The Vivo X60 Pro is one of the Chinese company’s more exciting flagship smartphone in recent times. Not only does it feature a sleek, premium design, it also comes with a camera system co-engineered by Zeiss and Vivo. Paired with a fast processor and screen, the X60 Pro is really quite a complete flagship device.

However, retailing at RM3,299, it’s also a costly device with a number of shortcomings here and there. But for that kind of money, you are getting a handsome flagship smartphone with a capable camera system, among other positives. Keep on reading this review to find out if the X60 Pro is worth picking up or not!

What It Is

For a device marketed as a flagship smartphone, the X60 Pro certainly has the hardware to back it up. It has a fast AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a capable Snapdragon 870 chipset, as well as a Zeiss-branded triple camera system that can capture some really good-looking shots – more on that further down this review.

The Good Stuff

Personally, I think the design of the X60 Pro is one of its main highlights. The sleek, dual curved AMOLED display is complemented by a glass back with a matte, iridescent-like finish. While this does make the phone a little slippery, it’s worth the trade-off for a phone that looks and feels this premium.

The screen quality of the X60 Pro is quite good too. Although it’s not quite on the same level as the AMOLED panels found on Samsung’s flagship smartphones, the 6.56-inch 1080p AMOLED screen of the X60 Pro is still pleasant to look at. It has deep, true blacks, good viewing angles, and reasonably punchy colours as well.

Of course, the fast 120Hz refresh rate of the X60 Pro’s AMOLED screen also ensures that every single motion on the display looks extra smooth. Whether I’m just scrolling through a webpage or playing a mobile game – that can actually run at 120Hz, of course – the extra frames afforded by the fast screen improve user experience quite a bit.

Speaking of which, throughout my time with the X60 Pro, I’m impressed with the performance level of the Snapdragon 870. Although it’s not as fast as the Snapdragon 888, it’s still no slouch. Whether I’m multitasking or playing more intensive mobile games like Genshin Impact, the Snapdragon 870 just chugs along with no noticeable slowdown.

Battery life of the X60 Pro is quite good as well. On average, I can squeeze out five hours of screen on time from the 4,200mAh battery. While it’s not exactly the longest-lasting smartphone, this is still very respectable battery life. I had absolutely no issue getting through a typical work day with this phone.

Last but certainly not least is the camera performance of the X60 Pro. Its triple camera system (48MP f/1.5 primary + 13MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle + 13MP f/2.5 telephoto) can return good-looking shots regardless of lighting condition with some effort, and the gimbal stabilisation of the 48MP main sensor also ensures that I can capture sharp, blur-free images quite easily.

However, the X60 Pro is by no means superior to, say, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in the camera department. Yes, it’s quite capable, but the S21 Ultra still offers better low light camera performance, especially when it comes to the ultra-wide angle and telephoto sensors.

The Bad Stuff

Vivo has come a long way in the software department, and the X60 Pro is a testament to that. It is no longer using a heavily modified version of Android, opting instead for a cleaner, stock Android experience. Unfortunately, bloatware is still an issue with the X60 Pro. On top of that, several apps actually crashed in my time with the phone – I don’t remember the last time I had this issue with devices I’ve reviewed.

Aside from that, the X60 Pro doesn’t have any water or dust resistance either. For a flagship-class smartphone at this price point, an IP rating is really something that should have been included. After all, even mid-range smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy A72 and Galaxy A52 – which undercut the RM3,299 price tag of the X60 Pro quite a bit – have an IP67 rating.

Is It Worth It?

Now, even though the Vivo X60 Pro is quite a costly smartphone at RM3,299 with a software experience that could be better – not to mention the lack of an IP rating – it’s still a reasonably good, sleek-looking, premium flagship smartphone. It also offers a 120Hz screen, fast performance, relatively long battery life, as well as a capable camera system with Zeiss optics.

Value for money is not the X60 Pro’s main selling point. Rather, you’re paying a premium for the phone’s equally premium appeal. If you like how the X60 Pro looks and feels – I certainly do – and you don’t mind paying extra for that, then yes, it is worth picking up.