Read more

 The top Vivo handset for 2022

 

One of the biggest smartphone manufacturers that you may not be familiar with is Vivo. With the company's continued drive into new foreign markets outside of its home market of China, that may soon alter.

Many of the company's phones are still only being released in Asia at this early stage of its worldwide expansion, while an increasing number are now being released in Europe.

It's also worth taking into account the company's iQoo sub-brand, which provides updated versions of its parent brand's gadgets that strike an even more competitive price/performance balance with a tad of a gaming focus.

Just a brief software note: Vivo currently uses two different operating systems. Origin OS is presently only offered on Chinese variants of the company's most recent smartphone. The global launches use Fun touch OS, but Origin will soon take its place. A more simplified version of Fun touch that is superior to a stock Android experience is available on a few phones with official European versions.

 1. Vivo X80 Pro: Best All around Phone

The X80 Pro, Vivo's newest flagship, has a widespread distribution that covers a large portion of Asia and Europe, including the UK.

It's odd that this is extremely comparable to the earlier X70 Pro+, below, but that it is offered in more nations and costs a bit less.

The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and a bigger battery with quicker charging are the main improvements, and they alone make this a worthwhile upgrade.

The primary image sensor and image processor have received slight modifications, but these changes are sufficient to make this Vivo's greatest camera—and, by extension, one of the best cameras in any phone. The one change Vivo made that we don't like is that it switched from an ultra-wide to a 2x zoom lens when using its patented gimbals technology.

 2. The Best Ultrawide Camera: Vivo X70 Pro+



The X70 Pro+, as was already said, is very similar to the X80 Pro but has a less modern processor and an inferior battery and charging system. However, it's still a fantastic flagship that is definitely worth purchasing if you can get it at a lower price.

Snapdragon 888+ processor, up to 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, a 120Hz WQHD+ AMOLED display, and 55W fast charging are still the top specifications available.

However, the camera, which is unquestionably still one of the greatest in any phone right now, is really what matters most. The ultra-wide lens stands out among the four back lenses, which are all excellent (and all feature OIS to boot), and is still superior to that of the more recent model due to gimbals stabilization.

3. Best Design: Vivo X70 Pro

The Pro+ alternative, the X70 Pro, is only marginally less powerful, but it is still quite potent (and also unavailable outside Asia).

The display is smaller and has a lesser quality, and there is no wireless charging or IP certification. The Density 1200 chipset, albeit a customized version for Vivo, is where it is also limited.

You'll still receive a wonderful quad rear camera, which has many of the same specifications as the Pro+ version. With a thinner body, less weight, and no strange reflecting ceramic pane next to the camera, you also get a better design.

4. Vivo iQoo 9T - The Best Gaming Phone

Due to the fierce competition in the gaming phone industry, it takes a very standout product to get attention.

By almost every meaningful parameter, the iQoo 9T performs admirably, with solid cameras, long battery life, a superb display, and ample power for even the most ardent gamers owing to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. It even has a very quick 120W charger.

The gadget falls short in subtle ways, with issues including poor thermal management, subpar haptics, and an excessive amount of adware pre-installed, among other software annoyances.

As a result, for the majority of users, this smartphone will be one that not only meets but often far exceeds their expectations in terms of functionality and affordability. The iQoo 9T is a thoughtful, successful smartphone that does enough to get a recommendation, even though it lacks the "x factor" to be a real knock-out superstar.

5. Vivo T1 5G - Best Budget Option

Sadly, the Vivo T1 5G hasn't made it to Europe, but it is a fantastic affordable option from Vivo that is currently sold in China and India.

Performance is one of this phone's undeniable assets, combined with incredible battery life, thanks to the Snapdragon 695 5G CPU. There are limitations here due to the abundance of plastic and lack of water-proofing, but it also looks the part.

Despite the auxiliary cameras' lackluster performance, the primary camera is good. The LCD panel, which offers a clean 120Hz refresh rate but has slightly washed-out colors, is maybe the biggest letdown. However, for those who place a high emphasis on performance and battery life, this is not just the greatest budget phone from Vivo, but one of the best overall.

6.IQoo 9 Pro Legend from Vivo

With its racing stripe that takes inspiration from BMW, the iQoo 9 Pro Legend stands near the top of Vivo's gaming lineup.

The 9 Pro Legend has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor with up to 12GB of RAM, a 4700mAh battery, and amazing 120W wired and 50W wireless charging.

The 50MP main camera is a standout, and Vivo's outstanding Night mode software shines here because the gimbals stabilization is also included. The cameras aren't the finest Vivo has to offer, but they're not awful either.

Although this Vivo phone hasn't had a global debut, you can still get it from China or India, it does have a lot of power for the price.

7. Vivo X60 Pro

Although the X60 Pro is still the latest X-series phone to arrive in the UK, we're not grumbling about it.

One of the year's lightest and thinnest flagship phones, it has a stunning frosted glass surface.

The 6.56in 120Hz AMOLED display is stunning, and the Snapdragon 870 processor—while not the fastest available—is more than adequate for most users.

The Zeiss-branded triple camera, which consists of a gimbals-stabilized primary lens, an ultra-wide, and a 2x zoom portrait lens, is the actual strength in addition to the design. This is one of the greatest camera phones available this year because of them.

The only significant drawbacks are the absence of waterproofing and wireless charging, but if you won't miss those features, the X60 Pro is a fantastic option and unquestionably Vivo's finest in the West.

8. The iQoo Neo 6

An outstanding mid-range gaming alternative from Vivo is the iQoo Neo 6.

Still a powerhouse, the Snapdragon 870 CPU powers a superb AMOLED display. Even the 64Mp primary camera, a rarity in gaming technology, shines owing to Vivo's photographic prowess, and 80W wired charging is among the fastest you'll find at this price.

More powerful gaming phones are available, but few provide this level of capability at this price while balancing it with other great features, not to mention a stylish appearance that won't turn off more casual gamers.

9. Vivo X60 Pro+

Up until the release of the X70 Pro+, the leather-coated X60 Pro+ was Vivo's most powerful smartphone. Unfortunately, it is only sold in China and India; customers in other countries will have to import it.

This phone is a photography flagship, with camera specs including a 50MP primary lens, a 48MP gimbals-stabilized ultra-wide, a 32MP 2x zoom, and an 8MP 5x periscope that wouldn't seem out of place in an Ultra-class phone from another company. Since then, the X70 Pro+ has narrowly beaten it, but this camera is still great.

You get all of that for far less than you could elsewhere, but only because Vivo eschewed extras like wireless charging, an IP certification, or stereo speakers - even while the Snapdragon 888 at its core ensures top-notch internal specifications.

Remember that although the Indian variant of the phone runs Vivo's more traditional Fun touch OS, the Chinese model runs the company's new Origin OS.

10. Huawei V23 Pro

The Vivo V23 Pro is a weird follow-up to the V21 that does away with its standout feature (no, there was never a V22, and no, we don't know why either).

On the front of the phone, there are two non-OIS cameras in place of the OIS Selfie camera. In bright conditions, the 50Mp primary Selfie camera shines, but without optical stabilization, it trails the V21 at night, and the lesser resolution ultra-wide is just OK.

The Vivo V23 Pro is a rather well-rounded phone overall, but given the choice; we'd still choose the older V21. Fast charging, a potent processor, and a sleek color-changing design help sell the device.