vivo X200 FE review

Competition

The X200 FE appears to have its priorities all figured out - compact size and long battery life, all without compromising on the cameras. There's a handful of competitors with similar inclinations, of course.

Perhaps the most obvious rival is the Xiaomi 15, itself with even stronger flagship genes. It's got better cameras and a nicer chipset, a bit of an advantage in endurance, and faster charging (wireless too). It's shaping up as the better option - certainly if you can find the two at the same price, but the Xiaomi is possibly even worth paying a premium for.

If you value pocketability over cameras, the Galaxy S25 could be a viable option. It will save you some 24g and come with a decent if mostly unremarkable camera system. Other arguments in its favor are One UI (pretty important for the right crowd) and possibly wireless charging.

You could also entertain a comparison against the Pixel 9 Pro, if the active discounts at the moment in your area allow for it. The Google phone experience could be a selling point, and the Pixel is likely a better cameraphone altogether, though battery life isn't its strong suit.

You could be after a vivo specifically and it doesn't need to be an FE - the regular X200 may be a bit larger, but it's got a more powerful chipset and the upper hand in rear camera performance (though the FE does win for selfies).

Xiaomi 15 • Samsung Galaxy S25 • Google Pixel 9 Pro • vivo X200

Verdict

The X200 FE is indeed a member of a relatively rare breed that we often see requested in the comments section - a pocketable phone with a big battery that doesn't skimp on cameras. It does deliver on its promises and will keep a low profile in your jeans, it will last long, and it will get you great stills in most situations. The small-ish display is all sorts of great, and as an added bonus, you'd be treated to high-quality ultrawide selfies.

Of course, there are not-so-great aspects of the X200 FE to balance out the good stuff. Vivo couldn't fit a particularly exciting ultrawide camera (or simply chose not to) and its video capture isn't as nice as we'd have hoped. The charging situation is suboptimal, too, with no wireless capability and so-so wired charging speed.

All things considered, the vivo X200 FE is a welcome sight as it brings diversity into a historically overlooked segment. We can see it captivating the hearts of those looking to shed bulk off their pockets yet unwilling to sacrifice performance.

Pros

• Compact, reasonably lightweight, IP68/IP69-rated.
• Wonderful display.
• Great battery life.
• Top-class selfies.
• Excellent photos from the main camera and the telephoto.
• Wi-Fi 7; Infrared port; eSIM support (market-dependent).

Cons

• Slow-ish charging, no wireless charging.
• Ultrawide camera is meh; telephoto can't focus from up close.
• Video quality leaves us wanting.