Friends+Design
- Jazzy, eye-catching back panel design with gradient finish and the unique diamond-shaped camera module
- The slim profile of the camera module barely protrudes from the back
- The in-display fingerprint sensor works well
- Face unlock is present too, which is reliable (though, not as quick as on the other phones at this price level)
- The Vivo S1 Pro feels a little chunky at 8.68mm thick
- The back isn't glass, as Vivo still uses laminated plastic
Display
- Vivid, crisp 6.38-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED display - the colours are also very punchy thanks to the AMOLED panel, and text and icons are adequately sharp
- The display gets very bright, making it easily legible even under direct sunlight
- Widevine L1 DRM certified - you can watch Netflix and Prime in crisp HD resolution
Software
- Funtouch OS based on Android 9 Pie looks very similar to iOS, and is pretty feature packed
- Having said that, the interface is unnecessarily complicated - swipe-up gesture to access system shortcuts is confusing, since it's in the notification shade in stock or other Android UIs
- There's a lot of bloatware preinstalled on the Vivo S1 Pro (though the third-party apps can be removed)
Performance
- Decent performance powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 - it handles multitasking well and regular usage is smooth
- Heavy games such as PUBG Mobile however struggle to run at a smooth frame rate even at the Low graphics preset
- This isn't a bad processor, but it's typically now found in phones closer to the Rs. 10, 000 mark, such as the Realme 5i
Camera
- Decent set of quad rear cameras - 48MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro + 2MP depth camera
- Close-ups are good, with good bokeh and details in objects
- In bokeh mode, the Vivo S1 Pro's depth camera does a decent job of detecting edges, and blurs out the right areas - colours and details are also good
- The macro camera is also handy at times, and lets you get very close to the subjects
- Very good 32MP selfie camera - it captures detailed photos when shooting under ideal light - results are fairly good even when shooting against the light
- In daylight, the primary camera manage to capture average-looking landscape shots - images lack depth, objects at the sides of the frame also have a bit of grain - HDR kicks in when needed, but the end result isn't always very good - some images have a very cool, bluish hue to them, which look unnatural
- The wide-angle camera offered a nice perspective, but colours weren't very accurate
- Low-light photos are just strictly average - focusing is a lot slower in the dark, and it takes a second or two longer to save each photo - there's no dedicated night shooting mode either
- No option for a background bokeh effect with the front camera
- Videos can only be recorded at up to 1080p, which is not great, especially at this price - there's no stabilisation either, which is a big letdown
- Low-light video is not very good, from both primary & ultra-wide lens - has lots of grain as well as weak details
- Overall, rear cameras are nothing special - you will get better outcomes with the Realme X2 or the Redmi K20
Audio
- The single speaker doesn't get too loud and the sound is a little tinny
Battery
- The Vivo S1 Pro packs in a 4500 mAh battery, which easily lasts for 2 days of moderate use
- Vivo uses its Dual Engine Fast Charge feature, but the 18W charger isn't the fastest - charging the phone completely takes about two and a half hours
Verdict
- Overall, the Vivo S1 Pro is a decent pick if all you want is a stylish design, good battery life, and a punchy display
- If you'd prefer a more well-rounded phone though, we suggest looking at offerings from Realme and Xiaomi instead, such as the Realme X2 and the Redmi K20, which have much more powerful SoCs
