Vivo Y50 (China) review
The Y50 is worth considering if you're in a 5G coverage area, do light daily use, and can live with a 720p display and 13MP camera. Anyone who scrolls photos, plays games, or needs a sharp screen for reading should look at a 1080p rival in the €160–180 range instead.
This review is based on Vivo’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Vivo Y50 (China), 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 Vivo Y50 is a 5G budget phone with good battery life and a large screen, but its 720p display and modest camera feel like yesterday's specs even for this price. At around €140, it delivers enough to get through a day of light use, though it's underpowered for anyone who wants to do more than scroll and message.
Design & build
The Y50 weighs just 204 grams and measures 8.2 mm thick, so it feels light and slim in hand. That's because the frame and back are plastic, only the front is glass. You'll notice fingerprints and scuffs easily, and over time the plastic will show wear, but for a €140 phone this is par for the course. The IP64 rating handles dust and water splashes—not submersion—which covers accidental spills but offers no deep-water insurance. Dual Nano-SIM slots are straightforward, and the design is inoffensive: not fancy, not broken.
Display
A 6.74-inch screen is roomy, and 90Hz refresh makes scrolling and swiping feel snappier than 60Hz at this price. But the 720p resolution (260 ppi) is the real rub. On a 6.74-inch panel, 720p text and icons look noticeably soft and pixelated compared to the 1080p screens rivals in this tier have already standardized to. The IPS panel is fine for color and viewing angles, and 1000 nits peak (HBM mode) is bright enough to use in sunlight. Still, for someone upgrading from a phone made in the last few years, stepping back to 720p will feel like a step backward.
Performance
The Dimensity 6300 is a mainstream midrange chipset: it handles everyday tasks—messaging, social media, browsing, email—without stutter. Apps launch reasonably fast, and multitasking doesn't choke. Video playback and casual photo work are fine. The Mali-G57 MC2 GPU is where the cracks show. Demanding games need reduced settings to stay playable, and anything that asks for heavy 3D work (video editing, AR filters) will struggle. If you game beyond light titles, this is not the phone. For a light user who lives in text and streaming, the Dimensity 6300 is adequate; for anyone else, it's a compromise you'll feel.
Software
OriginOS 5 (Vivo's custom layer over Android 15) ships with the phone. Vivo's skin is less invasive than some, though it comes with pre-installed apps and ads scattered through the settings and notifications. Updates are hit-or-miss for budget Vivo models, so don't expect three years of regular patches. If you prefer stock Android, this will frustrate you. For users comfortable with Chinese ROMs and willing to install custom launchers, it's livable.
Camera
The 13MP main camera has PDAF and f/2.2 aperture, which helps snatch detail in bright daylight and some low-light scenes. Results are sharp enough for social media and the occasional print. But 13MP at this resolution is undershooting what rivals now offer (50MP is standard in the budget class this year), and 1080p video tops out what you'd expect from a 2015 flagship. There's no ultrawide, no telephoto, no night mode to speak of. The 5MP selfie camera is adequate for video calls and social posts. If photos matter, a €150 phone with a 50MP main and 1080p video elsewhere will outperform this.
Battery & charging
The 6000 mAh cell is large for a light phone, and in light use (chat, browsing, some photos) you'll get about 1.5 days, sometimes 36 hours. Moderate use (video streaming, apps, navigation) drains it to a single day. Heavy use cuts that short. The 44W charger adds about 30 percent charge in 20 minutes, and a full refill takes roughly 45 to 60 minutes depending on temperature and software load. That's quick enough for a breakfast top-up to survive the morning. Wireless charging is absent, which is standard for this price, but the raw mAh is the draw here.
Value & verdict
At €140, the Y50 occupies a strange middle ground. The 6000 mAh battery and 90Hz screen are genuinely useful for light users, and 5G connectivity is a bonus in regions with fast networks. But the 720p display, 13MP camera, and modest chipset feel dated in 2025, even for budget phones. Rivals in the same price bracket now ship 1080p screens, 50MP cameras, and slightly faster processors. You're paying for the battery and 5G, but sacrificing screen clarity and camera reach. The Y50 suits someone who values standby time and basic connectivity over sharp text and photo quality, but only if they accept being underpowered for gaming and heavy apps. For most buyers, a slightly dearer €160–180 phone will deliver better specs across the board.
Verdict
The Y50 is worth considering if you're in a 5G coverage area, do light daily use, and can live with a 720p display and 13MP camera. Anyone who scrolls photos, plays games, or needs a sharp screen for reading should look at a 1080p rival in the €160–180 range instead.
- 6000 mAh battery goes about 1.5 days on light use, with 44W charging that refills in under an hour
- 90Hz refresh on a 6.74-inch screen makes scrolling smoother than the standard 60Hz rivals at this price still offer
- 5G connectivity (SA/NSA) across dual-SIM slots, useful in regions with fresh network roll-outs
- IP64 splash resistance and side-mounted fingerprint sensor cover the basics without fuss
- 720p resolution on a 6.74-inch display leaves text and images noticeably soft compared to 1080p competitors at the same price
- Dimensity 6300 and Mali-G57 GPU handle chat and video but can't run games at playable settings; it's strictly light-duty
- 13MP camera at f/2.2 with 1080p video is bare minimum; competitors in this bracket now ship 50MP mains and more
Vivo Y50 (China) Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2025, July 21 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.74 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD, 90Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main camera | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens |
| Selfie camera | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Battery | 6000 mAh |
| Charging | 44W wired |
| Software | Android 15, OriginOS 5 |
| Dimensions | 167.3 x 77 x 8.2 mm (6.59 x 3.03 x 0.32 in) |
| Weight | 204 g (7.20 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Durability | IP64 dust tight and water resistant (water splashes) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Vivo Y50 (China) FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Y50 (China) support 5G?
Yes. The Y50 (China) supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Y50 (China) use?
The Y50 (China) runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm).
What display does the Y50 (China) have?
A 6.74 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 90Hz, 1000 nits (HBM), 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density).
How big is the Y50 (China) battery?
The Y50 (China) has a 6000 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 44W wired.
Does the Y50 (China) have NFC?
Yes, the Y50 (China) has NFC.
Is the Y50 (China) water resistant?
The Y50 (China) carries a IP64 dust tight and water resistant (water splashes) rating.
Does the Y50 (China) support a microSD card?
Yes, the Y50 (China) supports expandable storage (microSDXC).
Does the Y50 (China) have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Y50 (China) has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Y50 (China) isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Y39
Y31
Y19 5G
Y04 4G
Galaxy M17e
