The V50 Lite is vivo’s latest addition to its mid-range V series, having been launched at the end of last month. It’s meant to be a stripped-down version of the V50 that comes at a more affordable price, with variants ranging from RM1,299 to RM1,699. The review model has a 12GB + 256GB storage configuration and is priced at RM1,499. Aside from that, the V50 Lite boasts a large 6,500mAh BlueVolt Battery with 90W FlashCharge.
Of course, there’s also the obvious fact that the phone is designed to be visually pleasing, but vivo also advertises its durability as one of the highlights. While I did not go out of my way to test the SGS 5-Star Drop Resistance certification, I can report that the device did survive the odd gravity-related mishaps. That said, the phone does have its ups and downs.
Specifications
Looks and Functionality
I’ve already given my first impressions of the phone, though I mostly focused on the aesthetics. It’s hard to deny that vivo likes making pretty phones, and the V50 Lite is no exception. Beyond that, it’s a decently sized phone with plenty of screen real estate due to its thin bezels. The bottom bezels are a touch thicker than the rest, but that’s not something that particularly sticks out.
Funtouch OS is not for everyone, and I can safely say I’m still not a fan of the smart gestures as the default option. Other than that, it is a perfectly serviceable OS. It is worth noting that V-Appstore insists on reminding you of its existence by sending numerous notifications, so turning off said notifications is a must if you want some semblance of peace.
Performance and Battery
The phone runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, which is good enough for day-to-day activities. Gaming is more or less all right on the V50 Lite, albeit on lower settings. The phone did get pretty warm during a two-hour session of Genshin Impact with the settings turned all the way up, but that is to be expected. There was some lagging and stuttering here and there even once I was past the loading stages as well.
I would say the battery is where the phone really shines, as the 6,500mAh battery is built for endurance. I could easily end the day with just a little under 50% battery remaining, so it’s possible to get two days’ worth of use out of the V50 Lite, especially if you’re careful about your phone usage. As for the video marathon test, the phone lasted about 20 hours.
Charging is also pretty fast due to the 90W FlashCharge technology. A full charge takes about an hour with the brick that comes in the box, though the V50 Lite is a phone that can last quite a while before you need to reach for the charger.
Camera
The V50 Lite comes with a 50MP main and 8MP wide-angle combo on the rear, with a 32MP front camera. The phone also sports an Aura Light flash to help with low-light conditions. As far as smartphone cameras go, the V50 Lite isn’t really anything special. It will do for basic point-and-shoot purposes, but that’s about it.
The V50 Lite works best with a lot of natural light, but that can be said for any smartphone these days. Even then, you won’t get that much detail in your shots. The camera struggles in artificial lighting conditions, creating images with too much contrast.
Meanwhile, photos using night mode do take some time to capture and process, and the results are far from impressive. The images tend to come out fuzzy and grainy, even with the help of the Aura Light. For what it’s worth though, night mode has some filters for you to play around with, so the grainy fuzzy look can feel more like an artistic choice rather than the camera’s limitations.
Like many modern smartphones, there are AI-powered tools for editing images, such as AI Erase and AI Photo Enhance. The Erase tool does a pretty good job of removing unwanted elements from photos, though the AI doesn’t always recognise what needs removing. Meanwhile, the Enhance tool makes images look sharper, but it also has an aggressive brightening effect that makes the pictures look overexposed.
Camera Samples
Competition
CMF Phone 2 Pro
The latest offering from Nothing’s sub-brand is available for RM1,199 and features a 6.77-inch 1080p AMOLED 120Hz display, a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chip, as well as 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage with a microSD card slot. On the imaging side, it sports a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto camera, and an 8MP ultra-wide camera on the rear. Meanwhile, for selfies, it has a 16MP front camera.
HONOR 400 Lite
Dubbed the “affordable iPhone killer” by HONOR, the 400 Lite was launched a few days before the V50 Lite and is priced at RM1,299. In terms of specs, the phone features a 6.7-inch 1080p AMOLED 120Hz display, and packs a MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra chipset paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. For optics, it comes with a 108MP main camera and 5MP ultra-wide lens on the back, while the front sports a 16MP camera with a built-in selfie light.
Conclusion
The vivo V50 Lite continues vivo’s trend of making smartphones that serve as fashion statements, which is undoubtedly one of the company’s strong points. But visuals are not always enough, and the question is whether the V50 Lite is more than just a pretty face.
Overall, it’s a decent phone for day-to-day activities and some casual gaming, with a big battery that allows for longer use. However, the camera does leave much to be desired, and for some users that may be a dealbreaker, especially with other options on the market.
