vivo V50 Lite 5G Unboxing and Review

The vivo V Series is generating significant excitement due to its groundbreaking advancements in mobile photography. However, the features introduced with the vivo V50 come at a higher price point, which may be a barrier for budget-conscious consumers.

Fortunately, vivo has launched the vivo V50 Lite 5G, the latest addition to its popular mid-range V50 Series, which is more affordably priced compared to its V50 counterparts.

The V50 Lite 5G sets a new benchmark for durability in the industry, boasting impressive IP65 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance. Additionally, it features a robust 6,500mAh battery and 90W FlashCharge technology. This device maintains a slim profile despite its powerful capabilities, surpassing similar battery combinations from competitors in the same price range.

According to vivo, the V50 Lite 5G is an excellent choice for college students, entry-level workers, livestreamers, and those working outdoors. For example, Grab drivers can easily take orders and check messages without worrying about rain damage. At the same time, food stall workers can quickly unlock their phones, even while cooking, as the device is protected against splashes of oil and water.

I was fortunate enough to get my hands on one, and I’m excited to share my unboxing experience. We will also take a closer look at the smartphone's features to help you determine if it meets your needs. So, without further ado, let’s begin the unboxing!

Unboxing the vivo V50 Lite 5G

The vivo V50 Lite 5G is packaged in a high-quality box similar to its V50 siblings. The front of the box prominently displays the V50 Lite 5G logo, and it now highlights that this model includes AI features. The back of the box provides various details about the device, such as its model number, IMEI number, serial number, color, and more.

Upon opening the box, you will find the following items included: the vivo V50 Lite 5G smartphone, a SIM card ejector tool, a quick start guide, important information (including the warranty card), a 90W FlashCharge power adapter, a USB Type-C to USB-A charging cable, and a silicone case. Please note that the vivo V50 Lite 5G does not come with headphones, so you will need to supply your own.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the device’s physical appearance.

Design and Walk Around

The vivo V50 Lite 5G showcases a distinctive design that sets it apart from its V50 siblings. My review unit in Titanium Gold features a matte titanium metal finish on the back, giving it an immediate sense of luxury. Unlike the high-gloss rounded frame of the V50, the V50 Lite 5G comes with a flat metallic frame that still offers a premium feel and is comfortable to hold. This design makes it easy to watch videos and play games for extended periods. Additionally, the matte back is less prone to fingerprint smudges and scratches compared to the high-gloss frame.

In addition to Titanium Gold, the V50 Lite is available in two other color options: Phantom Black and Fantasy Purple.

Despite its robust 6,500mAh battery and durability features, the vivo V50 Lite 5G weighs 197g and has a thickness of 7.79 mm.

On the front, it sports a large 6.77-inch FHD+ (2392 × 1080) AMOLED display, which comes with a pre-installed screen protector. The centered hole-punch camera is situated at the top of the screen, while the earpiece is discreetly positioned above the display. The fingerprint reader is located below the screen.

The back of the device features an eye-catching camera module with a prominent bump that, according to vivo, resembles a diamond inlay. In comparison to the V50 camera module, the V50 Lite 5G has a slimmer design. Its dual-camera setup consists of two cameras placed within a circular module. Additionally, below the cameras is a ring LED flash, known as Aura Light. Initially, I mistakenly thought that a design element was a third camera, but it turned out to be purely decorative.

The phone's volume rocker and power buttons are located on the right side, while the top of the device remains uncluttered, housing only the secondary noise-canceling microphone and speaker.

At the bottom of the vivo V50 Lite 5G, you'll find a USB Type-C charging port, a downward-firing speaker, a microphone, and a dual SIM card tray. However, it’s worth noting that the phone does not include a 3.5mm audio jack.

Display and Multimedia

The vivo V50 Lite 5G is equipped with a large 6.77-inch AMOLED display that boasts a resolution of 1080 x 2392. With its narrow bezels and a 94.2% screen-to-body ratio, it offers an immersive viewing experience. The 120Hz refresh rate guarantees smooth visuals, and the SGS-certified eye comfort technology helps to keep your eyes comfortable during use.

The AMOLED display delivers vibrant colors and features excellent viewing angles. Its peak brightness reaches 1,800 nits, which can automatically adjust to ensure clear visibility in outdoor conditions.

For the first time in the Lite version of the vivo V series, the device includes dual stereo speakers. The audio quality is good, and the volume can get quite loud. However, for an enhanced audio experience, it is still recommended to use headphones or an external speaker.

Camera

Rear Cameras

The vivo V50 Lite 5G, similar to its V-Series counterparts, features an impressive camera system. It is equipped with a reliable 50MP F1.8 main lens that uses a Sony IMX882 sensor, similar to the camera systems found in its predecessors. Additionally, it includes the same 8MP F2.2 ultra-wide camera that offers a 120-degree field of view.

The vivo V50 Lite 5G also includes vivo’s Aura Light feature, providing soft and even illumination for improved photography. Moreover, it comes equipped with AI Image Studio, which includes tools like AI Erase 2.0, allowing users to remove multiple unwanted subjects from a photo simultaneously, and AI Photo Enhance, which can rejuvenate old photos with a single tap.

The rear camera captures vibrant and accurate colors with sharp details in bright lighting conditions; however, the dynamic range could be enhanced in certain scenarios.

The Night Mode performs well in both indoor and low-light situations, producing exceptional photos when compared to other phones in this price range.

Front Selfie Camera

For selfies, the front-facing camera has a 32MP F2.5 aperture, delivering reasonably good quality, especially in well-lit environments. While the portrait mode background blurring isn’t perfect, it still performs adequately.

Video Recording

TThe vivo V50 Lite features video recording capabilities of 1080p at both 30fps and 60fps for the main rear camera. The front camera also supports 1080p but only at 30fps. It's noteworthy that electronic stabilization is only available when shooting at 1080p 30fps with the main rear camera. Videos taken with the main camera exhibit low noise levels and good detail.

Funtouch OS, Apps, and Security

The vivo V50 Lite 5G smartphone operates on a customized user interface called Funtouch OS 15, which is built on the Android 15 operating system.

Funtouch OS 15 offers a variety of features, and vivo claims that its intelligent management of background tasks will ensure smooth performance for up to 60 months without significant slowdowns. The device comes pre-installed with the standard suite of vivo and Google apps, along with some additional bloatware.

In terms of security, the vivo V50 Lite 5G includes an in-display fingerprint scanner and facial recognition for unlocking the device. Both methods perform well, with the fingerprint scanner being notably quick and accurate. However, the face unlock feature may be slower in low-light conditions.

Hardware and Performance

The vivo V50 Lite 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, which is manufactured using a 6nm process. It features two Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.4GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores running at up to 2.0GHz. For graphics processing, it comes with a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU.

In terms of performance, the vivo V50 Lite 5G handles everyday tasks efficiently and provides a good gaming experience with support for a wide range of games.

The device also supports Extended RAM technology, which allows users to virtually expand the phone's RAM by utilizing its internal storage. This means that the phone can provide up to 16GB of RAM when using the 8GB internal storage expansion.

In the Philippines, the vivo V50 Lite 5G is available in two variants: one with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is the model I am using, and another with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Out of the box, my 256GB unit has used 26.63GB of storage. Unfortunately, the device does not support microSD card expansion.

Benchmark scores for the device are as follows:

• AnTuTu v10.5.0 – 438,894
• AnTuTu Storage Test v10.5.0 – 46,477 (533.0 MB/s Seq. Read, 510.0 MB/s Seq. Write)
• Geekbench 6.4.0 – 755 (Single-core), 1,952 (Multi-core)
• PCMark – 9,777 (Work 3.0)
• 3DMark – 4,528 (SSE – OpenGL ES 3.1), 3,626 (SSE – Vulkan)

The vivo V50 Lite 5G features an impressive IP69 dust and water resistance rating, the highest level of protection available. This means the device is completely dustproof and can endure exposure to high-pressure water and high-temperature environments.

In addition, it has an IP65 rating for dustproofing and waterproofing, offering protection against everyday splashes of water.

The device also includes a Comprehensive Cushioning Structure that provides 360° drop protection from all sides—front, back, and corners. It has received SGS Five-Star Drop Resistance Certification, indicating that the entire device has successfully passed rigorous testing for durability.

According to vivo, the V50 Lite 5G features the strongest shield glass in its price range, which is both scratch and wear-resistant, making it safe to carry alongside items like keys in your pocket. The King Kong Anti-Drop film, combined with an exclusive shock-resistant case, provides an additional layer of protection against drops.

Battery Life, Charging, and Connectivity

The vivo V50 Lite 5G features an impressive 6,500mAh battery, providing 30% more capacity than its predecessor, the V40 Lite. According to vivo, users can enjoy up to 10.5 hours of MOBA gaming or 27 hours of watching YouTube on a single charge.

In my experience, the phone lasts an entire day with moderate usage without needing an additional charge. The PCMark Work 3.0 Battery Life Test showed that this device scored approximately 20 hours and 23 minutes.

Additionally, the vivo V50 Lite 5G is equipped with 90W FlashCharge technology, allowing the 6,500mAh battery to be charged from 0 to 100% in just 59 minutes, or to 50% in just 20 minutes. It also features reverse charging capability, which means it can charge other phones, Bluetooth earphones, and small Bluetooth speakers.

vivo has included smart battery charging as part of the battery optimizations. The battery of the vivo V50 Lite 5G is designed for longevity, retaining over 80% of its capacity even after 5 years of use.

In terms of connectivity, the vivo V50 Lite 5G offers a range of features, including dual-SIM (nano-SIM), 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, and USB Type-C.

vivo V50 Lite 5G Specifications

6.77-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2392) AMOLED display, 388ppi
120Hz Refresh Rate, 1800 nits (peak)
Mediatek Dimensity 6300, 6nm
Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
8GB/12GB RAM
256GB/512GB of internal storage (UFS 2.2)
Dual-rear cameras (50MP F1.8 main + 8MP F2.2 ultrawide)
32MP F2.5 front camera
Dual-SIM (nano) / 5G Connectivity
WiFi 5 / Bluetooth 5.4
GPS, A-GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS
USB Type-C / Fingerprint scanner (in-display)
IP65/IP69 Dust and Water Resistant
MIL-STD-810H compliant
Dual Stereo Speakers
Funtouch OS 15 (Android 15)
6,500mAh Battery with 90W Fast Charge
163.77 × 76.28 x 7.79 mm (dimension)
197g (weight)
Colors: Phantom Black, Titanium Gold, and Fantasy Purple

Price and Availability

The vivo V50 Lite 5G is available in two variants: one with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, priced at Php 16,999, and another with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, retailing for Php 19,999. There is also a 4G version of the vivo V50 Lite, which features 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, priced at Php 13,999.

The key differences between the two models are that the 4G version is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 chipset, is slightly lighter at 196g, and has a 2MP bokeh camera instead of the 8MP ultrawide camera found in the 5G variant.

Both the vivo V50 Lite 5G and its 4G counterpart are available for purchase at any vivo physical store nationwide, as well as online on platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok.

Verdict

Are you in the market for a smartphone? If so, the answer is a resounding "YES!"

The vivo V50 Lite 5G sets a new benchmark in its price range with its large and durable battery, which supports 90W fast charging. It boasts a drop-resistant design and is both water- and dust-resistant. Additionally, it delivers solid performance thanks to its MediaTek processor. Some components, such as the front and rear camera systems, have been carried over from previous generations but still perform well.

If you're working with a tighter budget, you can opt for the 4G version of the V50 Lite. It still boasts the same durability and large battery, but the only changes are the processor and the loss of the 8MP ultra-wide camera. If your budget allows, it's worth considering an upgrade to the higher-end V50 series, particularly the vivo V50.