Vivo X200 Ultra Phone Design and Build Quality
- Muhammad Rehman
- Jul 7
- 3 min read
You want it because you can't have it, right? Well, no - we know we'll want the vivo X200 Ultra because of its camera greatness, just like we did with the X100 Ultra before. Not being able to have it isn't remotely part of its appeal - all it is, is one the world's most unfortunate enduring injustices.
The 1/1.28" optical format of the new imager is a slight downgrade, so vivo has decided to replace the 1-inch main camera on the X200 Ultra with one with a smaller sensor. To make up for that, the company has chosen to pair it with a 35mm equivalent lens - not the most popular choice, so far almost an exclusive territory for nubia's camera efforts. It could be an attempt at misdirection by vivo so that we shift our focus away from the smaller sensor, though they just might be on to something with that focal length.
A proper upgrade can be seen on the ultrawide camera. It's another unit of the same sensor that is used here as well, replacing the 1/2.0" imager in the old model's setup. The 200MP 1/1.4" sensor on the 85mm telephoto didn't really call for an upgrade so it's been kept the same. It's really more like three 'main' cameras on the back of this Ultra, joined by one of the better specced selfie cameras in the industry.
The X200 Ultra and other Ultras, as well as current models from competing brands and vivo's own Pro and Ultra models, share the same broad strokes. Modern high-end cameraphone designs tend to be similar to one another. The X200 Ultra does have its own personality too, of course.
The large circular camera assembly is the default approach to fitting several large-sensor modules. The X200 Ultra has its three cameras neatly arranged, with a fourth circle just for appearances. What's most unusual is that there's no gradual transition between the flat back and the camera bump - it's a one-step design with the entire 61mm circle sticking out by a good 7mm. Compare it to the X100 Ultra with its intermediate step and two chamfers.
You'd think it would be an issue or at least a nuisance in handling but we didn't experience it catching on to the insides of pockets or anything, though that just might vary from person to person (and pocket to pocket). If anything, we feel like you could use the camera bump to prop up the phone with your index finger, lifting some of the weight off of the pinkie.
The glass back of our red review unit has a frosted finish with a bit of a pearlescent effect going on - it's sort of a royal red hue that looks quietly stylish rather than flashy. The silver version has vertical stripes all the way up to the camera bump equator, whereas the black version has a slight knurled crosshatch texture. Over on the front, vivo has moved away from the distinctly curved sides on the X100 Ultra.
The X200 Ultra could mostly be described as having a flat facade, though there's now the gentlest rounding of the panel along the entire periphery, ensuring a pleasant swiping experience without compromising handling (if we assume that more pronouncedly curved screens are detrimental to handling, that is). Still, the Find X8 Ultra is almost perfectly flat, this one isn't quite.
The flatter front has resulted in a flatter frame too - there's now a more substantial aluminum rail to hold on to. A new addition this time around is a camera control button - or, rather, a touch and press sensitive strip placed where a shutter release button would be, if the X200 Ultra was a camera-camera.
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