Vivo V50: Vivo, a company mostly recognized for its smartphones in the mid-premium market, is facing more competition every year. A few years ago, it was challenging to get features like an excellent camera and battery life in this market, but the competition has now caught up. Once part of its low-cost line of smartphones, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is now offering good value starting at Rs. 30,999. This also holds true for companies like Poco and Realme, whose prices have become more aggressive. Vivo has developed what we think is a respectable upgrade for its mid-range V40 series given that it is fully aware of the competition and is getting closer every year. For once, some of the many improvements made to the Vivo V50 over its predecessors make sense.

Design and display

Premium and durable: Reviewers appreciate the V50’s sleek, quad-curved design, which is both comfortable to hold and highly durable. The phone features IP68 and IP69 water and dust resistance—a premium feature for this price segment. The Starry Blue variant, in particular, offers a unique 3D holographic effect on the glass back.

Vibrant screen: The 6.77-inch FHD+ AMOLED display is lauded for its vibrant colors, deep blacks, and exceptional brightness, with a peak of 4,500 nits that ensures visibility even in direct sunlight.

Minor screen downgrade: Some reviews note a slight resolution downgrade compared to its predecessor, the Vivo V40, though this is considered negligible in real-world use.

Camera system

Zeiss-powered excellence: The V50 features an impressive 50MP OIS primary, 50MP ultrawide, and 50MP front-facing camera, all with Zeiss tuning.

Portrait mode is a highlight: The camera excels at portrait photography, offering various Zeiss bokeh effects and a special “Wedding Mode” for Indian users. The enhanced Aura ring light also improves low-light portrait quality.

Daylight vs. low-light: While daytime photos are consistently sharp and detailed, low-light video recording can be soft, and night mode post-processing can be slow.

Performance and battery

Underwhelming performance: The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, also used in previous V-series models, is the phone’s main weakness. While fine for daily tasks, it delivers lackluster benchmark scores and struggles with graphically demanding games, where users report frame drops and heating.

Exceptional battery life and charging: The V50’s large 6,000mAh battery provides excellent endurance, often lasting a full day or more. It supports 90W FlashCharge, capable of a full charge in under an hour.

Software

Refined UI: The phone runs Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15, which reviewers describe as a smooth and customizable user interface with minimal bloatware. Vivo also promises three years of major OS updates.

AI: Integrated AI features like the AI Eraser sometimes deliver inconsistent results.

conclusion

The Vivo V50 is a strong option for users who prioritize design, photography, and battery life. Its premium build, excellent Zeiss cameras, and impressive endurance make it a reliable and stylish daily driver. However, its outdated processor makes it a poor choice for serious gamers or power users. Competitors like the Poco F6 or Realme GT 6 offer significantly better performance for the price, while the V50 focuses on a well-rounded multimedia and photography experience