There was a time when the Sony Xperia Z Compact ruled the realm of compact powerhouses. However, as consumer preferences changed, particularly in the East, smaller devices quickly lost their appeal. Remember how swiftly the iPhone “mini” was replaced by its Plus counterpart?
One could argue that functional constraints are to blame. Larger batteries are essential, and next-gen camera technology requires space. Yet, every now and then, a brand surprises us with an innovative product. This time, that brand is the Chinese smartphone giant, Vivo.
Earlier today, the company debuted its X200 series smartphones, where the cameras once again take the spotlight. However, the most unexpected revelation was the introduction of a new “mini” model — the Vivo X200 Pro mini, which looks fantastic.
A mean mini flagship
Make no mistake: this isn’t your average Galaxy or Pixel smartphone. The X200 Pro mini is a powerhouse — boasting an astonishing price point that puts its competitors in a tough spot.
Similar to the iPhone 16 Pro, the Vivo X200 Pro mini features a 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2640 x 1216. However, its peak brightness reaches an impressive 4,500 nits, nearly double that of the Apple flagship.
Powering this device is the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chip, a premium chipset that emphasizes performance by eliminating Arm’s efficiency cores. The performance metrics are impressive, with claims suggesting it even outperforms Apple’s robust A18 Pro on synthetic benchmarks.
Vivo has ingeniously incorporated an enormous 5,700mAh battery into this compact phone. For context, regulatory data shows the iPhone 16 Pro has a battery capacity of 3,582 mAh. But numbers only tell part of the story.
The company also offers 90W wired charging, which is double the speed of Apple’s latest offering. Additionally, there’s support for 30W wireless charging, a commendable feat — albeit not as rapid as OnePlus’ top models.
A no-holds-barred hardware package
The real standout feature, however, is its camera system. On the rear, you’ll find three cameras, each equipped with a 50-megapixel sensor. Among them is a periscope-style telephoto lens that utilizes a folded lens system.
This zoom camera is quite remarkable, enabling long-distance portrait shots and macro photography. Notably, all three rear cameras—and the 32MP front camera—feature autofocus, a handy addition.
While these specs may sound impressive, personal experience with Vivo’s flagship models over the years confirms their excellence in camera performance. Their video recording capabilities are particularly competitive with those of iPhones and Galaxies.
On the software front, there are numerous AI features that are reminiscent of the capabilities found in Samsung and Apple’s devices. To manage these features, the MediaTek chip is complemented by a minimum of 12GB of RAM, with a top-tier option offering up to 16GB and storage options reaching 1TB.
Unlike Apple’s limited storage options, the X200 Pro mini starts with a minimum of 256GB of fast UFS 4.0 storage, which is quite a boon.
The Vivo X200 Pro mini is IP69-certified, a notable achievement in the smartphone market, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro only boasts an IP68 rating. The most astonishing aspect, however, is its price tag.
An impossibly alluring mini phone
All these impressive features come packed in a device that starts at CNY 4,699, translating to approximately $640 based on current exchange rates. This price is lower than the cheapest iPhone available this year and is nearly a third of the price of the iPhone 16 Pro.
Unfortunately, this phone may not be making its way to the U.S. just yet. Currently, it has only debuted in China, but given Vivo’s market strategies, the X200 Pro mini could soon launch in various regions of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Regardless of its availability, Vivo’s new compact flagship demonstrates once more that smaller phones can be incredibly powerful and can compete with larger flagship devices without any compromises.
It’s quite remarkable that they achieve this while significantly undercutting the iPhone Pro lineup in price, all while exceeding them in crucial aspects like battery life, sensor capabilities, and durability.
Samsung and Google, take note!