Vivo started its operation in India yesterday with the introduction of 5 new handsets, lead by Vivo X5 Max. The Vivo X5 Max is presently the slimmest smartphone in the world and our initial time with the smartphone tells us that it is more than just a slim phone. Let’s take a look at what slim and sleek Vivo X5 Max brings to the table.
Vivo X5 Max Quick Specs
- Display Size: 5.5 Inch AMOLED 1920 X 1080p Full HD resolution,
- Processor: 1.5 GHz Snapdragon 615 octa core with Adreno 405 GPU
- RAM: 2 GB
- Software Version: Android 4.4.2 KitKat based Funtouch UI
- Camera: 13 MP, Can record 4K videos , F2.0 lens
- Secondary Camera: 5 MP, F2.4 Lens
- Internal Storage: 16GB
- External Storage: up to 128 GB via MicroSD card
- Battery: 2000 mAh
- Connectivity: 4G LTE / 3G HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps, WiFi, Bluetooth v4.0, GPS / GLONASS
Vivo X5 Max Hands on Review, Camera, Features, Price and Overview[Video]
Design, Build and Display
The Vivo X5 Max is extremely slim and well build device. When held in hand, we could feel this to be slimmer than Elife S5.1 which we have spent some quality time recently. Both power button and volume rocker are metal buttons, well placed on the right edge and give pretty good feedback.
Similar to Oppo R5, there is a camera bump at the back, which should be an acceptable price to pay for the large camera sensor. Oppo has used an L shaped chipset inside to even out the heat dissipation across the metallic back surface. We are not big fans of dual tone design, but the metal used makes up for it be giving X5 Max a premium appeal. 3.5 mm audio jack is present on the top.
On the front side, X5 Max has a dazzling 5.5 Inch full HD Super AMOLED display with excellent viewing angles and colors. We like the display on Vivo X5 which is the major highlight on the front side. The three capacitive keys lining the display are backlit. Vivo has used an anti-finger print coating on both front and back surface of the device.
Processor and RAM
Processor used is 64 bit Snapdragon 615 Octa Core based on big.LITTLE architecture which combines 4 Cortex A53 cores clocked at 1.5 GHz and other 4 at 1 GHz. The RAM capacity is 2 GB out of which approx 1 GB is free on first boot. We didn’t notice any hint of UI or other lag in our initial time with the device and this is likely to hold true over a period of extended usage.
Camera and Internal Storage
The rear 13 MP camera with a wide f2.0 aperture lens offers good details even in low light conditions. The camera UI is very simple and easy to use. You can record up to 4k Videos from the rear camera. We also liked the performance of the front 5 MP camera which can reproduce decent colors and will suffice for decent video chatting.
Internal storage is 16 GB and in spite of the slim profile, there is option for 128 GB of MicroSD storage as well. To accomplish this, Vivo X5 Max has an Oppo N3 like SIM card tray. One SIM card slot doubles as a MicroSD card slot and you can use it for either of the two purposes. Dual SIM functionality and MicroSD card support can’t be enjoyed simultaneously.
Out of 16 GB, 14.68 GB is available at user end. Unfortunately, the storage is split in 2 parts with 2.55 GB available for apps partition and other 9.26 GB available as phone storage. USB OTG is also supported.
User Interface and Battery
Software is Funtouch OS 2.0 based on Android 4.4.2 KitKat. There is no App drawer by default, however you can have up to 9 home screen. Cellular video calling is not supported on this device. The interface is inspired from iOS. All kinds of gestures are also included.
Battery capacity is 2000 mAh which sounds average considering the large display size. Vivo hasn’t provided much detail regarding the backup you can extract from it. OPPO R5’s biggest advantage over Vivo X5 Max in this regards is its VOOC rapid charging technology, which is good enough to make up for lack of backup time. We will comment more on the backup when we have spent some more time with the device.
Vivo X5 Max Photo Gallery
Conclusion
Vivo X5 Max is a well build, sturdy and impressive smartphone. The handset will be particularly appealing to those who prefer slim handsets and large display. Its strength lies in its beautiful display, Metallic build and decent imaging hardware. The 64 bit SoC will theoretically improve power efficiency, but we would have liked a bigger battery inside. The app storage partition might also be a deal breaker if you plan on installing hundreds of third party apps on your phone. The price tag of 32,980 INR is a little too high for a relatively new brand in Indian market.
