A professional photographer compared the cameras of vivo X80 Pro and vivo X90 Pro

There is no doubt that smartphone photography and video recording capabilities have improved significantly in recent years. How many changes can be observed in a single generation? Some claim that only minor, “cosmetic” changes are visible in such a short time, but there are no major ones. Who better to explore the (noticeable) progress from generation to generation than an experienced photographer? And how does the “newcomer” vivo X90 Pro compete with its predecessor, the X80 Pro, which is older? Named the best Android device for photography by key European media?

Meet Vlad Eftenie, professor of architecture and professional photographer

Vlad Eftenie is the author and co-author of numerous exhibitions of urban photography and architecture in Romania and abroad, and a lecturer at the Department of Design Synthesis at the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism in Bucharest. He is the winner of many awards, e.g. at the CBRE International Urban Photography Competition in 2011. He is a member of the Enescu Festival's official team of photographers and Forbes Romania included him in the Forbes Gallery of Heroes 2016. While photographing in the lively spring streets of Bucharest, Professor Eftenie had the challenging task of comparing capabilities phones X80 Pro and X90 Pro.

Direct comparison of shots taken with the X80 Pro and X90 Pro

Compared to its predecessor, the main camera sensor of the X90 Pro brings a number of advantages, which is confirmed by comparisons of photos created in different conditions with both devices.

Comparison of photos taken during the day

The bokeh effect, which is an extremely appreciated feature of vivo's flagship smartphones, is more pleasant on the X90 Pro. The larger sensor provides better image rendering from a shallow depth of field perspective, which creates a more poetic feel to the final result, as seen in the photos below.

Tonal and shadow transitions are more natural and there are fewer grainy artifacts in daytime shots taken with the X90 Pro. It is evident that a larger sensor can provide more details on the same surface.

Comparison of photos taken in low light conditions and at night

A comparison of low-light and night shots also proves that the vivo X90 Pro can improve photo quality in all aspects compared to the X80 Pro. Low-light urban shots deliver a superb rendering of the rich and deep hues of the blue sky, as seen in the photos.

In photos taken with the X90 Pro, the sky area is more detailed and has more details in the shadows that create a more natural-looking image, as seen here:

Comparison of portrait mode in low light and daylight

Portrait mode on the X90 Pro delivers exceptional photos captured both in daylight and in low light, without the need for further adjustments or editing. Photos taken in daylight show beautiful skin tones, excellent bokeh, and the end result is a dreamy look, even in fully automatic camera mode.

Even in low-light conditions, the camera captures skin tones wonderfully, providing cinematic photos that are sure to capture the attention of viewers.

In addition, the X90 Pro controls lens flare better, which means that points of light in the background are more clearly displayed. Compared to the X80 Pro, portrait shots have a slightly cooler overall tone, which gives a better final result.

Side-by-side comparisons of a test by a professional photographer, who evaluated the performance of the current flagship model, show that the X90 Pro provides richer colors with more natural tones and contrast, thanks to which photos are remarkably similar to the image perceived by the eye. Low-light exposure times are shorter, which makes the X90 Pro more suitable for hand-held shooting, and the camera setting does a better job of suppressing glare, proving that the coating ZEISS T* represents a real improvement compared to the previous generation.

How vivo improved its predecessor: incremental changes at all levels

The X80 Pro has been named the best Android smartphone for photography by many media outlets, and the X90 Pro goes one step further. One of the biggest improvements to this year's camera model is the introduction of a 1-inch main sensor. It is clear that it is something completely different when we consider that the price of this sensor is twice as high as the price of the entire set of cameras available in the "non-pro" version of the vivo X80. The surface area of the sensor is larger, which means it can absorb more. light, more light means better photos.

Significant improvements for perfect portraits with every shot

One of the most important aspects that developers at vivo are always striving to improve is the smartphone's ability to take portrait photos. These pieces of "spiritual hardware" are among the most special photos users take with their phones, meaning there's no room for compromise. The Sony IMX758 sensor used in the X90 Pro, which is intended for portrait and street photography, is 33.7 % larger than the Sony IMX663 sensor used in the previous generation. With the new sensor, the resolution also increased from 12 MP to 50 MP. The aperture has also been increased (to f/1.6), which, together with Romosaic, improves light capture at the hardware level by 76 % compared to the vivo X80 Pro model. The 50mm focal length used for a portrait camera is a universal accessory, as it is equivalent to the focal length of the human eye, meaning that portraits taken with this setting are completely natural.

The Vivo X80 Pro set new standards as a flagship phone that offered many "hidden features" that make photography even better. The X90 Pro builds on this heritage: one of its functions is, for example, the ability to analyze photos in real time and enable smart horizon correction of captured images. This is especially useful for professional photographers taking architectural photos, as they can skip the horizon adjustment step in post-processing.

Artificial intelligence helps capture amazing images

The vivo X90 Pro's triple camera system is a significant upgrade in itself – even compared to the extensive capabilities of the X80 Pro. Hardware alone, however, would not be enough to capture such spectacular images. This is where the V2 image processing chip comes in: vivo's third-generation chip delivers more performance than its predecessor in every way, including AI-ISP architecture and deep learning accelerators. The AI Perception Engine 2.0 mechanism also improves photo quality and enables a 10% improvement in white balance compared to the X80 Pro model. This is most useful when photographing nature in the mountains, where the ridges are illuminated by the sun and the trees at the base are in shadow. All details are preserved, just as they are seen by the human eye.

The X90 Pro also takes video capture to the next level. The 4K HDR Night Video feature enables the phone to detect scenes with high contrast and use HDR to enhance image tones. This enables realistic display of colors and greater depth and liveliness of videos. Compared to the X80 Pro, vivo's new flagship model provides a theoretical dynamic range that is 4 EV higher.