Vivo Xshot review: Shot in the dark

Web browser

The vivo Xshot comes with a custom browser, courtesy of the manufacturer. We can't really say for sure if it is based on the stock Android browser, but it is underwhelming, to say the least.

Its interface definitely looks nice, and like everything else in Funtouch, fits well into the general design outline, but it is quite poor on features. There is no dedicated tab selection interface and the toggle for opting out of a mobile version of the page is hidden away in the settings menu, yet "night mode" is left as a quick toggle.

Questionable built-in browser

This is just another example of Funtouch OS's chaotic and disorganized function placement. Pressing enter on the keyboard does not open a typed address. Instead you have to hit a dedicated button next to the address bar. The little annoyances with the browser seem to go on and on and judging from the poor browsing performance, you really should use another browser.

Thankfully vivo has included Google Chrome in the mix. It is becoming the most popular mobile browser and should be fairly familiar. It has some advantages over its vanilla-flavored buddy, including switching between tabs from the Lollipop's Task Switcher interface.

Thanks to your Google account, Chrome can sync the tabs you have open on other devices (desktops, tablets) with the phone. This feature also syncs your bookmarks and favorite sites and can remember passwords and login data across different platforms.

Google Chrome

Other pre-installed apps

Vivo has kept things pretty clean in terms of preloaded applications and, besides the nowadays obligatory Google suite, there is quite little preloaded software. Also, the things that are included in the mix are generally well executed, nicely styled and even, quite convenient.

Firs up, Funtouch OS has an amazing central management hub, called iManager. It is designed to keep your phone in top shape and generally does a pretty good job of it. It can clean your RAM and storage on request and naturally manage applications.

But the software goes beyond this and is quite clever. For one, it has access to some advanced hardware features on the Xshot and can influence general performance and power-management through different modes. It also offers black-lists for both calls and messages and can even protect you from pesky applications. Once it detects that a certain app is requesting a permission it dubs kind of intrusive, it warns you with a popup.

all-encompassing iManager app

Most of the other bundled apps have nothing really spectacular to offer, except, perhaps, slick looks. The calendar is straightforward. It can seamlessly sync with your google account and naturally has events, reminders and all of the standard week, month and daily views.

Pretty calandar app

Moving on, we find that vivo has created a quite feature-rich notes app. Entries can contain multimedia, as well as reminders, which get automatically entered into your calendar. The app even lets you doodle on screen for a quick note.

Feature-rich notes application

Other things that deserve an honorable mention are the flashlight and sound recorder, but they are as standard as it gets. Also vivo has thrown in a dedicated sync client for its own clod service. It can seamlessly back up your contacts, messages and bookmarks to the said cloud platform.

Flashlight • sound recorder • vivoCloud client

The phone comes with a very intuitive file manager. It automatically groups things according to type, but also allows traditional folder browsing, as well as searching.

Straight-forward file manager

Google Maps is the default navigation app, but it's most useful when used while you are online. It allows you to download offline maps of an area and even plan routes without a data connection but you can't search for addresses or POIs without an internet connection.

Once online, it can plan driving, public transport, cycling and walking routes. It can also display pretty accurate traffic alerts as well (though it doesn't always take them into account when routing you).

Google maps with navigation

Another great support tool available on all Android smartphones is the Android Device Manager. It's available for all Android devices linked to your Google account. It can help you find your misplaced ZTE by making it ring or showing you its location on a map. If it's stolen, you also have the option to lock the device and even wipe all data. You need to enable this option on the device however.

And finally, Google's Play Store hardly needs any description. It the biggest catalog of apps and also features movies, TV, music and even devices but device availability is region-dependent.

Opening the store brings you highlighted apps based on recommendations and your usage. Different categories and app rankings will make app discovery easier.