We tested the vivo X200 FE, a phone for those who are tired of large screens

The concept of a ' mini ' phone is a relative one; these days, when most screens easily exceed 6.5 inches, any device that stays at 6.3 inches is considered "compact." The new vivo X200 FE falls into this category, packing a 6,500 mAh battery into a 186-gram, 8 mm-thick body.

Measuring 150.8 x 71.8 x 7.9 mm, the X200 FE fits easily in your pocket and is easy to use with one hand. It's not particularly light, though, as it weighs as much as phones with larger displays—it's just that everything is more concentrated. The sandblasted glass back feels premium, and the oval camera module adds a distinctive touch in a market saturated with square designs. It also has a dual IP68/IP69 rating, which Vivo claims ensures it can survive both a splash and a splash of water (though we, obviously, haven't tested that).

The 1.5K LTPO AMOLED panel scales from 1 to 120Hz and reaches up to 5,000 nits of peak brightness, allowing for perfect viewing even in bright sunlight.

Inside, the device has a Dimensity 9300+ with all-big-core processors. The phone flies when opening apps, but in prolonged gaming sessions it can reach its thermal limit after 25-30 minutes, at which point the frame rate drops and the back heats up, especially in summer. We already knew this from the Dimensity 9300+, but on a more compact phone with less space for cooling, it's more evident.

The weak point of the X200 FE is that vivo has equipped it with UFS 3.1 storage and, most curiously, a USB-C 2.0 port, as if we were in 2020. If you don't connect the phone to a computer or external monitor, you probably won't notice it.

The cameras are one of its strong points, especially the telephoto lens. The main sensor is a 50 MP IMX921 (f/1.9, OIS) that offers vivid colors and a good dynamic range; it's hard to find fault with it. The 3x periscopic telephoto lens and 50 MP IMX882 ensure that portraits are almost on par with the X-Pro. Vivo has included ZEISS Master Color certification for more realistic skin tones in portrait mode. The fairest thing is the 8 MP ultra-wide-angle lens, which doesn't record 4K video. The 50 MP front camera does record in 4K, but lacks electronic stabilization. Although the main camera is impeccable, it's the telephoto lens that left us speechless.

Battery life is another of its great virtues, thanks to its enormous 6,500 mAh silicon-carbon battery. In my week of testing, I managed two full days with more than nine hours of active screen time per day. If you also connect it to a 90W charger for a few minutes a day, the battery seems almost eternal.

Vivo's operating system layer, Funtouch OS 15 on top of Android 15, works perfectly and integrates all of Google's Gemini AI, such as Circle to Search or Live Translation. However, aesthetically, it feels a step back from One UI or Pixel UI, and it comes with a lot of pre-installed software that you'll have to remove. Vivo promises four years of Android updates and five years of patches, which is just about right; other manufacturers, like Samsung, offer up to seven years for high-end models.

The Vivo X200 FE is perfect for those who prioritize battery life, are tired of large phones, and still want a good camera with zoom. Pricing starts at €849.