Manufacturers again have a trend for the production of small smartphones. But if earlier these were mainly flagship models, the new Vivo S30 Pro mini belongs to the middle class. Let’s figure out what it is and how it differs from the previously released vivo X200 Pro mini.
Not a compact “mini”
With a smartphone, you get everything you need: a screen protector, a silicone case in the color of the device, a 90W power adapter and a USB-C to USB-A cable. It is available in four colors: classic black, blue, yellow-black and pink, black. The last two models have a side frame painted black, which creates an unusual contrast.
Although there is a “mini” in its name, the smartphone can only be called compact against the background of most devices with a diagonal of 6.7 inches or more. At 150.83 x 71.76 x 7.99 mm, it is larger than the Samsung Galaxy S25 (146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm) and the Apple iPhone 16 (147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm).
Unlike the vivo X200 Pro mini, which inherited the design with a round camera unit from the older flagship models, the Vivo S30 Pro mini looks very similar to the iPhone 16. It has the same body shape, a pill-shaped chamber unit in the corner, and bright colors. The similarity is complemented by the proprietary OriginOS firmware, the design of which is clearly inspired by iOS.
On the right side there is a power button, and above it there are combined volume buttons. They are not very convenient to reach, and it would be much more logical to place them on the left.
If you are used to transferring a lot of data from your smartphone to your computer and back, then due to the USB 2.0 port, it will take a lot of time.
Vivo S30 Flagship picture
As in the X200 Pro mini, there is a 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1216×2640 and a dynamic refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz. But the Vivo S30 Pro mini, judging by the description, has a slightly better panel: its peak brightness is 5000 nits instead of 4500, and the PWM dimming frequency is 4320 Hz versus 2160.
Indoors, at maximum brightness, the screen produces about 1000 nits, and outdoors under the bright sun – up to 2400. So, the picture remains clearly readable in any conditions. At the same time, at any brightness value, the PWM indicator does not exceed 10%.
An optical fingerprint scanner is built into the screen. According to Chinese traditions, it is located almost at the very bottom, which is not very convenient. Alternatively, you can use the facial recognition function, which is triggered instantly.
Vivo S30 Pro Mini Cameras with a focus on creativity
The main camera is represented by a 50-megapixel Sony IMX921 sensor. There’s also a 3x zoom telephoto lens based on the Sony IMX882. The same bundle is used in the flagship vivo X200S. We saved on the ultra-wide by installing a budget 8 MP module. But the front camera here is 50 megapixels, while the X200S and X200 Pro mini use a 32-megapixel sensor. The smartphone was also equipped with a Soft Light Studio ring flash with the ability to adjust brightness and color temperature.
Shots from the main camera look great in all respects. When compared head-to-head with the X200S and X200 Pro mini, it’s hard to see the difference. The colors are moderately colorful, there are enough details, the dynamic range is wide, and the exposure is often accurate.
For those who like to make it beautiful right away, the camera app has a lot of settings: filters, film simulation and even Polaroid mode so that the frame is immediately with a frame and additional effects. Of the interesting ones, we highlight the “live” photos, which are recognized even on the iPhone.
The TV camera is not inferior to the main one. Even with 10x and 20x zooms, the photos look great. However, this is rather the merit of neural networks that process and literally draw the frame, which can be seen right after shooting. But compared to flagship models with the same TV module, the Vivo S30 Pro mini sometimes takes zoom shots a little less detailed, although this is only visible at high magnification.
The ultra-wide-angle camera is expected to shoot the worst. The picture as a whole looks good, but you should not count on good detail. In addition, when switching between cameras, there is a noticeable difference in color reproduction and white balance. But the front camera shoots better than on the same X200S and X200 Pro mini.
With the video, the situation on the Vivo S30 Pro mini is strange. The main, telephoto, and front cameras support 4K recording, but you can’t switch between them during the process. If you start shooting in 4K on the main module, then you can zoom only up to 2.9x. Then you will have to stop recording, switch to the telephoto and start shooting with the ability to zoom only from 3x to 15x.
The footage looks good, but when zoomed in from 2x to 2.9x, the picture loses clarity. But at 3 and even 5x, everything is fine with detail and sharpness. But at night, when shooting with zoom, there is a lot of noise. Stabilization on all modules is not the most effective – shaking is clearly visible while walking.
Fast, but not gaming
Last year’s flagship Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ processor is used as a hardware platform. In synthetic tests, it is about 20% inferior to the Dimensity 9400 in the X200 Pro mini. In practice, both smartphones are equally fast in everyday use, and the difference can only be noticed in games.
PUBG Mobile at maximum settings produces a stable 60 fps on the Vivo S30 Pro mini even during a long session. And with Genshin Impact, after 15-20 minutes, the processor begins to throttle, and the frequency drops from the initial 60 fps to 40-45 fps and remains at this level. In the long-running Honkai: Star Rail, the average is 42 fps. In the case of the vivo X200 Pro mini, there is no such a strong drop.
Not only is OriginOS 5 similar to iOS, but it also offers some interesting Apple-related solutions. For example, you can hold the top of the Vivo S30 Pro mini close to your iPhone to quickly transfer a file from one device to another. What’s more, the smartphone supports AirPods headphones with pop-ups when plugged in, just like on the iPhone.
The magic of Chinese batteries
The main feature of the Vivo S30 Pro mini is a 6500 mAh battery. For comparison, the Galaxy S25 has only 4000 mAh. Even in the vivo X200 Pro mini with the same dimensions, the battery is smaller – 5700 mAh.
For an hour of watching a 1080p video or sitting on TikTok, the smartphone discharges by about 6%. An hour of playing the King of Glory MOBA at maximum graphics settings “consumes” about 14% of the charge. Without an intense load, you can count on two days of autonomous work.
Compared to the vivo X200 Pro mini, there is no support for wireless charging – only 90W wired. It can be charged to 50% in about 20 minutes, and it takes about 58 minutes to fully replenish energy.
Vivo S30 Pro Mini-Specifications
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Performance
MediaTek Dimensity 9300 Plus Octa core (3.4 GHz, Single Core + 2.85 GHz, Tri core + 2 GHz, Quad core) 12 GB RAM Display6.31 inches (16.03 cm); LTPO AMOLED 1216×2640 px (FHD+) 120 Hz Refresh Rate Bezel-less with punch-hole display Rear CameraTriple Camera Setup
- 50 MP Wide Angle Primary Camera
- 8 MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera
- 50 MP Periscope (upto 100x Digital Zoom, upto 3x Optical Zoom) Camera
Ring LED 4k @30fps Video Recording Front Camera50 MP Wide Angle Lens 4k @30 fps Video Recording Battery6500 mAh 90W Flash Charging; USB Type-C port GeneralSIM1: Nano, SIM2: Nano 5G Supported 256 GB internal storage, Non Expandable Dust Resistant, Water Resistant
Instead of results
Starting at $485 (in China), the vivo S30 Pro mini offers a true flagship experience. If we compare it with the X200 Pro mini, among the drawbacks we note the mediocre ultra-wide-angle camera, oddities with zoom when creating videos and the lack of wireless charging. At the same time, the Vivo S30 Pro mini has a better front camera and a larger battery. If you wanted something compact and powerful, the device definitely deserves attention.
