ZEISS cameras take smartphone photography to new heights – Hands-on vivo V50 smartphone review

We got our hands on the vivo V50 smartphone, which just launched in South Africa, and we thoroughly enjoyed reviewing it.

From its ZEISS co-engineered triple 50MP camera that captured stunning portrait shots, to its slim form factor and potent performance, this vivo smartphone is perfect for all South Africans.

The vivo V50 is also comfortable in the hand, feels reassuringly robust, and offers a stylish yet unassuming design. 

We unpack our experience with the vivo V50 smartphone, below.

The power of ZEISS

Crafted to be the “ultimate professional portrait flagship of the year,” the vivo V50 offers three 50MP sensors that are co-engineered with a ZEISS imaging system.

This system comprises two rear sensors and one front sensor, as follows:

• 50MP ZEISS OIS Main Camera – CIPA 4.0 DSLR-level stabilisation.
• 50MP ZEISS Ultra Wide-Angle Camera – 119-degree field of view.
• 50MP ZEISS Group Selfie Camera – 92-degree wide angle.

Once we started putting these sensors to the test, it was clear that the ZEISS branding wasn’t just for show.

Portrait images were the star of the show, with the vivo V50 offering a range of ZEISS multifocal portrait features that mimic classic camera lenses.

This allowed us to switch between three Bokeh effects: 

• Landscape Portrait (23mm) – ZEISS Distagon Style Bokeh for wide-angle shots.
• Street Portrait (35mm) – ZEISS B-Speed Style Bokeh for everyday moments.
• Classic Portrait (50mm) – ZEISS Biotar Style Bokeh for that cinematic blur.

Each of these focal ranges allowed us to capture stunning portrait images with perfectly blurred backgrounds and a razor-sharp focus on the subject.

The AI Aura Light Portrait feature took these shots to the next level, adding a soft, studio-like glow that ensured every shot looked professional and polished.

Furthermore, the CIPA 4.0 DSLR-level stabilisation combined with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) provided next-level clarity in photos and impressive stabilisation while filming. We even managed to film while running, and the V50 produced professionally stabilised footage.

Selfies aren’t an afterthought, either. The 50MP front-facing camera delivers crisp, flattering results with excellent skin tone accuracy, and its 92-degree wide angle allows for stunning group shots.

Performance and style

While the camera was the star of the show, vivo didn’t hold back in any other areas.

A powerful processor is packed into the V50 – the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip – and vivo backed this up with 12GB RAM to provide flagship-level performance. 

This ensured smooth navigation on the 120Hz Quad Curved display and fast image processing, while all our photos and videos were stored on the V50’s massive 512GB of storage.

The Snapdragon processor also offered exceptional power efficiency, and when this was combined with a 6,000mAh battery. 

When accounting for the 90W FlashCharge, the result was an impressive six hours of phone calls or three hours of video streaming with only a 10-minute charge.

All of this impressive performance was housed in a sleek, stylish, and sturdy chassis.

vivo equipped the V50 with an IP68 rating and double-strengthened Corning Gorillas Glass 2 for superior dust and water resistance – even promising underwater photography up to 1.5 metres.

Final thoughts

The vivo V50 is a camera-first smartphone that doesn’t cut corners. 

The ZEISS-powered camera system delivers exceptional portraits and versatile photography options, while the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 ensures smooth, reliable performance.

With a massive battery, stylish design, and durable build, the vivo V50 balances style with substance.

• Click here to learn more about the vivo V50.

The specs of the vivo V50 are listed in the table below.