Vivo's V70 FE has a very specific set of concessions. It's not suited to media creators, though newbies won't be disappointed. It's not suited to gamers either, but it'll play some games. It appears tailored specifically to folks who consume loads of video on their phones, whatever their chosen platform. At that, it succeeds well. Better balance or a lower price tag would make it more attractive, mind.
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Design
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Display
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Performance
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Battery
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Camera
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Value
Vivo’s V70 FE has been around for some time. We saw it launch in SA in April this year, where it came in a little under flagship pricing. That’s just as well, because it’s technically not a flagship. Vivo’s handset has ambitions in that direction, sure, but it’s also perfectly willing to make concessions to keep the price at a more attractive point.
Now, a few months later, you can have the V70 FE for between R1,000 and R3,500 less than the original asking price. You’ll have to shop around, of course. Lower is always better, especially since it was a teeny bit overpriced at launch.
Backing plastic
Vivo’s mid-ranger doesn’t do much to reinvent the smartphone, borrowing from its own older designs for the V60 range. The full V70 is a more premium (and more expensive) device, benefiting from better build materials. Here, the company has chosen appearance over physical properties. The company gave us perhaps the most boring-looking of the range to play with, but the plastic-edged frame and similarly-attired rear panel are still impressive in their way.
The rear is dominated by a vertical array that could have held three sensors, if not for the ring-shaped LED flash. The front is… well, it’s a smartphone front. Black when not in use, adorned with your chosen apps and background when lit. The customary physical keys offer no surprises either.
But, as with many Chinese smartphones, everything else you need is in the box. There’s a charging block, USB cable, and a clear protective case. At the very least, you’ll only need to pick up the Vivo V70 FE. Unless you’re being complicated about your protection systems. In that case, that’s on you.
Turbo boost
Vivo’s phone offers plenty of screen to play with. It’s one of the serious highlights here, the other being the 7,000mAh battery. If you can’t immediately see the media potential of this combination, this might not be the phone for you. The 6.83in 1,260 x 2,800 AMOLED makes it an excellent video companion. Gaming? Not quite so much, though the screen would suit it.
That’s down to the Dimensity 7360 Turbo chipset inside Vivo’s phone. It’s no slouch, and you’ll get some game time in, but it has to do just a little better at the price the company launched this phone at. Vivo’s OriginOS 6 over Android 16 handles well enough with this processor. It’s not going to match up with bigger phones. Even the Vivo V70’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 will outperform it. That said, most folks don’t stress their smartphones nearly as much as they’re capable. If that’s you, you won’t find ways to complain here.
If you’re clumsy around bodies of water, you’ll also have no real issues… unless said bodies are shallow and made of porcelain. Vivo splurges on IP68/69 ratings here, something we never actually test (because we give the phones back). It’s still relaxing to know that it’s nigh impossible to drown.
Big snaps
The camera tech is… variable. The V70 FE’s 200MP sensor is the headliner. The 8MP ultrawide seems to be here so the company can say that it has multiple cameras. The big boy includes optical image stabilisation and is capable in most areas. We’d almost say ‘surprisingly’, since several phone models have gone all in on a 200-megapixel main and offered just so-so performance.
As long as you’re not determined to conduct long-range photography, the V70 FE offers satisfactory snaps across the board. It’ll even return acceptable images at night, which we didn’t expect. But Vivo is a touch optimistic, giving users presets up to 5x zoom from its camera setup. Just because it’s there doesn’t mean you have to use it, though. You’re… going to be disappointed.
The ring-shaped LED flash is there more for the aesthetic value, much like the plastic rear panel is. It won’t hinder your low-light shots any more than any other flash, but it doesn’t help them either. It’s mostly just there to look cool. At least the front-facing 32MP camera is fairly consistent. You should become accustomed to its results quickly enough.
Vivo V70 FE verdict
There’s more competition at this price point than there used to be. It’s also an unenviable position to occupy, since less money can buy almost as much, and more buys… well, quite a bit more. The Vivo V70 FE acquits itself well enough, particularly in terms of its battery. If you’re more of a media consumer than a creator, then Vivo’s phone will suit you just fine.
The FE hits the mark without exceeding it in almost every other category. Every phone that makes concessions can be outperformed in one or another area by a direct competitor. That’s true here. For less, you can get a less capable but more well-rounded smartphone. For a few thousand more, you can significantly outperform Vivo’s contender. That makes this honestly-not-terrible smartphone hard to convincingly recommend over other smartphones in the R15,000 to R17,000 range. It’ll come down to preference. If you prefer this one… you’ll be fine.
