After half a year, the vivo S series has once again undergone an upgrade. On May 31st(Beijing Time), the brand-new vivo S17 series smartphones were officially released. Vivo S17 series includes the S17, S17t, and S17 Pro models.
Prior to the product launch, vivo had officially unveiled the appearance of the S17 series. This time, they introduced the prominent “Mountain and Sea Blue” color scheme. It is reported that the vivo team drew inspiration from the trendy fluid visual elements, aiming to create a three-dimensional landscape on a Micron-scale diaphragm.
In the realm of portrait photography, the vivo S17 series introduces the first telephoto lens with optical image stabilization (OIS) in the S series, along with a newly designed intelligent soft light ring, offering a portrait photography experience comparable to flagship devices.
In this article, Gizcoupon will provide a detailed visual and written review of the vivo S17 Pro. It analyzes various aspects, such as design, portrait capabilities, and performance, which are of utmost interest to everyone.
Part 1: Vivo S17 Pro design
The color scheme design of “Mountain and Sea Green”
Half a year ago, the vivo S16 series introduced the “Jade-like” color scheme. Its precise depiction of the color and texture of jade left a deep impression. In just a short six months, the CMF (color, material, finish) design of the vivo S series has once again been upgraded. With the S17 series, vivo has pioneered the use of particle ink technology, presenting us with unique oriental elements. Additionally, the derived Mountain and Sea Green color scheme brings a dynamic and lightweight visual effect.
According to official information, this innovative technology originated from a research project conducted in vivo in 2020. Vivo established a team of over 30 experts, devoting a year to research and development, ultimately achieving large-scale commercial applications of particle ink in the mobile phone industry.
Through the non-linear arrangement of 15 million magnetic particles and natural craftsmanship, vivo creates a seamless integration from dots to lines and then to artwork. On the vivo S17, we can experience the layered dynamic changes brought by the mountains and seas, exhibiting an elegant, fresh, trendy, and somewhat Eastern aesthetic charm.
The color scheme design of “Ice Jade White”
In addition to the Mountain and Sea Green color scheme, the vivo S17 Pro also introduces the classic Ice Jade White color. Vivo has always been an industry leader in crafting white colors. Earlier products such as the S7 in Moonlight White, the S10 series in Velvet White, and even the X70 in Monologue White and X90 in Confession White can be regarded as the most iconic white phones.
This time, the Ice Jade White color scheme of the vivo S17 Pro once again showcases the “pure beauty.” The pure white body, combined with the bright silver middle frame, presents a snowy, serene, and agile color aesthetic.
In terms of details, the imaging module of the vivo S17 Pro has been upgraded to the “Water Mirror Cloud Window.” It has a larger area, and the size of the two cameras has also increased. The soft light ring is located below the camera module, with an area that matches the cameras.
Vivo S17 Pro screen design
Turning to the front, the vivo S17 Pro features a 6.78-inch 1.5K Super AMOLED display with eye protection. Vivo claims that this is the best display ever in the vivo S series.
Specifically, this display adopts a new “Diamond-like” pixel arrangement. It has a resolution of 2800×1260 pixels, reaching a pixel density of 452 PPI. It also supports 10-bit color depth, a 100% P3 color gamut, a 120Hz refresh rate, a contrast ratio of 8,000,000:1, and a peak brightness of 1300 nits.
Regarding eye protection, vivo also claims that this is the most eye-protective screen in the vivo S series. It includes hardware-level low blue light, front and rear dual ambient light sensing, 2160Hz high-frequency dimming, and multiple software eye protection features.
Vivo S17 Pro dimensions
In terms of weight, the vivo S17 Pro is only 188g, maintaining the excellent weight control that the vivo S series is known for. It is also easy to hold with one hand.
Undeniably, the vivo S17 Pro is indeed one of the rare smartphones with high aesthetics and slim design in the current market. Whether it’s the color aesthetics, industrial design, or meticulous attention to detail, it is difficult not to be captivated. For those who prioritize appearance, this design is simply “a fatal attraction.”
However, praises aside, there are still some shortcomings worth mentioning. As expected, the vivo S17 Pro still does not adopt dual stereo speakers. Well, this has almost become a tradition within the S series. Of course, I personally don’t have an urgent need for dual speakers so I can overlook it. However, today, when 2023 is halfway through, the presence of a rotor motor is truly inappropriate. The buzzing sound of a rotary motor on such a beautiful vivo S17 Pro is quite off-putting. It’s like a beautiful lady with a mouthful of corn residue if you catch my drift!
Part 2: vivo S17 Pro imaging experience
The enhancement of imaging capabilities is a top priority for the vivo S17 Pro. This can be divided into two parts: the front camera and the rear camera.
Let’s start with the front camera.
JN1 50-megapixel Ultra Light Sensitivity Portrait Lens
We have the familiar JN1 50-megapixel Ultra Light Sensitivity Portrait Lens. JN1 is a module that many people are already familiar with, boasting a 1/2.76″ sensor size and 0.64μm sensor pixel size, supporting 4-in-1 pixel binning. This lens has also been used in many flagship phones as an ultra-wide-angle secondary camera.
Thanks to the advantages of this 50-megapixel ultra-sensitive portrait lens in terms of ultra-wide-angle and high resolution, the vivo S17 Pro supports 0.8X-1X-2X free zoom. With just one lens, it can meet the needs of ultra-wide-angle, 1X, and 2X close-up shots. This cleverly avoids the issue of having multiple front cameras, which can create a rabbit tooth notch screen. After all, the latter is really too unpleasant.
This front camera also supports AF autofocus. It can focus instantly regardless of where the lens is pointing when you take a selfie. This feature significantly improves the user’s photography experience.
The vivo S17 Pro has also upgraded the aperture of the front camera from f/2.45 to f/2.0, resulting in a 50% increase in light intake. Sufficient light intake leads to a comprehensive improvement in image quality, making portraits clearer and more vibrant even in low-light conditions.
Moving on, the vivo S17 Pro still features a front soft light design and has increased the fill light angle to 90°. The optimization of the soft light temperature enhances color rendition, resulting in more natural skin tones.
Vivo S17 Pro selfie effect
As selfies are the highlight of the S series, when you activate the front camera of the vivo S17 Pro, the system automatically switches to “portrait” mode. Here, you can choose different portrait styles, beauty effects, makeup styles, and blur effects to meet various selfie needs.
You can also tap the flashlight button in the upper-left corner of the screen to choose between constant or automatic soft light or even enable “screen soft light” (screen illumination).
Let’s take a look at some sample photos of front-facing portrait shots.
As shown in the above images, from left to right, we have 1X and 2X front-facing portrait photos. It’s evident that the portrait performance is impressive in both zoom ranges, such as the natural background blur effect between the hair strands. The beauty retouching retains fine details while enhancing facial contours and achieving a smooth and translucent skin texture. Even at 2X zoom, there is no significant drop in image quality.
For front-facing portrait photography, the vivo S17 Pro also offers two modules: filters and styles, with a wide range of built-in filters. For example, the “Silent Movie” filter turns black and white, creating a strong atmospheric feel with a touch of retro charm.
Moreover, the vivo S17 Pro introduces a new “Cosmic Sparkle” style. With the help of the soft front light, it illuminates the face and matches it with a cool transparent eyeglass effect, simulating pulsating wave interference reminiscent of a cyberpunk vibe.
Vivo S17 Pro rear camera
Moving on to the rear camera, the main camera remains the familiar IMX766, with a 1/1.56-inch sensor and an aperture of f/1.88. It supports OIS optical image stabilization. The ultra-wide-angle camera remains at 8 megapixels with an aperture of f/1.98.
Next, enter the key points. The vivo S17 Pro has added an additional 12-megapixel 2X telephoto lens, the IMX663, which has already appeared in multiple vivo flagship smartphones. This lens is also featured in the X90 series as a portrait lens.
Vivo S17 Pro soft light ring
Now let’s take a look at the upgraded soft light ring of the vivo S17 Pro. Firstly, the outer ring diameter has been increased to 15.6mm. In the previously shared S17 images by Gizcoupon, many readers mistook this enlarged soft light ring for a fingerprint recognition module, but that is not the case.
The vivo S17 series still features screen fingerprint recognition. For straight males, they may not be particularly fond of the soft circular light. Still, for those who enjoy taking selfies, live streaming, or filming beauty tutorials, this large soft light ring is incredibly important. With it, there’s no need for professional and bulky soft, lightweight devices, as the vivo S17 Pro can provide facial illumination anytime, anywhere. This ensures that the skin appears fair and translucent and faithfully reproduces natural skin tones.
The soft light ring of the vivo S17 Pro provides 360° uniform lighting. The large ring enhances the three-dimensional effect of the lighting and reduces shadows. Additionally, the brightness of the vivo S17 Pro’s soft light ring has been further upgraded, offering a 36% increase in brightness. Officially, vivo compares it to the radiant light of March, while the soft light ring of the previous S16 model was likened to the lazy sunlight of December.
This soft light ring also supports intelligent cold and warm color temperature adjustment. It intelligently matches the color temperature and also allows for manual control of the fill light color temperature. With a gentle slide of the color temperature slider, seamless adjustment can be achieved.
To ensure accurate color reproduction in portrait photography, the vivo S17 Pro introduces the Super Spectrum Spectral Sensor, making its debut in vivo smartphones. It guarantees precise color reproduction.
Photographic performance
With so many upgrades, how does the vivo S17 Pro perform in terms of photography? Let’s take a look at some sample images together.
In several reviews, the 2X portrait lens of vivo has been highly praised. It’s not only used for capturing portraits; most of the time, it can even be used as the main lens. Those who have experienced the vivo X series are well aware of the charm of this 2X portrait lens.
This time, vivo has unexpectedly brought it to the S series, combining it with portrait algorithms, giving the vivo S17 Pro the ability to capture portraits on par with the X series.
As shown in the three sets of sample portrait images above, it is perfect for close-up shots when shooting at a distance of 0.5-2 meters with the 2X portrait lens. The details of the subjects are vividly captured, and the shallow depth of field provides a natural blurring effect. While it may not rival a DSLR camera in terms of results, the initial impression of the portrait quality is truly captivating.
Of course, achieving such results in the X series is not surprising. However, for the S series, the arrival of this level of portrait photography capability can only be described with one phrase—better late than never.
In addition to portraits, the 2X lens is also perfect for casual everyday photography. It makes composition convenient without the need for cropping.
The main camera performance of the vivo S17 Pro remains at a flagship level. Although the 766 sensor is quite common, it still delivers impressive results when paired with the flagship imaging algorithm. As for color reproduction, it retains the signature color style of vivo, slightly cool and vibrant.
The color style for photography
Of course, if you are not a fan of this color style, the vivo S17 Pro also offers a “Natural Color” mode. It is somewhat similar to the “Zeiss Natural Color” of the vivo X series flagship, as it leans towards more accurate color reproduction.
Furthermore, the vivo S17 Pro introduces the upgraded X90’s high-speed capturing technology, Zero Delay Floating Capture. For example, the image of the bee collecting nectar shown below was captured using this technique. When zoomed in, the details of the flower’s stigma and the spots on the bee are clearly visible.
The performance of the 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens is decent and within expectations. As long as you don’t zoom in or focus on the details, there are no significant issues.
Thanks to the soft light ring, the S17 series introduces a brand new “Soft Light Film Style.” It presents a genuine flash effect through the front and rear fill lights. With this style, users who seek a retro camera feel no longer need to spend a fortune on an outdated CCD camera; they can achieve the desired effect with the S17 Pro.
Part 3: Performance Testing
In terms of core specifications, the vivo S17 Pro retains the same MediaTek Dimensity 8200 as its predecessor, the S16 Pro. Additionally, it boasts a generous 12 (+8) GB RAM and 512 GB of storage, utilizing UFS 3.1 and LPDDR5 technologies. The device also supports NFC and has been upgraded to feature 80W fast charging, complementing its 4600mAh battery.
The MediaTek Dimensity 8200 has garnered a favorable reputation. It is manufactured using TSMC 4nm process and comprises an octa-core CPU architecture, including a 3.1 GHz Cortex-A78 core, three 3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 cores, and four 2.0 GHz power-efficient Cortex-A55 cores.
Gizcoupon conducted performance tests on the vivo S17 Pro, employing benchmark scores and gaming evaluations.
Benchmark test
As depicted in the above image, the vivo S17 Pro achieved a score of over 940,000 in the AnTuTu benchmark. In the Geekbench 5 test, the S17 Pro scored 1003 in single-core performance and 3909 in multi-core performance.
Considering the upgrade to the AnTuTu benchmark (V10), the Dimensity 8200 in the S17 Pro shows an improvement of nearly 100,000 points. However, the S17 Pro’s score surpasses that of the recently released Dimensity 8200 model by around 50,000 points.
In the Androbench test, the S17 Pro demonstrated top-tier read and wrote speeds, matching the performance expected from UFS 3.1.
Overall, the benchmark results of the vivo S17 Pro aligns with expectations and reflect the standard performance of the Dimensity 8200.
Game testing
Next, let’s delve into a comprehensive evaluation of the highest graphics settings in the game “Genshin Impact.”
During the test of “Genshin Impact,” the graphics settings were set to the highest level, and the benchmark was conducted without dynamic motion blur.
The final results reveal that the vivo S17 Pro achieved an average frame rate of 58.04.
As shown in the following image, the vivo S17 Pro occasionally experienced minor fluctuations in frame rate during gameplay. However, the overall performance was satisfactory, with no significant or prolonged instances of lag or frame drops.
Considering it is a smartphone primarily focused on imaging and slim design, the performance is somewhat conservative. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the Dimensity 8200 boasts impressive performance capabilities, as “Genshin Impact” represents the pinnacle of current mobile gaming performance. Therefore, the performance of the vivo S17 Pro in “Genshin Impact” is in line with expectations.
As for popular games with lower hardware requirements, such as “Honour of Kings” and “PUBG Mobile,” the Dimensity 8200 performs effortlessly.
Regarding temperature, the performance of vivo S17 Pro is within expectations, with recorded temperatures fluctuating around 43°C.
Overall, the thermal management is satisfactory, considering the slim form factor. It is worth noting that similar products from other manufacturers also exhibit similar thermal behavior. Understanding and acknowledging this fact is crucial.
Conclusion:
The vivo S17 Pro remains a superior product that embodies the distinctive characteristics of the brand and maintains its signature Blue Factory craft. It continues to impress with its slim design, innovative technology, and exceptional portrait photography capabilities. The introduction of the new “Mountain and Sea” color variant adds a three-dimensional aesthetic charm that is hard to resist.
Furthermore, the front and rear illuminated soft lights, combined with the independent 2X lens below the X-series, enable the vivo S17 Pro to capture beautiful portraits in any lighting conditions. Which beauty enthusiast wouldn’t appreciate such a visually appealing smartphone that enhances portrait photography?
Of course, it is worth mentioning that certain aspects, such as the previously criticized single speaker and rotor motor, have been retained in the vivo S17 Pro.
In conclusion, as long as you are not concerned about the aforementioned issues and have a passion for self-portraits and portrait photography, there is no need to hesitate—vivo S17 Pro is the epitome of elegance and performance.
