We may have failed to mention that the Vivo X100 and X100 Pro announced last December are AI phones imbued with a Large Language Model (LLM) called BlueLM. These handsets, which are powered by a Dimensity 9300 tuned for the Vivo X100 series, work in sync with Vivo’s self-developed BlueCrystal chip. While the recently revealed Vivo X100 Ultra isn’t powered by a MediaTek chip, the X100s Pro and X100s that were announced together are powered by a Dimensity chip, also featuring BlueLM and BlueCrystal.
However, the new X100s Pro and X100s are not powered by Dimensity 9300; it is powered by Dimensity 9300+ which MediaTek said “offers increased clock speeds and is designed to accelerate on-device generative AI processing, offering broader support for LLM” plus other performance enhancements over the 9300. Like the X100, the X100s Pro and X100s are full-on AI phones.
Vivo X100s and X100s Pro
Let’s talk about Vivo X100s [CH] and Vivo X100s Pro [CH] first. The key differences between the two devices are the display, the battery capacity, the main camera’s sensor, imaging chip, and dimensions.
The X100s is the most talked about because while it falls under the flagship category, it has ditched the flagship norm’s curved display while the X100s Pro has a curved display. It has adopted a squared-off design to match the flat-out screen. However, both displays have the same adaptive refresh rate (up to 120 Hz) 6.78” OLED LTPO with 2,800 by 1,260 resolution.
Furthermore, the standard model has the Vivo V2 imaging chip while the Pro benefits from the V3 chip. The Pro gets a larger battery (5,400 mAh vs 5,100 mAh on the standard X100s) and features 50 W wireless charging, in addition to the 100 W wired flash charging that is also found on the X100s.
The large battery capacity and wireless charging make the Pro model a tag thicker and heavier. It measures 164.05 x 75.28 x 8.91 mm and weighs 225g. Meanwhile the standard X100s measures 164.05 x 75.28 x 7.8 mm, and tips the scales at 203g.
Both models are rocking a tri-camera set sharing the same 64 MP OmniVision OV64B 1/2” sensor Zeiss telephoto lens camera, and a 50 MP Samsung S5KJN1 1/2.76” sensor with 119° super wide angle lens. However, the main camera on the Pro is a 50 MP Sony IMX989 1.0” sensor main camera and the standard model is outfitted with a 50 MP Sony IMX920 1/1.49” sensor main camera. Both models have a 32 MP hole-punch camera over at the front.
Furthermore, the X100s has an IP68 rating while the Pro has IP68 and IP69 ratings. Plus it has a HiFi chip. I believe those are the differences. So choosing between the two is not merely about going with a flat or curved display which makes it hard. Honestly, I prefer Apple’s limited selection which is less confusing.
Vivo X100 Ultra
Now as for the range-topper, the Vivo X100 Ultra [CH] is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and has imaging that boasts a Zeiss 200 MP APO Super Telephoto Lens featuring HP9 1/1.4” sensor co-developed with Samsung, a 50 MP 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor “PTZ-grade” main camera, and Vivo V3 imaging chip.
It also has a 50 MP super wide-angle camera plus a 50 MP front-facing hole-punch camera. The telephoto camera has 3.7x optical zoom and is capable of up to 100x digital zoom.
The Ultra also has a 6.78” adaptive refresh rate (up to 120 Hz) display but it is an AMOLED item with a higher resolution, at 3,200 x 1,440. The Ultra uses the same type of RAM and storage, i.e. LPDDR5X and UFS4.0 storage, as the X100s Pro and X100s.
Other highlights of the Vivo X100 Ultra include an all-glass body, 5,500 mAh battery, X-linear haptic motor, ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, two-way satellite text messaging, 3D VC cooling, and more. The Vivo X100 Ultra is the first-ever Ultra for Vivo, btw.
Pricing and Availability
The new Vivo X100 Series was revealed on May 13, 2024, China time. The books for the new X100 series devices are open now, with the Vivo X100s and X100s Pro starting at 3,999 yuan [CH] and 4,999 yuan [CH] (around US$555 and US$693), respectively. As for the Ultra, it starts at 6,499 yuan [CH] (about US$901).
Images: Vivo [CH].
