Highlights
- Vivo introduced the S50 as an upper mid-range smartphone and the S50 Pro Mini as a compact flagship in China.
- Vivo S50 Key Specs – 6.59-inch 1.5K AMOLED, Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, 6,500mAh battery with 90W wired charging, 50MP main + 50MP telephoto + 8MP ultra-wide) and IP68 rating.
- Vivo S50 Pro Mini – 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED, Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, same 6,500mAh battery with 90W wired + 40W wireless charging and IP68/IP69 rating.
- Both models are available for pre-order in China with sales starting December 19.
Vivo has officially expanded its S-series lineup in China with the launch of the Vivo S50 and the more premium Vivo S50 Pro Mini. Positioned differently within the range, the standard S50 arrives as a powerful upper mid-range smartphone, while the S50 Pro Mini debuts as Vivo’s latest compact flagship offering. Both phones focus on performance, display quality, and battery life, but cater to slightly different audiences.
The Vivo S50 features a 6.59-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the S50 Pro Mini opts for a smaller 6.31-inch 1.5K LTPO AMOLED panel, also offering a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother visuals. Here’s more on both newly launched devices.
Vivo S50 – Design and Key Features
Vivo has given the S50 a design language that closely resembles older iPhone 16 Pro models, featuring flat front and rear panels with softly rounded corners. On the front, the phone houses a 6.59-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 4320Hz OWM dimming and an impressive peak brightness of up to 5,000 nits.
At its core, the Vivo S50 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor. This chipset is paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.1 internal storage, ensuring strong performance for demanding tasks.
Despite its slim profile, the phone packs a large 6,500mAh battery. Charging is handled via 90W wired fast charging, though wireless charging is not supported.
In the camera department, the vivo S50 offers a triple rear setup consisting of a 50MP primary camera with OIS, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and an 8MP ultra-wide camera. On the front, users get a 50MP autofocus selfie camera.
Additional features include Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 6, stereo speakers and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
Vivo S50 Pro Mini – Design and Key Features
Caption – Vivo S50 Pro Mini. (Image credit – Vivo)
The Vivo S50 Pro Mini introduces a significantly refreshed design compared to its predecessor. It features horizontally aligned cameras placed on a raised module, giving it a look reminiscent of the iPhone Air. The rear panel uses flat glass, while the sides are built with aerospace-grade metal frames. The device measures just 8.1mm in thickness and weighs around 192 grams. It also carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for enhanced water and dust resistance.
On the front, the compact flagship sports a 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution of 2640 x 1216 pixels. The panel supports a 120Hz refresh rate, 4320Hz PWM dimming, eye protection features, a 94.38 percent screen-to-body ratio, and up to 5,000 nits of peak brightness. An ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner is also included.
Powering the vivo S50 Pro Mini is Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, offering a noticeable performance upgrade over the previous-generation S30 Pro Mini, which used the Dimensity 9300+ chipset. Unlike typical smartphone lineups where larger models are more premium, vivo’s compact Pro Mini stands out as the top-tier option in the S50 series.
Caption – Vivo S50 Pro Mini features. (Image credit – Vivo)
The chipset is paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage. Even with its smaller size, the phone houses the same 6,500mAh battery as the standard model, supporting 90W wired fast charging and 40W wireless fast charging.
Other highlights include stereo speakers, an X-axis linear motor, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7, and Android 16-based OriginOS 6 out of the box.
For photography, Vivo has retained a familiar camera setup. The rear includes a 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 50MP Sony IMX882 periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and OIS, and an 8MP ultra-wide lens with autofocus. A 50MP front-facing camera handles selfies and video calls.
Vivo S50 and Vivo S50 Pro Mini – Pricing and availability
The vivo S50 and S50 Pro Mini are now available for pre-order in China with official sales beginning on December 19.
Vivo S50 prices –
- 12GB + 256GB – 2,999 yuan (USD 425 / Rs. 38,580 approx.)
- 12GB + 512GB – 3,299 yuan (USD 467 / Rs. 42,440 approx.)
- 16GB + 256GB – 3,399 yuan (USD 481 / Rs. 43,725 approx.)
- 16GB + 512GB – 3,599 yuan (USD 510 / Rs. 46,300 approx.)
Vivo S50 Pro Mini prices –
- 12GB + 256GB – 3,699 yuan (USD 524 / Rs. 47,585 approx.)
- 12GB + 512GB – 3,999 yuan (USD 566 / Rs. 51,440 approx.)
- 16GB + 512GB – 4,299 yuan (USD 609 / Rs. 55,301 approx.)
The vivo S50 Pro Mini is available in three colour options – Confession White, Inspiration Purple, and Deep Space Black. Meanwhile, the Vivo S50 is available in four colour options – Space Black, Confession White, Serene Blue, and Inspirational Purple.
FAQs
Q1. What are the key differences between the Vivo S50 and Vivo S50 Pro Mini?
Answer. The Vivo S50 is an upper mid-range phone with a larger 6.59-inch AMOLED display and Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip, while the S50 Pro Mini is a compact flagship featuring a smaller 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED panel, Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, and support for wireless charging.
Q2. What display features do Vivo S50 and Vivo S50 Pro Mini offer?
Answer. Both models come with 1.5K resolution AMOLED panels, 120Hz refresh rates, 4320Hz PWM dimming, and peak brightness up to 5,000 nits. The Pro Mini additionally includes LTPO technology and an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner.
Q3. How big are the batteries and charging specs of the Vivo S50 and S50 Pro Mini?
Answer. Both the Vivo S50 and S50 Pro Mini pack a 6,500mAh battery. The S50 supports 90W wired charging, while the Pro Mini adds 40W wireless fast charging alongside 90W wired charging.
Q4. What camera setups do the Vivo S50 and S50 Pro Mini feature?
Answer. Each phone offers a triple rear camera system: a 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. On the front, both include a 50MP autofocus selfie camera.
Q5. What are the prices and availability of the Vivo S50 series?
Answer. Pre-orders are open in China, with sales starting December 19. The Vivo S50 is priced from 2,999 yuan (USD 425), while the Vivo S50 Pro Mini starts at 3,699 yuan (USD 524), with top configurations reaching 4,299 yuan (USD 609).