Over the past five years we have seen a real transition in the smartphone industry: There was a time when people would use the same device for years and then pass it on to their younger sibling, whereas now they change the device every year or even mid-year. Options are multiple and manufacturers have spoilt you with choices.
The reason for Chinese companies becoming trendsetters in India has been their pricing. You can get a fullyloaded device with glossy design and great cashback offers only for a couple of thousand rupees. Now it seems that these manufacturers want to step into the game of expensive devices. These companies have been known famously for their mid-segment devices but are now making a big jump with a device with good design, an extremely capable camera, reliable performance, the world’s first smartphone with a gimbal stabilisation system, priced at Rs 49,990. We are talking about the newest device from VIVO — the X50 Pro.
DISPLAY & DESIGN
The X50 Pro has a 6.56-inch display, and while the front is edge-to-edge with minimal bezels, the phone is still a large device. Despite its size, Vivo has kept some basic aspects in mind while designing it. I personally like the design. The matte glass finish at the back makes the device look expensive and makes it non-slippery. The rectangular camera module adds character. While the screen is edge-to-edge with thin bezels, there is a small holepunch notch in the left of the top edge. The Full HD+ display is sharp. It also packs a 90Hz refresh rate.
PROCESSOR
The Vivo X50 Pro runs Android 10 with Vivo’s custom Funtouch 10.5. The in-house customizations still run deep, though Vivo has made many steps in the right direction. The UI is much cleaner and most of the iOS-like elements are now gone. Funtouch now looks and feels a lot like a clean Android 10 as opposed to the heavily customized old iterations. Under the hood comes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor (5G capable).
CAMERA
The highlight of getting the Vivo X50 Pro is the camera. The main sensor 48MP is the most attractive feature. It also offers a gimbal-like camera system along with OIS and EIS technology for video stabilisation. Vivo claims the X50 Pro is the first phone in the world to come with a micro gimbal camera. Vivo has basically miniaturised the gimbal camera tech and put it out in a phone that measures 8mm in thickness. While most phones only stabilise two axes, vertical and horizontal, Vivo introduces a third axis of movement. It not only widens the rotation angle but also improves the anti-shake area for clearer photos in low-light areas and video recording.
In terms of camera specs, the Vivo X50 Pro has a 48MP main camera with an f/1.6 aperture, a 120-degree 8MP super wide and a 13MP ‘bokeh’ camera. Then there is an 8MP sensor with a periscope lens that allows for up to 5x telescopic and 60x digital zoom. On the front, there is a 32MP camera for selfies. You can try testing up to 60x but the real quality comes only till 10x.
Regardless of the lighting condition, the images were sharp and clear, and the colour did not bleach at all. The video quality was way better than expected and this can turn out to be right device for any ‘vlogger’ out there.
VERDICT
Vivo X50 Pro would be competing with OnePlus 8, the Xiaomi Mi 10 and iPhone SE. The device has left me impressed. The highlight for me would be the gimbal camera technology. It is a device for anyone who is looking at content creation and videos. The display and battery life of the device are solid. Where the software can be a bit of a lowdown for people, the camera is remarkable. I give a thumbs-up to Vivo for the X50 Pro.
