Vivo X50 Pro review: A solid all-rounder for camera lovers

Vivo X50 Pro

Like

• Sleek lines and slender design,
• Impressive zoom
• Gimbal camera keeps video super steady
• 5G connectivity

Don’t Like

• Lack of stereo speakers
• Not water resistant
• Swipe down to answer calls

The Vivo X50 Pro is a midrange phone on the higher end of that spectrum and has many of the trappings of an enticing flagship. Starting at approximately $670, you get a crystalline screen, 5G, a powerful battery, a speedy display and fast charging. But the phone also has a camera feature that undeniably distinguishes it from its rivals. The X50 Pro is the world’s first mass-produced phone with a built-in gimbal camera system that allows you to capture smooth, fast-action video with the click of a button. Out of Vivo’s trio of X50 handsets — which the Chinese phone-maker is marketing as a professional photography flagship — the X50 Pro is the only one to boast this futuristic feature. But Vivo did make a few compromises. For instance, it lacks stereo speakers (a big drawback for music lovers like myself) and it isn’t water resistant, which many phones of this class are. It also has a midrange processor (Snapdragon 765G) instead of the most advanced chipset available.

If you’re not fussed about shooting action video, you’re better off buying Vivo’s base X50 or the OnePlus Nord. Both have comparable specs but don’t charge a premium for advanced video gimbals and hardware. The X50 and Nord feature a quad-camera system led by a 48-megapixel shooter, the same chipset and a fast display, but are nearly $100 to $200 cheaper respectively. But if being splash-proof is important to you, consider the iPhone 11 ($699 at Apple).

Vivo doesn’t currently have plans to officially release the phone in the US. But X50 phones have been released in parts of Asia and Europe, so they’ll be reasonably easy to import. Pricing also varies based on country with prices trending higher in Western countries. In India, the base variant (with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage) starts at 49,990 rupees (approximately $670, £510 or AU$930), while in Eastern Europe it starts at the equivalent of $780. 

The X50 Pro’s gimbal camera delivers

The X50 Pro has multiple rear cameras. The entire setup uses a gimbal-like system and a combination of optical image stabilization and electronic image stabilization to produce incredibly stable video. Vivo says its gimbal system reduces shakiness by up to three times compared to traditional stabilization technology, thanks to a “double ball structure” that allows it to rotate on three axes.

I captured a bunch of video hill stations in north east india different lighting conditions to see how well the X50 Pro stacked up against another phone known for its video-camera prowess, the iPhone 11 Pro Max. In short, the X50 Pro performed very well. When I recorded video while walking in daylight and panning the cameras from side to side, I didn’t see much of a difference between the two phones. Both captured stable footage without any obvious jerkiness. 

The differences were noticeable, however, when running, especially in darker conditions. Although the X50 Pro’s output was steady and seamless, there were several times when the camera went out of focus and blurred slightly. The iPhone 11 Pro Max’s footage, on the other hand, always remained in focus but was extremely shaky. In the end, I preferred video from the X50 Pro because it was easier for me to watch stable video with occasional blurs rather than jerky footage. Apart from video, another use-case for the gimbal system is taking photos while zooming. I was able to more easily capture some great photos zoomed in because of the stability it provided. 

Bottom line: The X50 Pro’s gimbal-style camera is impressive and generally delivers what it promises. But it cannot replace a full-sized gimbal — it is built into a phone after all. And while its technology is unique, its videos aren’t earth-shatteringly better than, say, what you get on the pricier iPhone 11 Pro Max.

The X50 Pro’s design is slender and classic

Though its design isn’t wholly unique, the Vivo’s X50 Pro is still a sleek phone with a classic aesthetic. I prefer designs like this because they’re more enduring rather than envelope-pushing trends that seem to fade away (remember pop-up selfie cameras?). The X50 Pro has a spacious 6.56-inch curved display with a discreet hole-punch selfie camera. On the back there’s a larger than average rectangular protrusion that’s home to a rear quad-camera module and the phone’s headline gimbal feature.

The X50 Pro comes in gray, which I love. Its subtle sheen adds to the phone’s premium look. Overall the X50 Pro is neither heavy or exceptionally lightweight, but it is relatively slim, which allows me to type out emails and messages using one hand.

The X50 Pro’s screen has a higher 90Hz refresh rate than most phones, which have 60Hz displays. It offers a silky smooth experience, which I really like, though it’s not as high as the 120Hz screens on the <a website 8 Pro and Galaxy S20.