If you're a mobile photography enthusiast but are worried about ending up with yet another phone that sounds like a tin can being tapped with a fork when you first listen to music, then the vivo V50 is something worth taking a closer look at. This ultra-slim yet battery-powered smartphone promises professional portraits, long battery life, and smooth performance. But does it really deliver on all of that? Well, it's time for a deep breath and a thorough review.
If you're looking for a phone that doesn't just take selfies, but creates works of art, then the vivo V50 is perfect for you. In collaboration with ZEISS, vivo has created a true photography beast that masters professional-level portraits. But does its charm stop at the camera, or does it have any other hidden trump cards?
Sleek, slim, yet surprisingly durable design
As tech reviewer Shunk Spurt noted, the vivo V50 is a true design masterpiece. Incredibly thin – just over 7mm – but with a massive 6000mAh battery, which is a rarity in the smartphone world. The body is sophisticated, with a matte back that doesn’t stick to fingerprints. And the colors? Ancora Red, a beautiful burgundy red shade that’s rarely seen on phones, stands out. The entire phone – from the frame to the buttons and even the default wallpapers – is red, which is a real feast for the eyes for lovers of bold colors.
The V50 also brings improved durability, with an IP69 rating. This means it can survive complete submersion in water and even powerful jets of water – something that will be especially pleasing to clumsy users or extreme sports enthusiasts. Gorilla Glass protects the display from scratches, although Vivo doesn’t reveal which version it uses.
A screen that keeps you in place
The screen measures 6.77 inches and is AMOLED with a 120 Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. Although the resolution has decreased slightly compared to previous models, this is not noticeable in practice - the image is still sharp and contrasting. As Shunk Spurt points out, the brightness of the screen is good, although not record-breaking, but it will be quite enough for outdoor use, unless you live in areas with extremely strong sunlight.
What's a bit disappointing is the stereo speaker, which while it does get loud, lacks some bass. The bottom speaker does most of the work, while the top one is a bit weak, which is noticeable when watching videos and playing games.
A portrait camera that deserves special applause
The V50 is a true portrait master. With a 50 MP ZEISS All Main Camera and legendary ZEISS optics, it offers superb image quality. ZEISS Style Bokeh effects add a professional touch, colors are rich, and contrast is well balanced. The phone also features ZEISS Natural mode, which prevents overly saturated colors typical of phones like Samsung and iPhone.
Night shots are exceptionally good thanks to the large sensor and optical image stabilization (OIS). Aura Light 2.0 adds soft lighting that makes faces look natural and free of harsh shadows. Shunk Spurt also praised the 50 MP front camera, which with its ultra-wide angle ensures that no one is left out of the frame in group selfies.
The only downside? The ultra-wide camera has slightly different color reproduction than the main camera, meaning colors can be a bit inconsistent when switching between cameras.
Performance and gaming: fast, but not the fastest
Inside is a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, the same processor as last year's V40, which means it's not a huge leap in performance. Day-to-day use is smooth, apps open quickly, but more demanding games like Wuthering Waves, some stuttering occurs. Games like PUBG and Call of Duty work great as they are more adapted to the different performance levels of the phones.
The Vivo V50 also has improved cooling with a large evaporator, which means the phone doesn't get too hot when gaming, which is always welcome.
A battery that lasts the whole weekend
The V50's biggest win is definitely its battery. The 6,000mAh capacity means the phone can last up to two days without charging. Shunk Spurt only saw a 28% drop in battery life after three hours of intensive use, which is remarkable.
The fast 90W charging is another plus – in ten minutes you can charge your phone enough for several hours of use. Unfortunately, there is no wireless charging, which is expected at this price range.
Software: FunTouch OS – fun or frustrating?
The Vivo V50 runs FunTouch OS 15 on top of Android 15, which means you get three years of Android updates and four years of security patches (or five years in European regions). The interface offers a lot of customization, but unfortunately, it also comes with a lot of pre-loaded apps that most users don’t need. “Hot Apps” and “Hot Games” are unnecessary additions that you’ll probably want to uninstall right after the first boot.
Another minor gripe is the “always-on display” which isn’t always on – it only appears when you tap the screen or move the phone, which isn’t ideal for those who want to quickly check notifications.
Conclusion: Is the vivo V50 worth buying?
The vivo V50 is a fantastic phone for anyone who loves mobile photography, especially portraits. Its camera is truly exceptional, the battery lasts insanely long, and the design is elegant and sophisticated. At the same time, it also offers excellent water and dust protection, which is rare in this price range.
Of course, it's not without its flaws - the speakers could be better, the ultra-wide camera isn't fully aligned with the main one, and the processor doesn't offer significant improvements over its predecessor.
But if you're looking for a phone that offers a top-notch camera, long-lasting battery, and a stylish design for a solid price, the vivo V50 is definitely one of the better candidates. As Shunk Spurt says – “Gorgeous burgundy Vivo V50! God, I love that color.”
