vivo X200 review

Well-specced triple-camera setup

The X200 is missing extra modifiers in the name, and when there's no Pro or Ultra attached at the end, the camera hardware isn't remarkable in any way. That said, we're looking at a well balanced triple-camera system on the back that should be more than enough to keep most people happy.

The main camera uses a fairly modestly-sized 1/1.56" sensor - it's not the X100 Pro/Ultra's one-incher, nor is it the X200 Pro's 1/1.28" unit. In fact, it's even slightly smaller than what the X100's main camera had (1/1.49"). Oh, well.

Moving on, we're getting a side step on the telephoto - it's more or less the same size sensor as the one on the X100 (1/1.95" vs. 1/2.0"), but the resolution's gone down to 50MP from the 64MP of the predecessor. Not great, not terrible.

The ultrawide, meanwhile, has been carried over from the previous generation and it's also shared with the X100 Pro and X200 Pro - so, in a way, it's only the Ultras in the lineup that get a better one. Similarly, the selfie camera may not be to our taste, but if only the absolute best model in the roster gets a superior one, that's good enough of a consolation.

Of course, the Zeiss collaboration continues. The signature blue logo on the back means that the German optics specialists have had their say on this or that bit of the camera design - the telephoto lens in particular, plus coatings for the other lenses maybe. A set of bokeh effects for the Portrait mode is also on board, as usual.

• Wide (main): 50MP Sony IMX 921 (LYT-702, 1/1.56", 1.0µm-2.0µm), f/1.57, 23mm, PDAF, OIS; 4K@60fps
• Telephoto 3x: 50MP Sony IMX 882 (1/1.95", 0.8µm-1.6µm), f/2.57, 70mm, multi-directional PDAF (14cm-∞), OIS; 4K@60fps
• Ultrawide: 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN1 (S5KJN1, 1/2.76", 0.64µm-1.28µm), f/2.0, 15mm, PDAF; 4K@60fps
• Front camera: 32MP Samsung ISOCELL KD1 (S5KKD1, 1/3.42", 0.64µm-1.28µm), f/2.0, 25.6mm, fixed focus; 4K@60fps

Daylight photo quality

Main camera

You wouldn't be surprised to learn that the X200 captures great photos with its main camera during the day. We're seeing generally excellent detail, wide dynamic range and vibrant colors - pretty much everything you can ask for.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x)

In people shots we're somehow not getting quite as much definition on the faces, but the photos are still very good overall, with pleasing skin tones.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x), Photo mode

Daylight samples, main camera (23mm), Portrait mode

Full-res shots exhibit heavy sharpening, while actual detail isn't really improved.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x), 50MP

Things are looking nicely sharp at 2x, particularly in well-lit outdoor scenes. Dare we say, the X200 is doing better than the X200 Pro at this zoom level.

Daylight samples, main camera (2x)

Photos of people are also excellent at 2x - we'd prefer the Photo mode results over the Portrait mode counterparts which can have some issues around the transition area between subject and background at 50mm. That said, the 35mm focal length images are pretty solid.

Daylight samples, main camera (2x), Photo mode

Daylight samples, main camera (50mm), Portrait mode

Daylight samples, main camera (35mm), Portrait mode

Telephoto camera

The telephoto camera captures good photos too, though they seem to be missing that last bit of sharpness that would make them truly great. Naturally, there's nothing to complain about in terms of color or dynamic range. On another positive note, the 14cm minimum focusing distance enables some pretty nice close-ups too.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (3x)

Portraits in Photo mode at 3x are very nice, with the caveat that they're once again a notch below ideal sharpness - but if there's ever a use case where you can live without absolute sharpness, it's people shots.

In the dedicated Portrait mode, the 85mm focal length means some upscaling and a another dip in sharpness, and the 100mm zoom level takes that a step further still. There aren't dealbreaking issues, it's just that pixel peeping is best avoided.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (3x), Photo mode

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (85mm), Portrait mode

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (100mm), Portrait mode

Once again, don't expect miracles from the full-res mode - we're including it here for completeness' sake.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (3x), 50MP

Moving on to the 10x zoom level that has a shortcut in the viewfinder, things are looking good at fit to screen magnifications, but pixel-level detail is sketchy - anything else would have been surprising, really.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (10x)

Ultrawide camera

The ultrawide camera's hardware is relatively unremarkable, but it still manages to do a good job. Colors and dynamic range are excellent and detail is more than alright too. It's not the most extreme of ultrawides though - you won't be able to get the wackiest of perspectives.

Daylight samples, ultrawide camera (0.6x)

Here's how a few of these scenes look in the full-res 50MP mode.

Daylight samples, ultrawide camera (0.6x), 50MP

Selfies

Selfies from X200 are okay, but not really praiseworthy. The lack of AF isn't great, the warm reddish tint on skintones is suboptimal, and the 32MP resolution is pointless. Decent results after all, but when we know that vivo has a properly great selfie camera on the X100 Ultra, we can't really get excited about this one.

Selfie samples

Low-light photo quality

Main camera

In the dark, the X200's main camera leaves little to be desired, and the fact that it has a smaller sensor than the one in the Pro doesn't seem to be affecting it. Detail is excellent, dynamic range is great, colors are on point.

Low-light samples, main camera (1x)

The 2x photos are pretty solid too, if not quite as sharp as they are during the day.

Low-light samples, main camera (2x)

Telephoto camera

The telephoto camera is unfazed by the dark and captures great shots as well. We're looking at very good detail, excellent dynamic range and pleasing colors. Perhaps the one flaw is the pointy rendition of bright light sources - a common theme with modern telephotos that's likely inherent to the lens design.

Low-light samples, telephoto camera (3x)

At 10x zoom the photos can look pretty soft and/or heavily processed if you examine them from up close. They'll do for casual snaps as long as you manage your expectations.

Low-light samples, telephoto camera (10x)

Ultrawide camera

At night, the ultrawide's photos have excellent global properties - exposures look great, colors are accurate and lively. Detail is alright - not the best, not bad either.

Low-light samples, ultrawide camera (0.6x)

Video recording

The X200 has a decent set of video recording capabilities, if not quite up to the same standard as the X200 Pro. You do get 4K30 and 4K60 on all four of its cameras, but there's no 4K120 (the Pro has it on the main and telephoto cameras), and there's no 8K either (available at 1x and 2x on the Pro). Less common modes like 4K24, 4K25, and 4K50 are accessible in the video section of Pro mode.

The default codec is h.265 but you can switch to h.264. Dolby Vision capture isn't available on the X200 (the Pro does have it). There is 'regular' video stabilization available in all modes, and it can't be disabled (unless you go into Pro mode, again). There's also 'Ultra stabilization' which offers added stability but limits your resolution to 2.8K - in both 30fps and 60fps at 1x and 2x, and 30fps at 3x.

You can check out the playlist below, which includes multiple video samples.

You can check out the playlist below, which includes multiple video samples.

Video sample playlist

The X200's videos are good, but could use a nudge in a few areas. Colors are pretty great, but a bit of extra contrast wouldn't hurt the footage and detail is good but lacking that ultimate edge. Seeing how all three cameras are more or less the same in their rendition, it's probably vivo's deliberate efforts to achieve that look.

In the dark, the X200 prefers its exposures brighter which makes for a generally appealing presentation, along with the nice colors. Looking from up close, the shadows may be somewhat soft (but relatively clean) on the main camera, and noisy on the other two, but overall the X200 is holding up quite well.

Stabilization is great on the X200 too. It removes walking shake well, pans smoothly, and can remain steady if you just keep it pointed in one general direction.