Vivo X60 Pro Plus review: Elegant, powerful with killer cameras

In the last 3 years, it is very easy to extrapolate that Vivo is perhaps the most improved smartphone brand -- especially at the high end of the spectrum. Its apex concept phones spawned the first generation borderless screens and retractable cameras in the Nex. With the Vivo X50 Pro, they amped up low light photography by outfitting a micro gimbal. Along the way, its hardware has become sleeker, more tender while the software is cleaner and usable. The Vivo X60 Pro Plus builds on top of all these maxims by arguably making the most elegant and ergonomic flagship of 2021 while being supremely powerful and having cameras that are right up there with the best in the business. Vivo has partnered with Zeiss this year while introducing its second-generation gimbal camera system which includes the Samsung GN1 sensor. Fundamentally, the X60 Pro Plus is right up there with the Mi 11 Ultra and in many ways better than phones like the OnePlus 9 Pro.

But it treads a different path than these devices -- it doesn't have water or dust resistance, nor does it have the largest screen or battery. It neither has the best haptics or speakers. Its software is also the weakest of the lot underlined with tons of excess bloat that doesn't do anyone favours. But these negatives are overridden by the sheer compactness and single-minded elegance of the X60 Pro Plus which gives a flagship experience in a more manageable and executive form. And the root of this is behind the fact that it is simply lighter than all its competition at 191 grams and feels more warm and friendly to touch thanks to the vegan leatherback, instead of the cold to touch glass or ceramic. This also makes the phone grippier and less frail to drops. The ergonomics are spectacular and it does remind one of a premium Blackberry in the late 2010s.

In all this is hidden the spectacular Vivo gimbal quad-camera system which also has two lenses that get the special stabilisation and also a laser autofocus system. I said the Mi 11 Ultra had the best camera system -- but the reality is that it beats the Vivo only by a smidgeon. In fact, for many, the Vivo could have a better camera stack. It certainly is the faster focusing camera system thanks to the laser. It also has the edge in extreme lighting perhaps thanks to the micro gimbal and it also takes better portrait shots. But what's important to know is that this is a spectacular camera stack that is amongst the best. Personally, I found the Xiaomi solution to be better because of the natural depth of the sensor, better colours, and the number of details the camera resolved. But the Vivo isn't far behind and its tenacity to oversharpen things and a cooler white balance makes things pop especially out in the open. The Xiaomi has better zoom capability and its ultra-wide camera is also arguably better. But there is not much in it despite the Vivo using an older generation sensor. The stabilisation also helps it to take super smooth video -- allowing the phone to take really smooth HD, 4K and even pretty decent 8K video without burning a hole in the heart of the phone. It is right up there with the best -- and even gives the iPhone 12 Pro Max a run for its money. The high order though being here -- the X60 Pro Plus is one of the best camera phones out there -- perhaps the best depending on the way you shoot or like your photos to be processed.