Vivo V50e Review: Is It Worth It?
In February this year, Vivo introduced the Vivo V50 in India, followed by the Vivo V50e in April. The V50e is a more budget-friendly option but shares a design language with its more premium sibling. While both models flaunt a stylish quad-curved display, the V50e has a smaller battery, a different chipset, and a simpler camera system. Despite its budget-friendly price, starting at ₹28,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant, potential buyers are left wondering if the V50e is a worthy upgrade. Let’s dive into the details to find out.
Vivo V50e Design
At first glance, the Vivo V50e looks remarkably similar to the V50, with the most notable difference being its color choices. However, when compared to its predecessor, the V40e, the V50e showcases a revamped rear camera module and a more polished frontal appearance, thanks to the new quad-curved display. Buyers can choose between the stunning Sapphire Blue and the elegant Pearl White variants. The Sapphire Blue model we reviewed is particularly eye-catching, featuring a unique wave pattern that catches the light beautifully, giving it a premium feel.
The rear panel sports a keyhole-style camera layout that includes two cameras and an Aura ring light flash. Vivo branding can also be found at the bottom left corner. The device is constructed from polycarbonate, with a glossy finish that can easily attract fingerprints. Measuring just 7.6mm thick for the Sapphire Blue version and 7.39mm for the Pearl White variant, the Vivo V50e is lightweight at 186g, making it comfortable to hold.
Essential features like the power and volume buttons are located conveniently on the right edge. The bottom edge includes a USB Type-C port, a loudspeaker, a SIM card tray, and dual microphones, while another pair of microphones can be found at the top. With an IP68 and IP69 rating, the Vivo V50e offers some level of water and dust resistance, which is a plus.
One downside is the absence of a microSD card slot, a feature many users still find essential.
The front sports a large 6.77-inch full-HD+ AMOLED quad-curved display with minimal bezels. It boasts a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera, complemented by an in-display fingerprint scanner positioned conveniently at the bottom.
Vivo V50e Performance
Let’s discuss the display performance. The Vivo V50e delivers an enjoyable experience for watching movies and shows, offering vibrant colors, HDR10+ support, and Widevine L1 certification. The quad-curved design adds a layer of luxury, making it feel more upscale compared to flat screens. While Vivo claims a peak brightness of 1,800 nits, in real-world settings, the screen does not perform exceptionally well under direct sunlight but shines brightly indoors.
Under the hood, the Vivo V50e is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC, the same chipset as its predecessor, the V40e. With 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, the V50e posts benchmark results similar to its predecessor. When compared to other contenders in the same price bracket, such as the Poco X7 Pro, the Vivo V50e does lag in performance.
In practical use, day-to-day operations are generally smooth, although some lag was noticed during extensive gaming sessions and when shooting burst photos. On a positive note, the phone stays relatively cool under pressure. It runs on Funtouch OS 15, based on Android 15, and promises three years of Android updates along with four years of security patches. It also includes various AI features like AI Image Expander and Photo Enhancer, which function reasonably well.
Camera System
The Vivo V50e features a dual rear camera system, lacking the Zeiss branding of the standard V50. It consists of a 50-megapixel Sony IMX882 primary sensor with optical image stabilization, paired with an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera. A 50-megapixel Samsung JN1 sensor is included for selfies. Interestingly, the phone does not come with a dedicated portrait lens, despite the marketing tagline “Portrait So Pro.”
Images taken in daylight with the primary camera are impressive, showcasing vibrant colors, ample detail, and a broad dynamic range. The ultrawide lens performs decently in good lighting, although edge noise may be noticed. Portrait shots come out nice, albeit with slight discrepancies in color tones compared to standard photos.
Low-light photography is also acceptable, with the primary camera managing good detail, although some noise and glare are present. The ultrawide lens struggles in low-light conditions, producing softer images.
Battery Life
Battery life is one of the standout features of the Vivo V50e. It packs a 5,600mAh battery, slightly larger than the previous model’s 5,500mAh capacity. Offering 90W fast charging, the included charger can take the battery from zero to full in about 1 hour and 10 minutes. During testing, the phone lasted around 23 hours and 42 minutes in a PCMark battery test, providing 6-7 hours of screen time in daily usage.
The phone’s audio performance is sufficient for indoor use, although it doesn’t deliver deep bass. Call quality is decent, and the in-display fingerprint sensor is both quick and reliable.
Verdict
Should you upgrade to the Vivo V50e from the V40e? The answer is a resounding no. There aren’t enough new features in the V50e to justify the upgrade. While it does offer a modern look with its quad-curved display, this aesthetic benefit does not make up for the lacking performance compared to competitors like the Poco X7 Pro, which offers superior value.
In summary, the Vivo V50e is not a bad smartphone, but it falls short as a significant upgrade. However, for first-time buyers exploring options in this price range, it might still be worth a look.
Hashtags: #VivoV50e #VivoSmartphone #MobileReview #TechReview #Gadgets2023 #SmartphonePhotography #AndroidTrends #BudgetSmartphone #FirstBuySmartphone
Original Text – https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/reviews/vivo-v50e-review-9026877