vivo X90 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: The Ultimate Showdown

The vivo X90 and Samsung Galaxy S23 represent the pinnacle of smartphone technology, each boasting impressive features and capabilities. Choosing between them can be tough. This comprehensive comparison breaks down every aspect, from display and performance to camera and battery life, to help you make the right decision.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S23 offers a more polished overall experience with its superior software, broader ecosystem, and reliable charging. However, the X90 delivers exceptional charging speeds and a powerful chipset, making it a compelling choice for those prioritizing raw performance and fast charging, especially at a potentially lower price point.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X90 Samsung Galaxy S23
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, November 222023, February 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, November 30Available. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions164.1 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm or 8.9 mm146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm (5.76 x 2.79 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight196 g / 200 g (6.91 oz)168 g (5.93 oz)
 IP64 dust/water resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~452 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.5 cm2 (~91.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.05 GHz Cortex-X3 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9200 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUImmortalis-G715 MC11Adreno 740
OSAndroid 13, Funtouch 13 (Global), OriginOS 3 (China)Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 4.0 - 256/512GB UFS 3.1 - 128GBUFS 3.1 - 128GB only UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, Pixel Shift, dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, AF, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.0, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, AF50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, HDR10+
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavICGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging120W wired, 50% in 8 min Reverse wired25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Type4810 mAhLi-Ion 3900 mAh
Misc
ColorsAsteroid Black, Breeze Blue, RedPhantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime
ModelsV2241ASM-S911B, SM-S911B/DS, SM-S911U, SM-S911U1, SM-S911W, SM-S911N, SM-S9110, SM-S911E, SM-S911E/DS
PriceAbout 300 EUR$ 237.95 / C$ 336.75 / £ 255.00 / € 322.41 / ₹ 49,990
SAR-0.95 W/kg (head)     0.88 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.96 W/kg (head)     1.30 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 101h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.0 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1231075 (v9) GeekBench: 4950 (v5.1) GFXBench: 110fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo X90

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Powerful Dimensity 9200 chipset
  • Excellent main camera sensor
  • Potentially more affordable

  • Software experience may not be as polished as Samsung's
  • Battery life not as impressive as S23
  • Limited availability in some regions

Samsung Galaxy S23

  • Excellent display brightness and contrast
  • Versatile camera system
  • Long-lasting battery life
  • Refined software experience
  • Strong ecosystem and support

  • Slower charging speeds (25W)
  • Potentially higher price point
  • Design can be considered less distinctive

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S23 boasts a significantly brighter display (1198 nits) compared to the X90, offering better outdoor visibility. While the X90's display is excellent, the S23's contrast ratio (Infinite) and peak brightness give it a noticeable edge. Both phones feature vibrant colors and smooth refresh rates.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S23 excels in camera versatility, offering a well-rounded system with excellent image processing. The X90 is known for its impressive main camera sensor, often delivering stunning detail and dynamic range, particularly in well-lit conditions. Both offer excellent video recording capabilities.

Performance

Both phones are powered by cutting-edge chipsets – the Dimensity 9200 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 respectively. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 generally holds a slight performance advantage in sustained workloads and efficiency. The Dimensity 9200 is a powerhouse for gaming and demanding tasks, offering impressive raw speed.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S23 demonstrates impressive battery life, consistently achieving over 11 hours of active use and a remarkable endurance rating of 101 hours. The X90's battery life is respectable, but not as exceptional as the S23. The X90's 120W charging provides a significant advantage, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups.

Buying Guide

The vivo X90 is ideal for users who prioritize blazing-fast charging, a powerful chipset for gaming, and potentially a more budget-friendly flagship experience. The Samsung Galaxy S23 is best suited for those seeking a refined user experience, a robust ecosystem, excellent camera versatility, and long-term software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is expected to receive longer software updates and security patches compared to the vivo X90.
❓ Is the vivo X90 worth buying if I prioritize camera quality?
The vivo X90's main camera is excellent, but the Galaxy S23 offers a more versatile camera system overall, making it a better choice for diverse shooting scenarios.