluid, and the phone handles photo editing without long waits. The vivo X90 Pro Dimensity 9200 performance test results in published benchmarks placed it among the fastest Android chipsets of its generation, and in real use the difference between it and other flagship chipsets of the same year is small. What matters more is that the phone stays responsive after months of use, with 8GB or 12GB of RAM keeping apps in memory and 256GB or 512GB of storage giving room for photos, video and games.

Dimensity 9200 in Daily Use

The vivo X90 Pro RAM management and multitasking performance test picture is positive: with 12GB of RAM, the phone keeps a large number of apps ready in the background, and switching back to the camera or to a game does not force a reload. With 8GB of RAM, the experience is still smooth for most owners, although heavy multitasking will close background apps sooner. The vivo X90 Pro storage speed UFS 4.0 benchmark results show fast storage, which helps when installing large games, when saving burst photos and when copying video files. The vivo X90 Pro 5G connectivity and network signal strength is solid for a flagship, with 5G, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, and the phone supports dual SIM use for owners who need two numbers.

Gaming, Heating and Sustained Speed

The vivo X90 Pro gaming performance is strong for demanding games at high settings, and a vivo X90 Pro gaming performance and heating test in reviews found the phone could hold high frame rates for a good length of time before heat built up. The vivo X90 Pro heating issue during long gaming sessions is the usual flagship trade-off: after a long session, the back of the phone warms up, and the chipset may reduce speed a little to protect itself. That is normal for a thin phone with a flagship chipset, and it does not stop the phone from playing games well. A case can trap a little heat, so owners who play for a long time may prefer to play without a thick case, and the large vapour chamber cooling inside the phone helps spread heat across the body rather than letting one spot get very hot.

Battery Life and Charging

The vivo X90 Pro battery is a 4870 mAh cell, and the vivo X90 Pro battery life and charging speed are among the most practical strengths of this phone. A full day of normal use, with photos, messaging, video and some gaming, is realistic for most owners, and the phone can stretch to a second day with lighter use. The vivo X90 Pro charging is fast in both wired and wireless forms. The 4870 mAh battery supports 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. That combination was rare at the time, and it means the phone does not need to be plugged in overnight to be ready in the morning. A short charge while getting ready can add a large amount of battery, which changes how owners think about charging.

A Full Day on 4870 mAh

Battery life depends on the screen, the camera and the network, and this phone balances those demands well. The 120Hz display can use more power at full brightness, yet the Dimensity 9200 is efficient at 4 nm, and the 4870 mAh capacity is large enough for a day of heavy camera use. Owners who take many photos will see the battery drop faster, because the camera and the display are both active, while owners who mainly message and browse will see the battery last longer. The phone has power-saving modes for a long day away from a charger, and the battery health is helped by the fact that a full charge takes so little time that the phone does not need to sit on a charger for hours.

120W Wired and 50W Wireless Charging

A vivo X90 Pro 120W fast charging time test in published reviews found the phone could reach a large charge in well under half an hour from empty with the supplied 120W charger, and a full charge took only a little longer. The vivo X90 Pro wireless charging speed and battery health picture is also strong: 50W wireless charging is far faster than the 15W wireless charging found on many rivals, and it needs a compatible 50W wireless charger to reach that speed. With a standard wireless charger, the speed will be lower, which is normal. The phone also supports reverse wireless charging for accessories, so it can top up earbuds or a watch when needed. Fast charging is a daily convenience, not only a specification number.

Software and Everyday Experience

The vivo X90 Pro software shipped with Android 13, with Funtouch 13 on global models and OriginOS 3 on models sold in China. A vivo X90 Pro Funtouch OS 13 user interface review describes a clean interface with a large set of customisation options, a quick settings panel that is easy to reach, and a camera app that is well organised for a phone with so many modes. The vivo X90 Pro software update and Android 13 features picture included the privacy controls and the language options of Android 13, plus vivo additions for the camera, for the display and for battery care. The phone received software updates after launch, and owners should check for the latest update in the settings, because updates can improve camera processing and battery use.

Funtouch 13 and OriginOS 3

Funtouch 13 on the global model is the version most international buyers will use, while OriginOS 3 is the version for China. The two interfaces share the same Android 13 base, but their home screens, widgets and system apps differ. The vivo X90 Pro update path after launch brought new features and security patches, and the camera app gained refinements over time. For everyday use, the interface is fast, the app drawer is easy to search, and the settings for the display, the fingerprint sensor and the battery are grouped in a logical way. The software does include some pre-installed apps, which owners can remove or disable if they do not want them.

Connectivity, Fingerprint and Speakers

A vivo X90 Pro fingerprint sensor speed and accuracy test found the in-display optical sensor to be quick and reliable in normal use, with a short press unlocking the phone and a longer press needed only when the finger is wet or dirty. The vivo X90 Pro speakers, as noted above, are stereo and clear, and the phone has good call quality with noise reduction for voice calls. The vivo X90 Pro 5G performance is stable in areas with good coverage, and Wi-Fi calling and Bluetooth audio work as expected for a flagship. For a camera phone, the everyday details matter: the phone unlocks fast when a photo opportunity appears, the camera app opens quickly from the lock screen, and sharing a photo to a messaging app takes only a few taps.

For context on the wider vivo X series, the vivo X100s Review: Display, Audio and Overall Experience covers a later model with a different display and audio tuning, while the vivo X80 Pro Review: Design, Software and Camera Quality covers the previous generation and shows how much the camera system changed in a single year. Those comparisons help buyers see whether the X90 Pro is the right point in the series for them, or whether a newer or an older model fits their budget better.

Full Specifications

The vivo X90 Pro specifications and full features list below is based on the published GSMArena data for this model. It is the reference for every number in this article, and it is the list to check before comparing this phone with the X90 Pro+ or the standard X90, because the three models differ in chipset, camera count, battery and charging. The vivo X90 Pro specs in the table cover the display, the chipset, the memory, the cameras, the battery, the software and the body, so a buyer can see the full picture in one place.

The table also makes the differences from the other X90 models clear. The X90 Pro+ has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, four rear cameras, a 4700 mAh battery and 80W charging. The standard X90 has an IMX866 main sensor that is not 1 inch, a 4810 mAh battery and no wireless charging. This vivo X90 Pro comparison, in short, is a phone with the large 1-inch sensor, the Dimensity 9200, the larger 4870 mAh battery and the fastest charging of the three in wired and wireless form.

Pros and Cons

The strengths and the trade-offs of this phone are easy to list once the camera, the display and the battery are understood. The camera is the main reason to buy it, the charging is the main daily convenience, and the weight and the lack of a microSD slot are the main compromises. The list below keeps the balance in view for a buyer who is deciding between this phone and a newer model.

Pros

• 1-inch Sony IMX989 main sensor with ZEISS optics and vivo V2 chip for strong low-light and portrait photos
• 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom and a useful 12MP ultrawide camera
• Dimensity 9200 chipset with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and fast UFS 4.0 storage
• 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and good outdoor brightness
• 4870 mAh battery with 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging
• IP68 dust and water resistance and a grippy leather back
• Stereo speakers and an in-display fingerprint sensor

Cons

• Heavy at 214.9g, with a large camera housing that wobbles on a flat table
• No microSD slot, so the 256GB or 512GB storage cannot be expanded
• No headphone jack, which was already common for flagships of this class
• Curved display edges can catch glare at an angle
• Ultrawide and telephoto cameras are weaker than the main camera in low light
• Software includes some pre-installed apps that owners may want to remove

The vivo X100s Pro Review: Gaming, Multitasking and Battery Life is a useful next read for buyers who want to see how a later vivo flagship handles gaming and battery life, and whether the newer chipset and software are worth the higher price. That later model does not replace the X90 Pro as a camera phone, but it shows how the series moved on in speed and in battery care.

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions below cover the points that buyers ask most often about this phone, from the camera and the battery to water resistance and long-term use. Each answer uses the published specifications for this model, not the specifications of the X90 Pro+ or the standard X90.

Is vivo X90 Pro good for photography?

Yes, for still photography it is one of the strongest phones of its year. The 1-inch Sony IMX989 main sensor, the ZEISS optics and the vivo V2 chip give it an advantage in low light and in portraits, and the 50MP telephoto camera at 2x is a natural portrait length. The ultrawide camera is useful for landscapes, and the 32MP selfie camera is sharp in good light. A vivo X90 Pro long term use review after one year would still point to the camera as the main reason to keep the phone, because the large sensor does not age as fast as a software feature.

How long does vivo X90 Pro battery last?

For most owners, the 4870 mAh battery lasts a full day of normal use, with photos, messaging, video and some gaming, and it can last into a second day with lighter use. Heavy camera use and high screen brightness will shorten that time, while power-saving modes will stretch it. The fast charging is the safety net: a short charge with the 120W charger adds a large amount of battery quickly, and 50W wireless charging is available for owners with a compatible wireless charger.

Does vivo X90 Pro support wireless charging?

Yes, it supports 50W wireless charging, as well as 120W wired charging. That is an important difference from the standard X90, which has no wireless charging. To reach 50W wirelessly, the phone needs a compatible 50W wireless charger; with a standard wireless charger, the charging speed will be lower. The phone also supports reverse wireless charging for accessories such as earbuds.

Is vivo X90 Pro waterproof?

The phone is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance, which means it is protected against immersion under the conditions defined by that rating. It is not designed to be used as an underwater camera, and owners should rinse it with clean water and dry it after exposure to salt water or soapy water. The rating is a safety net for splashes and rain, not a reason to take the phone swimming.

Should you buy vivo X90 Pro in 2026?

That depends on price and on what matters most. If the phone is available at a good price and the buyer wants a strong camera with a large sensor, fast charging and a bright 120Hz display, it remains a capable phone. If the buyer wants the latest software support, the newest chipset or the longest update period, a newer model may be a better choice. This vivo X90 Pro verdict is that the camera and the charging still hold up well, while the software age and the weight are the points to weigh before buying.

Verdict

The vivo X90 Pro is a camera-led flagship that earns its place on the strength of its main camera, its display and its charging. The 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor with ZEISS optics gives photos a depth and a low-light quality that smaller sensors cannot match, the Dimensity 9200 keeps the phone fast for daily use and for gaming, and the 4870 mAh battery with 120W wired and 50W wireless charging removes the worry of running out of power during a long day. The phone is heavy, it has no microSD slot and its ultrawide camera is not as strong as its main camera, yet those trade-offs are clear and easy to judge before buying. For a buyer who takes photos every day and wants a phone that charges in minutes rather than hours, this phone remains a strong choice, and its camera is the reason it is still worth a close look years after its release on 6 December 2022.