vivo X60 Pro+ unveiled: camera monster with 1/1.3″ main sensor, upgraded gimbal stabilization
The vivo X60 Pro+ brings an upgraded version of the gimbal stabilization system, better sensors for the cameras and a fast Snapdragon 888 chipset to handle the new image processing algorithms. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s start with the camera.
Meet the vivo X60 Pro+
The main module is built around a large 1/1.3” ISOCELL GN1. This one has a classic OIS rather than a gimbal. This camera’s large 1.2 µm pixels (2.4 µm with binning) and the bright f/1.57 aperture are a great foundation for excellent low-light imaging.
Super Night Mode 2.0 builds on that – it can work at just 0.01 lux (that’s the illumination of a quarter moon). It improves light sensitivity by 38.8% and focus accuracy by 22% compared to the previous generation.
50 MP main camera (GN1 sensor) and 48 MP ultra wide (IMX598) with gimbal stabilization
The ultra wide-angle (114°, 14 mm) module is the one with the gimbal stabilization system. It can correct ±3° of movement, around three times what a typical OIS system can manage. This camera is based on the IMX598 sensor with 48 MP resolution and 0.8 µm pixels (this used to be the main sensor in the X50).
Next up is the 8 MP periscope camera with 5x optical magnification, which can go up to 60x with digital zoom. There’s a second telephoto camera on board with a 32 MP sensor and a 50 mm lens (2x magnification) for mid-range zoom and portrait shots.
Check out that ZEISS logo on the back of the phone. The T* anti-reflective coating is applied to both sides of each lens. There’s also a nano-crystaline structure that is the first of its kind on a smartphone.
Now we can move on to the chipset. Snapdragon 888’s GPU is 35% faster and 20% more power efficient than the previous generation. vivo paired the chipset with fast LPDDR5 RAM, which can transfer data at up to 6,400 Mbsp (16% higher than the X50 Pro+ RAM). Storage uses an enhanced version UFS 3.1 that is 14% faster than the storage of the old Pro+.
Snapdragon 888 chipset • 8/12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM • 128/256 GB UFS 3.1 storage • 35% faster GPU
The new phone is available in two versions, the base model has 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB storage and costs CNY 5,000 ($775/€635). If you need more memory, the 12/256 GB version is CNY 6,000.
The curved 6.56” OLED display has a 120 Hz refresh rate and 240 Hz touch sampling rate. It also boasts HDR10+ and very accurate color calibration. Its bright too, topping out at 1,300 nits. Its one weakness is that the resolution is 1080p+ (sounds like perfect for many). The camera can record 4K HDR10+ videos for your enjoyment as well as 8K videos.
What’s left? The battery – 4,200 mAh power pack can be charged at 55W through the USB-C port. There’s no wireless charging though, even though the back is covered with high-grade leather (available in Phantom Blue and Classic Orange).
The vivo X60 Pro+ has a high-quality leather back, available in: Classic Orange • Phantom Blue
And by the way, the phone comes with a charger, cable, USB-C headset and a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter in the box (to use with the Cirrus CS4313 DAC), plus a clear protective case. You know, unlike some phones.
Anyway, the vivo X60 Pro+ is up for pre-order, only in China for now. You can find it on Tmall, JD, Suning and others. Pre-orders end on January 30.
Here’s a table comparing the Pro+ with the vivo X60 and X60 Pro+. It’s in Chinese, but the relevant numbers should be easy enough to read. All three phones have 5G connectivity and 5 nm chipsets that run OriginOS 1.0 (based on Android 11).
