vivo smartphone
Image courtesy: vivo

vivo has announced the global launch of the X90 and X90 Pro, the company’s latest X90 series flagship smartphones. The new smartphones deliver new advanced camera features and performance upgrades.

X90 Pro cameras

The X90 Pro has a 50-megapixel (MP) ZEISS one-inch main camera which uses a one-inch Sony IMX989 sensor. This camera also has a wide f/1.75 aperture and a 3.2 μm pixel size, which should improve low-light images. In addition, the X90 Pro has a 50-MP portrait camera and a 12-MP wide-angle camera. The portrait camera has f/1.6 aperture and works with the smartphone’s optical image stabilization to give great portraits even in low light.

X90 cameras

The X90 has a 50-MP VCS True Color main camera. vivo say that the VCS True Color system improves native image colors, ensures color consistency and lowers the noise level. The X90 also has a 12-MP portrait camera and a 12-MP wide-angle camera.

ZEISS features

vivo says that the X90 Pro and X90 use ZEISS optics and camera functions, including lenses with ZEISS T coating. Other ZEISS features include ZEISS Natural Color 2.0 to ensure that colors match more closely those seen with the naked eye. In addition, ZEISS Natural Color Display ensures that the display doesn’t alter the appearance of your images. Finally, ZEISS Cine-flare Portrait simulates lens flares and ZEISS Miniature Effect applies a tilt-shift look to your photos.

Other camera features

The X90 Pro and X90 are great for low-light video with a 4K Ultra-Sensing Night Video mode for extremely dark environments. Another low light feature is Zero-Shutter-Lag Motion Snapshot, which makes capturing motion easier. vivo says that the zero-second delay means what you see is what you get in key moments, even in low light. In addition, Sports mode and Night Sports mode combine a high-speed shutter and motion detection algorithm to keep fast-moving subjects clear.

What we think

The vivo X90 Pro and X90 smartphones look to have some great features for photography and video. If you are looking for a new smartphone, especially one that is good in low light, you should take a closer look.

Pricing and availability

First the bad news: You won’t be able to buy either phone in the United States. The X90 Pro will be available in some European countries including the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland. It will also be released in India and some Southeast Asian countries. The X90 however is only being released in India and other Asian markets. Only the Chinese prices have been released to date and these equate to around $700 for the X90 Pro and $520 for the X90. However, with previous smartphones, the prices were higher when vivo released them in other countries.

Pete Tomkies is a freelance cinematographer and camera operator from Manchester, UK. He also produces and directs short films as Duck66 Films. Pete's latest short Once Bitten... won 15 awards and was selected for 105 film festivals around the world.