vivo X5Max review - Tall, thin and premium 5.5-inch FHD display phablet

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The trend for thin metal-body smartphones continues as companies chase the coveted title of "World's thinnest smartphone". The title isn't just about making the device as thin as possible, as a balance must be met where these super-thin devices must be both strong and functional. The vivo X5Max once held this title with a 4.75mm thin body but the Malaysian version of the device only comes in at 5.08mm thin. While this is still very thin does this version manage to retain functional features and sturdy construction at the same time? We find out in our review of the Malaysian version of the vivo X5Max below.

Design, Tech Specs and Features - A mixture of midrange 

According to vivo Malaysia the reason why the Malaysian version of the vivo X5Max is thicker at 5.08mm is that the company felt that the battery was lacking, which is true since the original only packed in 2000 mAh. Our slightly thicker version adds on a 2300 mAh battery but most of the other features remain the same including the metal back, chamfered edges and metal frame. After a certain point of thinness, a smartphone just feels sharp in a grip. Unfortunately, this is still true of the 5.08mm thin vivo X5Max. Our other reviewers pointed out that it would make the X5Max less likely to slip and this is also true. While the metal body certainly feels very sturdy and tough, we would have to say that the unpatterned metal back scratches easily, which is probably why vivo have included a clear plastic casing along, adding a bit more value to the overall package. Powered by a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor and 2GB of RAM, the tech specs of the X5Max feels rather midrange, with a few exceptions like the 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. Check out the full tech specs and features listing below:

 

  • 64-bit octa-core 1.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor
  • 2GB RAM
  • 16GB storage + up to 128GB microSD (uses SIM 2 slot)
  • 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display (1920 x 1080 pixel resolution)
  • 13MP rear camera (LED Flash) + 5MP front camera
  • 153.9 x 78 x 4.8 mm
  • supports Dual SIM, Wifi, GPS, 3G and 4G LTE
  • features 3.5mm jack, microUSB port, HiFi audio technology
  • 2300 mAh battery
  • Android 4.4.4 + Funtouch OS
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The vivo X5Max tech specs are a mix of midrange highs and lows

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Featuring a tall 5.5-inch display, the vivo X5Max is a super thin phablet

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Even at 5.08mm the vivo X5Max is still super thin

 

In terms of features, we found that the custom UI was rather too much like TouchWiz, especially in that it seemed like never-ending lists. There are some interesting features though like a very customizable Pro mode for the 13MP rear camera, video screen recording and long screen capture. However, the implementation is rather flawed in that there isn't the option to do the usual manual screen capture of pressing the power and volume button together. Standout features for the vivo X5Max include HiFi audio, but again this has a rather flawed implementation, as it only works with headphones. Thankfully, the X5Max also comes bundled with some fairly premium headphones, which should improve the audio experience considerably. We thoroughly enjoyed the Pro mode on the camera though, as it offered the full range of exposure, white balance and other manual settings on the fly while taking the shot, which can be very useful for an experienced photographer. Like so many newer smartphones, the X5Max can also wake on double tap and has gesture shortcuts from the suspend screen to various applications.

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Performance - A mixed bag of above average with excellent battery life

After trying out the vivo X5Max we have to say that it is a mix of highs and lows. On AnTuTu, the smartphone only managed 29213 which is rather low for a mid-range smartphone. Thankfully, it appears that the graphics are quite good with 3DMark getting 7826 while Epic Citadel got a fairly high 48.6 frames per second on 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution. Geekbench 3 saw a rather low single-core score of 664 but multi-core performance was quite high at 2179. While it does play Asphalt 8: Airborne smoothly on high quality visual settings, due to no manual screenshot button we couldn't get any screen cap of it in action.

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At 29213 on AnTuTu the vivo X5Max rivals former flagship smartphones

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Graphics are reasonably fast as shown by a 7826 score on 3DMark

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This is reflected in the above score in Epic Citadel

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While single-core performance is rather low in Geekbench 3, multi-core performance is better than average

Like many other thin and metal body devices the phone gets rather hot after a few times of playing 3D games or using the GPS, however, it doesn't get scaldingly hot. Battery performance on the other hand is excellent for a smartphone that only has a 2300 mAh battery but packs in a larger 5.5-inch display. On heavy to medium usage you can expect the X5Max to last 1 day and a half or more if you only use it for calls or chatting. Connectivity is good for the most part with reasonable call quality as well. Audio on headphones is excellent with the combination of premium headphones and the built-in Hifi audio technology. The speakers on the other hand are just above average as they provide clear quality sound but rather tinny loudness.

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Battery life is good for the most part on the vivo X5Max

As mentioned earlier, camera performance with the pro mode is very good. However, there is a slight lag with the camera sensor in that auto-focus and other automatic features aren't that fast when there are changes in focus or lighting. Trying to take video outside really shows this but in conditions where the lighting is stable like the indoors, video recording is good for the most part. As expected, you also get a good amount of noise in low-light shots. While there are a good amount of automatic camera features, that flawed implementation from before carries on here as well as nearly all of the automatic features like Bokeh Mode don't really work that well. You're better off just using the auto mode or the pro mode. The one camera feature which did work well is the PowerPoint mode which lets you take a picture of a screen at an angle and then converts this into a flat image. 

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13MP, Pro mode

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13MP, Pro mode

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13MP, Auto

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13MP, Pro mode

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13MP, Auto

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13MP, Bokeh Mode

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13MP, Auto

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13MP, Auto

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Powerpoint mode (after)

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Powerpoint mode (source)

Conclusion - For those who like thin smartphones

Overall, the Malaysian version of the vivo X5Max is still super-thin phablet with premium looks for those who like thin but large smartphones. While it doesn't deliver the same premium performance in all aspects it does well enough that it doesn't drag the truly outstanding features it has available which are mainly the audio headset performance and pro or manual camera mode. At RM1799, it is priced rather high for this feature-set but if you're a fan of super thin phablets and a photographer to boot, the vivo X5Max sounds perfect for you. Students might like the PowerPoint mode for note taking but the price tag may be a bit high just for this feature and there are many more 5.5-inch performance smartphones below or around RM1400 like the ASUS ZenFone 2, Honor 6 Plus and more. 

*TechNave.com would like to thank vivo Malaysia for providing us with the vivo X5Max smartphone for this review. It allowed us to do a more in-depth review and highlight more features.

vivo X5Max Specs & Price >