Vivo Y50 5G review
This phone suits someone who intends very light use, values battery endurance above all, and can accept slow performance and slow charging. Anyone expecting a well-rounded device or planning to keep the phone beyond a couple of years should look elsewhere.
This review is written with AI assistance from Vivo’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Vivo Y50 5G, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Y50 5G is a budget 5G phone from 2020 that leans on battery life and screen size to justify itself, but the Snapdragon 665 and 1080p display are already dated and the cameras are forgettable. It's a practical device for light use and long standby, but nothing here stands out from cheaper rivals.
Design & build
The Y50 5G is light at 197 grams and thin at 9.1 mm, making it easy to hold for long stretches. The glass front and plastic back are standard fare for this price; the phone feels durable enough for daily knocks but not particularly robust. The 6.53-inch footprint is large without being awkward, and the 83% screen-to-body ratio is decent for 2020. A rear fingerprint sensor is present and responsive. Nothing here is objectionable, but nothing suggests care in materials or finish either.
Display
The 1080 x 2400 IPS LCD is where the Y50 makes its pitch. At 403 ppi across a 6.53-inch screen, text and images are sharp enough for comfortable reading and video watching. The 20:9 aspect ratio feels natural for content consumption without being stretched. IPS colour and brightness are workmanlike: the panel is legible in daylight but doesn't pop with saturation or punch like OLED, and there is no refresh rate above 60 Hz. For 2020, a 1080p screen at this diagonal was already entry-level, not competitive; phones in this class were moving to 90 Hz even then. Functional, but not a reason to choose this phone over others.
Performance
The Snapdragon 665 is a mainstream midrange processor from 2019. It handles messaging, social media, email, and light video streaming without hiccups. Switching between apps is smooth enough for casual use, and the Adreno 610 GPU manages light gaming at stable frame rates. But anything demanding—heavy games at high settings, sustained video editing, multitasking under load—shows its limits. For 2020, this was already the floor of acceptable, and now it feels notably slow. The choice between 6 GB and 8 GB RAM does not meaningfully change this ceiling. By today's standards, the 665 is something you accept for the price, not something that impresses.
Software
The phone ships with Android 10 and Vivo's Funtouch 10.0 overlay. Funtouch is lighter than some overlays but still clutters the interface with duplicate apps and unnecessary bloat. Updates depend on Vivo's support, which even in 2020 was spotty for budget models; the Y50 5G is now discontinued, so security updates are unlikely. For a phone in this price class, Funtouch is bearable but not a draw.
Camera
The main camera is a 13 MP sensor with f/2.2 aperture and PDAF. It produces acceptable daylight shots with decent detail, but colours are often flat and contrast feels pressed. Low-light performance is mediocre; the small sensor and modest aperture struggle to gather light. The 8 MP f/2.2 ultrawide adds flexibility but offers no sharpness gain, and the 2 MP macro is a gimmick. The 16 MP front camera is fine for selfies and video calls. Video maxes out at 1080p@30fps, which is workable but uninspiring. For a phone costing around 70 EUR even in 2020, the cameras are neither a strength nor a fatal weakness—they are simply ordinary.
Battery & charging
The 5000 mAh battery is the Y50's strongest card. In light use, you will comfortably stretch to two days; in mixed use with moderate screen time, expect about a full day plus change. This is real durability, not spec-sheet fantasy. The drawback is charging: 15 W is slow, even for budget phones in 2020. Rivals were offering 30 W or faster at similar prices. A full charge takes well over an hour, which grinds against the battery's long endurance. You buy this phone partly to avoid plugging it in often, then accept sluggish replenishment when you do.
Value & verdict context
The Y50 5G sits at a strange angle. It is not cheap enough now to be a disposable second phone, not new enough to be future-proof, and not strong in any single area. The battery is genuinely useful, and 5G coverage exists in enough markets to matter. But the Snapdragon 665 is visibly dated, the cameras are forgettable, and charging is slow. At 70 EUR in 2020, it was a safe if uninspiring choice for someone who prioritized battery life over everything else. Today, newer budget phones offer better performance, faster charging, and comparable battery for the same money. The Y50 5G is discontinued for good reason.
Verdict
This phone suits someone who intends very light use, values battery endurance above all, and can accept slow performance and slow charging. Anyone expecting a well-rounded device or planning to keep the phone beyond a couple of years should look elsewhere.
- 5000 mAh battery delivers a genuine two days of light use
- Large 6.53-inch 1080p display is good for video and reading, with 403 ppi keeping text sharp enough
- 5G bands cover major regions, so you'll connect where the networks exist
- Rear fingerprint sensor and dual SIM are no-fuss conveniences
- Snapdragon 665 was already ordinary in 2020 and feels sluggish now for app switching and heavier tasks
- 13 MP main camera is basic and produces flat, soft images compared to even mid-range rivals from the same year
- 15W charging is slow even by budget standards; rivals were doing 30W or more at this price point
Vivo Y50 5G Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2020, April 06. Released 2020, April 12 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6125 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main camera | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| Software | Android 10, Funtouch 10.0 |
| Dimensions | 162 x 76.5 x 9.1 mm (6.38 x 3.01 x 0.36 in) |
| Weight | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| NFC | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Vivo Y50 5G FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Y50 5G support 5G?
Yes. The Y50 5G supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Y50 5G use?
The Y50 5G runs on the Qualcomm SM6125 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm).
What display does the Y50 5G have?
A 6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~403 ppi density).
How big is the Y50 5G battery?
The Y50 5G has a 5000 mAh battery.
Does the Y50 5G have NFC?
No, the Y50 5G does not list NFC support.
Does the Y50 5G support a microSD card?
Yes, the Y50 5G supports expandable storage (microSDXC (dedicated slot)).
Alternatives to consider
If the Y50 5G isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Y19 5G
Y04 4G
Y200 4G
Y39 5G
Galaxy M17e
