I tried the Vivo X200 FE for a week; here’s why it may be 2025’s best compact phone
When Vivo announced the X200 FE earlier this year, I was intrigued but skeptical. Compact phones are a dying breed, often sacrificed in favor of massive flagships with sprawling screens and bulging camera modules. But after spending a full week with the X200 FE, I can confidently say: this is the compact phone we’ve been waiting for. It’s sleek, powerful, thoughtfully designed, and doesn’t compromise where it matters most.
Let’s break down why the Vivo X200 FE may just be 2025’s best compact phone — and possibly the best value phone overall.
A True Compact in a World of Giants
In a market where most devices now push past the 6.7-inch mark, the X200 FE feels refreshingly small. With its 6.1-inch AMOLED display and slim bezels, it strikes a perfect balance between screen real estate and one-handed usability. At just 168 grams and a thickness of 7.2mm, it’s light, comfortable to hold, and easily pocketable — a rarity in 2025.
The design is minimal yet elegant. I tested the Glacier Blue variant, and the matte finish repels fingerprints surprisingly well. The metal frame adds a premium touch, while the slight curvature on the back ensures excellent grip without making the phone slippery.
Display That Punches Above Its Weight
Despite its smaller size, the Vivo X200 FE doesn’t compromise on screen quality. It features a 6.1-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel with a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 1600 nits. Whether I was scrolling through social media or watching HDR content on Netflix, the experience was vibrant, crisp, and immersive.
The in-display fingerprint scanner is fast and accurate — a welcome bonus on a mid-range device. And for those concerned about eye strain, the phone includes TÜV Rheinland-certified blue light filtering and adaptive color temperature control.
Flagship-Like Performance
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8300 chipset (which rivals Qualcomm’s 7-series processors in real-world usage), the Vivo X200 FE surprised me with how snappy it felt. Paired with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, the phone breezed through multitasking, gaming, and heavy app usage.
I tested titles like Genshin Impact, Asphalt 9, and PUBG Mobile — all of which ran smoothly on medium to high settings. There was minimal thermal throttling, thanks to Vivo’s improved vapor chamber cooling system. For everyday users and mobile gamers alike, the X200 FE delivers flagship-like performance at a more accessible price.
Camera System That Delivers
The Vivo X200 FE sports a dual-camera setup on the rear: a 50MP Sony IMX882 main sensor with OIS, and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. On paper, it may sound modest — but in practice, it’s one of the most consistent camera systems in its segment.
Photos taken in daylight were rich in detail, with good dynamic range and accurate colors. The main sensor handles shadows and highlights well, especially in backlit conditions. Night mode impressed me the most — images came out bright and sharp without excessive noise or aggressive processing.
The ultra-wide lens is surprisingly capable, although it does suffer from slight edge distortion. Meanwhile, the 32MP front camera takes crisp selfies, with Vivo’s AI beautification thankfully dialed back to more natural results.
Battery and Charging
With a 4,500mAh battery, the X200 FE easily lasted me a full day, even with 120Hz refresh rate enabled and moderate to heavy usage. My screen-on-time regularly hovered around 6–7 hours, including camera usage, gaming, and streaming.
Charging is handled by a 66W fast charger (included in the box, thankfully). I was able to go from 0 to 100% in about 45 minutes. There’s no wireless charging — but for this price and size, it’s a trade-off I can live with.
Software and Extras
The phone runs on Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15. While Vivo’s skin has improved significantly over the years, there are still a few pre-installed apps that many users might consider bloatware. Thankfully, most of them can be uninstalled.
The UI is clean, with welcome additions like customizable themes, Always-On Display options, and gesture navigation. Vivo promises two major Android updates and three years of security patches — not the best in the industry, but decent for a mid-range device.
Other nice touches include stereo speakers with Hi-Res audio support, IP54 splash resistance, and 5G support on both SIM slots.
Who Should Buy the Vivo X200 FE?
If you’re someone who values compact form factor, solid cameras, and flagship-level performance without splurging on a premium phone, the Vivo X200 FE is an excellent choice. It brings back the joy of one-handed use without cutting corners — something even premium brands are failing to deliver in 2025.
It’s not perfect — the lack of wireless charging and limited ultra-wide camera performance may bother some — but those are minor flaws in what’s otherwise a nearly complete package.
Final Verdict
After using the Vivo X200 FE as my daily driver for a week, I can confidently say it’s one of the most enjoyable phones I’ve tested this year. It proves that compact doesn’t have to mean compromised.
In an age of oversized devices and inflated prices, the X200 FE stands out as a breath of fresh air — practical, powerful, and pocket-friendly. It might not grab headlines like flagship releases, but for everyday users who miss the charm of compact phones, this could very well be 2025’s best small phone.
