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This year we saw the first two devices to feature a periscope zoom which allowed 5x optical zoom, the Huawei P30 Pro and OPPO Reno 10x Zoom, both superb phones, but at a premium price point.
Now vivo are trickling down this tech to a slightly more affordable price and combining it with the new mid-range 5G chipset from Samsung, the Exynos 980.
The vivo is the first device to feature the Exynos 980, and the combination of that and the impressive camera specification make it a phone to look out for (if it ever gets released in the UK).
The new Samsung chipset features two Cortex-A77 cores (which promise a 20% performance boost over the A76), plus six A55 cores. The integrated 5G modem can deliver speeds up to 3.55Gbps (combining 4G and 5G) and with all mid-range and flagship chipsets having 5G functionality moving forward it looks like 5G will be mainstream for 2020.
There are two models being launched, one Pro, one not. Both have the Exynos 980. They are almost identical in spec but one key difference is the periscope zoom.
The Pro has a 5x periscope camera. It shoots 12MP photos at a native focal length of 135mm, but digital zoom can go up to 60x magnification (and there’s a dedicated mode for photos of the Moon).
Then there is the 50mm portrait camera. It has a high-resolution 32MP sensor and a bright f/2.0 aperture. This can then autofocus onto the eyes of your subjects and will track them as they move, plus the ubiquitous bokeh feature too.
On the non-Pro model, the 50mm portrait lens the only lens capable of optical zoom, which tops out at 2x optical and 20x digital zoom.
The primary lens on both phones is a 64MP sensor and a 26.4mm lens with f/1.8 aperture. The Super Night mode can stack 12-16 photos to reduce the noise in the dark. There’s also “Hyper HDR”, which specializes in shooting against the sun or bright lights at night.
Finally, there is an 8MP ultrawide-angle camera and a 32MP selfie camera concealed in a punch-hole.
The punch-hole display is a 6.44” Super AMOLED panel “XDR display”. It boasts 800 nits of brightness, going up to a maximum of 1,200 nits local brightness with a resolution of 1,080 x 2,400.
Both phones feed off a 4,350mAh battery, which supports 33W Flash Charge through the USB-C port. There’s also a dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack.
Dissapointinyl the phones will launch with Android 9 out of the box using Funtouch OS 10.
The vivo X30 Pro comes out first (December 24) and will cost CNY 4,000 (£429) for the 8/128GB model and CNY 4,300 (£462)for the 8/256GB option.
The vivo X30 will be available only in 8/128GB configuration at first, starting on December 28 at a price of CNY 3,300 (£354). There’s an 8/256GB version in the cards targeting CNY 3,600 (£386).
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
