Vivo’s Android digital camera app makes Pixel and Galaxy ones really feel old-fashioned

vivos android camera app makes pixel and galaxy ones feel.jpg


vivo X300 Ultra Camera app

Adamya Sharma / Android Authority

However whilst I used to be taking part in my honeymoon duration with that digital camera {hardware}, I discovered myself appreciating one thing some distance much less flashy, however way more helpful in day by day use: the default digital camera app

It’s a kind of options that doesn’t display up in spec sheets, but it quietly adjustments how comfy a telephone feels to make use of, particularly one so camera-forward because the vivo X300 Extremely. And after spending a while with it, I in reality suppose that is one thing Google and Samsung must reproduction for Pixel and Galaxy telephones. And it seems like Apple is satisfied, too.

Would you customise your telephone’s digital camera app UI if Android manufacturers gave you the choice?

3 votes

Essentially the most versatile digital camera UI I’ve ever used

The vivo digital camera app is ridiculously customizable in some way maximum Android manufacturers don’t even strive. On the best of the digital camera UI, vivo offers you an absolutely customizable “Shortcut bar.” You’ll be able to make a selection as much as 4 controls to completely take a seat on best for speedy get right of entry to. There’s additionally any other set of as much as 3 customizable shortcuts that may seem without delay throughout the viewfinder at the proper aspect.

In either one of those spaces, you’ll be able to position choices like:

  • Guide/auto focal point toggle
  • Tremendous Macro
  • Google Lens
  • Top Answer mode
  • Reside Picture
  • Facet Ratio
  • Uncooked Lights
  • Countdown timer
  • Kinds/filters
  • Snapshot mode

What I really like is that vivo doesn’t drive its personal priorities on me. I will be able to totally rearrange those controls, transfer them round, take away them, or upload new ones, relying on what sort of capturing I’m doing or the setup I want once I stir up the digital camera app. Seeing too many shortcuts can on occasion be complicated and useless, and this manner, I will be able to prioritize the choices I exploit ceaselessly over the ones I hardly contact.

Maximum telephone digital camera apps nonetheless perform below the belief that there is one proper structure for everybody.

As an example, if I’m casually taking footage open air, I will be able to prioritize side ratio and Reside Picture. If I’m experimenting with close-up pictures, I will be able to stay macro and guide focal point simply out there. And if I don’t need any muddle in any way, I will be able to strip the entirety down. That flexibility is excellent, particularly in comparison to being caught with a digital camera UI you’ll be able to’t alternate in any respect.

Maximum smartphone digital camera apps nonetheless perform below the belief that there’s one proper structure for everybody. That’s very true on Pixel and Galaxy telephones. Don’t get me mistaken, each Samsung and Google be offering feature-packed digital camera apps which might be in fact delightful to have a look at and use. On the similar time, they’re extremely inflexible, without a method to customise controls or prepare options like you’ll be able to on vivo telephones.

The app even means that you can customise the Toolbox, the ground row of digital camera gear that looks whilst you faucet the choices button. You’ll be able to absolutely rearrange this row via merely dragging choices up or right down to prioritize the controls you utilize maximum.

Those gear overlap with the shortcut choices. So if you happen to want a cleaner capturing enjoy, you’ll be able to take away all shortcuts from the primary interface and depend at the Toolbox best when wanted.

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The customization choices don’t finish right here. You’ll be able to even upload, take away, or rearrange the Major display screen modes that display up subsequent to the Picture and Video choices. Clearly, the ones two are grayed out and will’t be altered as a result of they’re the primary capturing modes, however the remaining can completely be custom designed. Additionally, you’ll be able to upload to these choices, together with Professional Picture mode, Extremely HD File (to snap transparent footage of a file), Meals picture mode, and extra.

That is the extent of customization each and every Android telephone, heck, each and every telephone, must be offering. If it’s my telephone, I need the digital camera UI to really feel private and adapted to how I shoot, fairly than being restricted to what a logo thinks I must use.

The digital camera presets also are unusually considerate

Camera presets in the camera app on the vivo X300 Ultra.

Adamya Sharma / Android Authority

Taking customization and personalization of the digital camera app a step additional, 3vivo additionally comprises 5 digital camera UI presets:

  • Default
  • Immersive
  • Level
  • Scenic
  • Video Advent

And those aren’t simply beauty subject matters; they in fact reorganize the digital camera enjoy, together with the mode carousel, toolbox, and shortcut structure.

As an example, the Immersive preset eliminates some best shortcuts and decreases the visual controls to prioritize a cleaner capturing enjoy. The carousel additionally will get simplified to simply Picture, Video, Portrait, and Extra. In the meantime, the Video Advent preset pushes video gear and modes to the leading edge, whilst Level surfaces concert-focused capturing options.

Other customers, or even the similar person in several eventualities, need other digital camera reviews.

So if you happen to don’t need to pass during the trouble of organizing your digital camera structure, you’ll be able to simply use this type of presets to routinely decrease distracting choices.

Once more, that is vivo spotting that other customers, or even the similar person in several eventualities, need other digital camera reviews. That’s a degree of UI flexibility we nearly by no means see from main smartphone manufacturers.

Even Apple turns out to comprehend this issues now

Vivo X300 Pro vs iPhone 17 Po in hand

Tushar Mehta / Android Authority

This type of customizable digital camera means makes such a lot sense that even Apple seems to be shifting on this precise course.

Consistent with a contemporary Bloomberg document, Apple is making plans a a lot more customizable Digital camera app for long run iPhones as a part of its subsequent main tool redesign. Customers might reportedly have the ability to make a decision which controls seem, the place they’re positioned, and which purposes they need to prioritize.

In different phrases, Apple turns out to have learned that digital camera apps must adapt to customers, now not the opposite direction round.

I in reality hope Google and Samsung observe go well with, particularly as Android cameras get started adopting extra AI-enabled pictures options that’ll best upload to the gang of choices already to be had to customers.

vivo X300 Extremely

vivo X300 Ultra
AA Recommended

vivo X300 Extremely

Nice video seize • 35mm primary digital camera • Large battery

Some of the very best digital camera telephones of 2026

The vivo X300 Extremely provides distinctive cameras, a large battery and strong chipset, and a ton of video seize choices.

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