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Vivo X200 FE is a compact phone that looks to deliver with its camera, long battery life and a desirable price tag.
Vivo X200 FE is a compact phone that does not compromise
The compact flagship market has gotten fierce in recent months and Vivo added itself into the ring with the Vivo X200 FE model which is part of the popular X200 series. The new device has attributes quite similar to the recently launched OnePlus 13s which also focuses on compactness with endurance.
But Vivo decides that it wants to add more to its kitty and that’s where you have the Zeiss Optics setup adding further sheen to the compact package. Vivo X200 FE is priced at Rs 54,999 for the 12GB RAM model and we used the device for a few weeks to see how it compares with the OnePlus 13s and where it manages to do better.
Compact Is In
The X200 FE is quite different from the other two X200 models by Vivo. You get a compact size with dimensions suited for comfortable grip in hand and easy to use for most users. It measures at 8mm thickness and weighs 186 grams which is similar to the figures of the OnePlus 13s.
The back panel gets a matte glass finish with an aluminium frame aiding the good grip for the device. But unlike the OnePlus, Vivo manages to give IP68 and IP69 ratings with the X200 FE which makes it extra durable against dust and water pressure.
The vertical camera layout adds a nice balance at the back with the third sensor and LED flash placed on the outside. There is simple elegance about the X200 FE and most people would like its vibrant colour options.
The Right Display
Vivo X200 sports a 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED 1B colour panel with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. The bezels on the screen are symmetrical and that adds to the overall viewing appeal. The panel itself throws punchy colours and the content looks vibrant which makes it pleasing to the eye.
Having the Schott Xensation glass layer for protection does its job nicely and we didn’t see any major impact on the screen after accidental falls during our tests. And yes, the brightness levels of the display sound good on paper but its outdoor visibility could have been better.
Enough Brute Power
Vivo has gone with the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset instead of the latest 9400 version. OnePlus is using the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC which is the best in the range. Vivo has both 12GB and 16GB RAM options and we got to test the latter.
The performance of the MD 9300+ is not bad by any means, in fact the hardware is capable of handling anything you throw at it, including games. The raw benchmark scores understandably give the OnePlus 13s the edge but the X200 FE is not that far behind.
The thermal management of the MediaTek chipset also comes to light and allows you to use the device without any major heating disturbances to report.
The software side of the X200 FE gets the Funtouch OS 15 version, just like the other X200 series phones and the recent Vivo models. The UI is simple but somewhat lacks the finesse of OxygenOS or even One UI. Make no mistake, it is not sluggish or lags, but the experience can definitely use some fluidity which Vivo is seemingly working on behind the scenes. Vivo is promising 4 OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates which is not bad but the OnePlus 13s gets 6 years of updates which is slightly better.
The Zeiss Duo
Vivo also has a better camera setup than the 13s with a trio of sensors offering a 50MP wide with OIS, a 50MP periscope telephoto with OIS, and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. The main sensor and the telephoto lens do really well in daylight conditions, capturing the right details, adding some vibrancy to the image and the dynamic range is also quite dramatic.
The portraits from the periscope lens come out well, focusing more on details but the skin tones tend to be muted rather than natural. The low light imaging is also decent with the main sensor and having OIS for both the lenses shows its results. The 8MP ultra-wide lens doesn’t fare as expected and is just about there to make the numbers.
The Battery Juggernaut
The X200 FE packs a massive 6,500mAh battery with support for 90W charging speed. This is much better than the 5850mAh unit on the OnePlus 13s that lets you charge at 80W speed. The X200 FE can easily last you a day and more but we feel the unit is not making the best use of the silicon carbon tech and able to deliver longer backup.
The PCMark score was ideally expected to be one of the highest we’ve ever got but the X200 FE was beaten by 4 to 5 devices. You do get 8 hours of screen-on-time but we went expecting around 10 hours of standby support. Hopefully a software update can deliver better efficiency.
Vivo X200 FE has the right size, the display is sharp, and the hardware is more than reliable for most users. The camera setup is better than the OnePlus 13s and is also more durable with better IP ratings on board. But the OS side of the device could use some improvements. For the price, the X200 FE delivers an all-round experience that works for most people.
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr…Read More
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr… Read More
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