For years, phone makers have been chasing the perfect all-around mid-range flagship smartphone, with very few truly succeeding. In my own search, I recently found the Vivo X200 FE, the newest and most affordable member of the X200 series, which also includes the X200 and X200 Pro. Here’s my full review of this device.
Design
Measuring at 150.83 mm x 71.76 mm x 7.99 mm, the Vivo X200 FE is remarkably slim, making it easy to carry in a pocket alongside a larger 6.7-inch device. The Luxe Grey model I’m reviewing features a subtle, matte finish that effectively resists fingerprints and smudges. However, the camera module is quite prominent, causing a noticeable wobble when the phone is placed on a flat surface.
Display
The Vivo X200 FE features a stunning 6.31-inch AMOLED display with a P3 colour gamut and minimal bezels. The screen’s brightness is exceptional, with a claimed peak of 5,000 nits, making it easy to view even in bright conditions. For video content, colours are rich, contrast is strong, and skin tones are accurate—making shows such as The Rookie a pleasure to watch.
The X200 FE’s speakers balance bass and treble really well in tracks such as Dilli-6 from Delhi-6, but at higher volume, it seemed a little more feeble.
Camera
The Vivo X200 FE packs a solid triple-camera setup on the back. It features a 50 MP Sony IMX921 main sensor with OIS for sharp, steady shots, an 8 MP ultra-wide lens with a 120-degree field of view for expansive landscapes, and a 50 MP Sony IMX882 periscope lens with OIS and 3x optical zoom to get you closer to the action without sacrificing detail.
Daylight images from the main and telephoto lenses were exceptional, delivering great sharpness, detail, and contrast. The Zeiss tuning is more than just a filter—it’s integrated into the optics and colour science, resulting in images with impressive contrast, exposure, and fine detail.
The only slight disappointment in an otherwise stellar setup is the 8 MP ultra-wide camera, which produced noticeably soft images. This seems to be a choice by Vivo to differentiate the phone from its higher-end siblings in the X200 line-up.
Between the regular camera interface, where one can switch between modes by swiping right and left, the phone also features a street photography mode, which kind of makes it feel like a retro camera.
The X200 FE also captures up to 4k footage at 60 fps with a decent amount of details in the video, along with efficient autofocus and tracking on moving subjects.
Night-time photos, while taking a moment to post-process, retain excellent detail around subjects and objects with minimal noise. The rear Aura Light can also be used as a handy fill light for nighttime portraits.
Selfies were also sharp, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the front camera capture my skin tone accurately. The two concealed LED lights in the top corners work great as a fill light for selfie portraits.
The phone also features a street photography mode, which kind of makes it feel like a retro camera
| Photo Credit: Bijoy Ghosh
Performance
The Vivo X200 FE comes equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor and a choice of 12 GB/256 GB or 16 GB/512 GB memory configurations. My test unit, the 16GB model, proved its worth with a respectable AnTuTu score of 1,767,245, placing it neck-and-neck with competitors like the OnePlus 13R and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Surprisingly, this compact phone handles gaming well. I saw a consistent 60 FPS in Battlegrounds India for over an hour, all while keeping a cool temperature.
Running Funtouch OS 15 (based on Android 15), the software provides a smooth, if slightly cluttered, user experience with Vivo equivalents of browsers, app store, etc. The integrated Google Gemini assistant is a major highlight, with features such as song recognition and on-screen translation working just as well as on a Google Pixel. Additional AI tools such as Transcript Assist, live call translation, and Notes AI Assistant add to its day-to-day functionality requiring you to have a vivo account to use it.
Battery
The X200 FE fits a large 6,500mAh battery into its sleek chassis, providing impressive longevity. I was able to get about 1.5 to two full days of use, with an average screen-on time of nearly eight hours, even with moderate to heavy usage, including taking pictures, recording videos, participating in video calls and virtual events, and gaming. The phone comes with a 90 W FlashCharge adapter in the box, which can fully charge the device in under an hour.
Conclusion
The vivo X200 FE comes across as a pocket monster with much oomph within the 6.3-inch form factor, with best-in-class main and telephoto cameras, a bright and vibrant display, and a refined software experience with non-intrusive bloatware. The X200 FE punches above its weight against the OnePlus 13s and the Realme GT 7 Pro, and stands tall on the performance front as well.
Price: ₹59,999 (16 GB +512 GB)
Pros: Best-in-class cameras, great screen, Premium finish, compact form factor
Cons: Soft ultra-wide camera, bloatware, slightly cluttered software interface.
Published on August 6, 2025