Vivo Z1x Review: Currently the best Vivo phone under Rs. 20,000

Vivo Z1x is the second phone in Vivo’s online-exclusive Z-series, and just as the Z1 Pro that it precedes, it plays by the online set of rules. That is to say that it aims to impress with a spec-sheet bedecked with a powerful chipset and underlined by a very alluring price. (Vivo Z1X Review हिंदी में पढ़िए)

The Vivo Z1x isn’t a major upgrade but improves upon the Z1 Pro in big and small ways. How much of an improvement is the Vivo Z1x over the similarly named Vivo Z1 Pro? How does it compare against the Realme X or Realme 5 Pro? We have been testing the phone for a while now and will try and answer such queries in our Vivo Z1x review that follows. 

Page Contents:

• Vivo Z1x Price and Specification
• Vivo Z1x Review: Box Content
• Vivo Z1x Review: Design and Build
• Vivo Z1x Review: Display
• Vivo Z1x Review: Performance and Software
• Vivo Z1x Review: Camera
• Vivo Z1x Review: Battery and Audio
• Vivo Z1x Review: Verdict with Pros and Cons

Vivo Z1x Price and Specifications

Vivo Z1x Box Content

Inside the Vivo Z1x box, you’d get:

• Handset
• 22.5W Charging adaptor
• Charging cable
• Protective Case
• Thin-film screen protector (pre-installed)
• Headphones
• Documentation and SIM ejector tool

Vivo Z1x Review: Design and Build

Save for the changes in the gradient pattern, the Vivo Z1x is quite similar to the more recently launched  Vivo S1 (Review). Compared to the Z1 Pro, the design changes are more prominent.  

Owing to the reduction in display and battery size, the Z1x is lighter and more compact, and consequently much easier to hold and operate – even when the ergonomic curves on the Z1 Pro have given way to flatter back. This should be a welcome change for gaming enthusiasts who are still the primary target consumers. 

The material used is polycarbonate and gradient options are Fusion Blue and Phantom Purple. With so many variations of Blue floating around, the colors don’t strike as anything uncommon. 

On the front, the Z1x has a U-shape waterdrop notch, which is perhaps a step down from the Z1 Pro’s punch hole. The panel, however, gets an upgrade. This time Vivo employs and AMOLED screen that helps with punchy colors and also facilitates the use of an in-display fingerprint sensor.  

We find the dedicated Google Assistant button quite helpful. If you have a bunch of smart home devices, this is surely something you could use and appreciate. The USB Type-C port at the bottom was long overdue, but we are glad it’s finally here. And we are glad that the audio jack, too, is still here. 

So, overall, the Vivo Z1x rigidly sticks to the 2019 design book but consumers will find it trendy and ergonomic – which should more than suffice in this budget. 

Also Read: 10 Best Phones With Under Display Fingerprint Sensor

Vivo Z1x Review: Display

As mentioned above, the AMOLED display on the Z1x counts as an upgrade. Colors are punchy, contrast and dynamic range are decent, and the screen is bright enough to be readily legible even under direct sunlight. The Funtouch OS software has a few color presets and adjustment options that we could use to tune the display to our liking. 

Being an AMOLED panel, blacks are deep but unfortunately, the grey-ish ‘Dark Mode’ fails to leverage this advantage. Apart from the eye-protect mode, Vivo also adds DC dimming (low brightness Anti-flicker) to dampen lowlight flicker and reduce eye strain while using the phone in low light (we’d recommend you turn this on).

Vivo Z1x Review: Performance and Software

The chipset is still the Snapdragon 712 AIE (2.3GHz Octa-Core), but that’s fine because it’s still one of the best chipsets you can get in this budget. Besides, you get 6GB RAM and up to 128GB (UFS 2.1) of storage on the top model. 

The hardware is powerful enough to steer you through the most demanding of Android games. Vivo’s Ultra game mode, that we earlier experienced on Z1 Pro and S1, helps avoid interruption while gaming. The 4D vibration is a nice touch and enhances PUBG experience. 

 The day-to-day performance and multitasking work fine. Unlocking the Vivo Z1x is no trouble at all – both the in-display fingerprint sensor and Face Unlock are dependable and snappy. 

The Funtouch OS software required quite a few optimizations before we could be comfortable. The silver lining is that you can work your way around irritating bits and also uninstall bloatware apps that push annoying notifications. 

Once again, Funtouch OS is the most refined skin out there and certainly not our personal favorite, but consumers who aren’t as particular about their software needs aren’t likely to mind it. 

Vivo adds DRM L1 certificate for HD streaming. We could stream HD content from Netflix on the Z1x but not on Amazon Prime Videos. 

Vivo Z1x Review: Camera Performance

The camera is also a prominent differentiator. The Z1x gets a 48MP Sony IMX582 sensor as the primary camera (same as the one used on Redmi K20) and the sensor is assisted by an 8MP wide-angle camera and a depth sensor. 

The Z1x camera won’t blow your socks off but it’s quite good and can certainly help the phone hold its ground when compared to the other contemporary rivals in the same segment. 

The camera app has too many options and feels a bit cluttered. It can, however, be fun once you get used to it.

In proper light, the camera performance was quite good. We could capture optimum details and metering was consistent. The camera struggles a bit to capture close shots, but once it locks focus, details are pretty neat.

As is the case with most affordable phones, the portrait mode can be a hit or a miss.

The wide-angle camera is another customary addition. This is good for capturing wide landscapes but you won’t be using it very often.

Shots clicked in dark and in low light are about average in terms of quality. The night mode works as advertised and can brighten dark scenes.

The selfie camera does a fine job. The front camera has a software powered portrait mode, but it’s far from perfect.

Vivo Z1x Review: Battery and Audio

We are glad that Vivo decided to trim down the battery a bit because that makes the handset more ergonomic and we didn’t feel like we were missing much. A 4500mAh capacity is pretty decent and the Vivo Z1x can comfortably last for more than a day. Besides, the Z1x has faster 22.5W fast charging that can quickly top-up the lost juice. 

The Audio via headphones and also via loudspeaker is about average and certainly nothing to write home about. 

Also Read: 10 Best Phones With Fast Charging Support Under Rs. 20,000 In 2019

Vivo Z1x Review: Should you buy it?

The Z1x is currently the best Vivo phone priced under Rs. 20,000. With this phone, Vivo also addresses a few long-standing quibbles. For instance, this is the first affordable Vivo Phone in India to include HD streaming support out of the box and also the first affordable Vivo Phone to include a USB Type-C port. 

The Z1x  has got an AMOLED display, has reliable chipset, fast biometric unlock, and offers agreeable battery mileage. The camera performance and design aren’t a drawback by any means, but they are just a bit usual. The overall experience gets a meaningful upgrade over the Z1 Pro and the Z-series remains a great option for gamers on a budget. The primary competition for the Z1x shall be the Realme X that offers a pop-up camera and a true full-view screen. 

Pros 

• AMOLED Display
• Excellent performance
• Battery mileage
• USB Type-C port and fast charging
• Dedicated Google Assistant button

Cons

• No microSD card slot
• Software needs refinements

Vivo Z1x Review & Unboxing Video [in Hindi]