Vivo is taking direct aim at premium phones with the launch of the S50, positioning it as a true “flagship killer.” The new device arrives with powerful hardware, including Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, a periscope telephoto lens, and a dazzling 5,000-nit AMOLED display all while keeping the price tag surprisingly modest.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 powers the Vivo S50
Instead of using the latest Snapdragon flagship chip, Vivo has smartly opted for the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. This ARM-based processor was built for budget-friendly performance phones and still packs a serious punch. It brings plenty of speed for everyday tasks and mobile gaming without inflating the cost like a top-tier SoC would.
Xiaomi teases a December 17 event, where the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Redmi Turbo 5 smartphones may debut alongside other new devices.
A 5,000-nit display and high-end build
The S50 doesn’t hold back when it comes to screen quality. Its 6.59-inch AMOLED panel delivers a crisp 2,750 × 1,260 resolution and a buttery-smooth 120 Hz refresh rate. But the real standout spec is its HDR peak brightness up to 5,000 nits, which sets a new benchmark in its price range.
Other display highlights include:
- 4,320 Hz PWM dimming to reduce flicker
- Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor under the screen
- Slim 7.59 mm profile and IP69 water resistance
Vivo S50 cameras rival premium models
Vivo didn’t cut corners on imaging either. The S50 features a quad-camera setup that wouldn’t look out of place on a premium device:
- 50 MP f/1.88 main camera (1/1.56-inch sensor)
- 50 MP periscope telephoto with f/2.65 aperture (1/1.95-inch sensor)
- 110° ultra-wide-angle lens (unspecified resolution)
- 50 MP f/2.0 selfie camera
The periscope lens in particular is rare at this price tier and adds serious zoom potential to the S50’s arsenal.
Big battery, fast charging, no fluff
The phone’s 6,500 mAh battery offers all-day power with ease and charges quickly at up to 90 W over USB-C. Wireless charging didn’t make the cut, but for a device with this much performance packed in, that’s a reasonable tradeoff.
Vivo S50 makes the flagship title sweat
With its balanced mix of premium display tech, powerful camera hardware, and Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor, the Vivo S50 doesn’t just flirt with flagship territory, it stomps into it. The only real question now is how aggressively Vivo prices it outside China.
