Vivo V50e Review: E for Enough?

Vivo’s V50 made waves in India this February, but the story didn’t end there. April saw the arrival of its sibling, the V50e, a phone that whispers affordability without shouting compromise. Think of it as the V50’s cool younger brother.

While sporting the family’s signature sleek design, the V50e carves its own path with a trimmed-down battery, a different engine under the hood (chipset), and a camera system focused on everyday brilliance. Fear not, flagship fans! The mesmerizing quad-curved display, battle-ready IP69 rating, and lightning-fast 90W charging are all still on board.

But here’s the real question: does the V50e truly outshine last year’s V40e, or are we just seeing a fresh coat of paint? Starting at Rs. 28,999 for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage model, the V50e demands consideration. Should your wallet open? Let’s dive in and uncover the truth.

Vivo V50e Design

The Vivo V50e plays a subtle game of spot-the-difference with its sibling, the V50, offering a refreshingly distinct palette of colors as its primary visual cue. Shedding its skin from the V40e, the V50e emerges with a striking rear camera makeover. But the real magic lies up front: Picture a waterfall cascading over the edges – that’s the V50e’s new quad-curved display, a luxurious upgrade that makes the V40e’s standard curved screen feel a generation behind.

The phone is available in Sapphire Blue (image) and Pearl White colour options

The Vivo V50e arrived in a dazzling Sapphire Blue, and first impressions? Stunning. Forget subtle; the shimmering wave pattern on the back dances with light, practically begging for attention. Vivo whispers that each phone boasts a one-of-a-kind design on its rear panel. While we can’t vouch for the whole ocean of devices (we only had one!), ours certainly felt special. Craving something lighter? Keep an eye out for the Pearl White variant.

The phone’s rear panel is a canvas of design, immediately drawing the eye with its distinctive keyhole-shaped camera module. Nestled within are dual lenses and Vivo’s signature Aura ring light, promising captivating photos. Discreetly placed in the lower left corner is the Vivo logo. The glossy polycarbonate frame and back, available in two shimmering finishes, feel surprisingly premium. The Sapphire Blue edition boasts a slender 7.6mm profile, while the Pearl White is even more streamlined at a mere 7.39mm. Weighing in at a featherlight 186g, this phone practically disappears in your hand, further enhanced by its subtly curved edges that melt into your palm.

The phone has a glossy frame that can easily attract fingerprints and smudges

Circling the Vivo V50e, the right edge greets your fingers with the familiar power and volume controls. Descend to the bottom – a modern USB-C port stands ready, flanked by a loudspeaker and the SIM card haven, all overseen by dual microphones. Ascend to the phone’s peak, where yet another set of dual microphones silently listen. Best of all? The V50e boasts impressive IP68 and IP69 certifications, ready to shrug off dust and water with confident ease.

The Vivo V50e doesn’t offer a microSD card slot

Imagine a screen that melts into the edges of reality. That’s the 6.77-inch AMOLED display gracing the front of this phone. It’s not just big; it’s a visual feast, rendered in Full HD+ with curves that caress your fingertips. Bezels practically vanish, leaving you with an immersive experience. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures buttery-smooth scrolling and animations, while a discreet hole-punch camera keeps the focus on what matters. And nestled beneath that vibrant display, an invisible fingerprint scanner awaits your touch, ready to unlock a world of possibilities.

Vivo V50e Performance

Dive into a world of vibrant entertainment with the Vivo V50e’s stunning display. Colors explode with life, thanks to its punchy palette and HDR10+ magic, ensuring your favorite shows and movies look their absolute best. Plus, Widevine L1 certification unlocks high-definition streaming from your go-to platforms. The real showstopper? A mesmerizing quad-curved design that pulls you into the action, elevating the viewing experience beyond typical flat screens. While Vivo boasts a blazing 1,800 nits peak brightness, direct sunlight might pose a slight challenge. But fear not, indoors, the screen shines brilliantly, delivering exceptional clarity and visual delight.

Vivo V50e’s display isn’t very legible under direct sunlight, but works great indoors

The Vivo V50e arrives wielding the MediaTek Dimensity 7300, a familiar face from last year’s V40e. Paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, it promises a smooth experience. However, benchmark results paint a different picture, mirroring the V40e’s scores with uncanny accuracy, indicating minimal performance evolution. In a market teeming with contenders, the V50e’s performance lags noticeably behind rivals like the Poco X7 Pro, leaving performance enthusiasts wanting more.

The phone mostly purrs like a kitten, but push it with marathon BGMI sessions or a rapid-fire photo shoot, and you might see a flicker of lag. Surprisingly, even when pushed, the device stays remarkably cool. Software-wise, it’s rocking Funtouch OS 15 (built on Android 15), backed by a solid promise of three Android updates and four years of security patches. The phone also brings some AI tricks to the table, like the AI Image Expander, Photo Enhancer, and the improved AI Eraser 2.0 – all surprisingly competent. Plus, you get Google’s handy Circle to Search and the Gemini AI assistant baked right in.

The Vivo V50e’s rear camera setup is identical to the V40e

The Vivo V50e steps into the spotlight with a dual-camera dance on its rear, a subtle departure from its V50 sibling’s Zeiss partnership. Leading the charge is a 50MP Sony IMX882 sensor, stabilized by OIS, ready to capture sharp memories. An 8MP ultrawide lens joins the party, expanding your photographic horizons. Flip the phone, and a 50MP Samsung JN1 sensor awaits, promising crisp selfies and video calls. But here’s the twist: despite Vivo’s bold “Portrait So Pro” claim, a dedicated portrait lens is conspicuously absent. A curious omission, indeed.

Sun-drenched days unlock the primary camera’s potential: crisp details, true-to-life colors, and balanced exposure create stunning images. The ultrawide lens thrives in similar conditions, though some edge noise creeps in. Portrait mode captures subjects well with accurate edge detection, but loses the natural vibrancy of standard shots. Add a creative spark with the Aura light for unique portraits. Capture memories in motion with 4K video at 30fps or zoom in with 2x photos – both front and rear cameras are equipped.

Daylight shots from the main and ultrawide rear cameras

The main camera’s low-light performance is surprisingly competent, employing longer exposures to gather light. Expect some noise and lens flare, but overall, the results are respectable. The ultrawide, however, tells a different story. Images suffer from significant noise and a lack of sharpness.

Lowlight photos from main and ultrawide [Tap to expand]

Let’s talk battery life – prepare to be amazed. This phone isn’t messing around with its hefty 5,600mAh power cell, edging out the V40e’s 5,500mAh offering. Juice up lightning-fast with the included 90W charger. The PCMark battery test clocked an insane 23 hours and 42 minutes. Real-world use? Expect a solid 6-7 hours of screen-on time without breaking a sweat. And when you finally need to plug in, that 90W charger rockets you from zero to full in just about 70 minutes. Say goodbye to battery anxiety.

The Aura Light feature is useful when taking portrait photos in low-light conditions

The phone’s sound is a tale of two speakers: loud enough to fill a room, yet shy on bass. Conversations come through crisp and clear, a testament to excellent call and microphone quality. Forget fumbling – the fingerprint sensor under the screen unlocks at the speed of thought, every time.

Vivo V50e Verdict

Don’t ditch your Vivo V40e for the V50e just yet. While the V50e sports a dazzling new quad-curved display and a head-turning rear panel, the upgrades stop pretty much there. For V40e owners, the juice isn’t worth the squeeze. Plus, when you stack it against rivals like the Poco X7 Pro, the V50e simply can’t compete. The X7 Pro offers superior performance, a sharper display, and equally impressive cameras, all within the same price bracket. The V50e’s good looks aren’t enough to steal the show.

Stepping into the smartphone arena for the first time? The Vivo V50e isn’t a knockout, but think of it as a solid starting point. It might not redefine mobile tech, but as an entry-level device, it could be your perfect first taste.

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