vivo V60 Review: Incremental Improvements, but Is It Worth the Upgrade?
vivo is building a reputation for churning out smartphones quickly and consistently, as evident with the recent launch of the V60 in Malaysia. For the record, it has been less than six months since the debut of the V50, and already we have its successor in our hands.
What upgrades can vivo bring to their mid-range offering in such a short span of time? Well, read on to find out what we think of the vivo V60.
Classy Colourways, Sleek Build
The V60 comes with a slightly refreshed design, which, in my opinion, is for the better. I wasn’t a big fan of the V50’s large camera module that resembled a teardrop. The V60 cuts a more conventional and modern look that’s far more premium from the get-go. Additionally, the Berry Purple colourway – which seems to be the hero colour for the series – exudes a level of class, albeit on the more feminine side.
The build quality is impressive. The vivo V60 is a sleek device with the lightweight advantage, making it feel like you’re not carrying a brick. The only downside (if you want to call it that) is that the rounded edges tend to be a little too slippery for my stubby fingers to get a good grip, especially when picking it up off the table.
Easily a Two-day Phone
vivo hasn’t been a stranger to large battery phones, and who’s complaining? Having a device that comfortably lasts you two days – and then some – is an underrated flex, especially when certain brands are, for some reason, opting for razor-thin designs at the expense of battery life.
Nevertheless, the vivo V60 packs a whopping 6,500mAh battery in a form factor that’s decently slim and holdable. In addition to its long-lasting prowess, the 90W fast charging ensures the phone juices up in no time.
Cameras That Get The ZEISS Treatment
Perhaps the biggest upgrade of the V60 is the addition of a 50MP ZEISS telephoto lens. This is a rare feature for phones in this price range, so big props to vivo for that. The telephoto is accompanied by a 50MP ZEISS OIS main camera and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. To recap, the predecessor V50 launched with only a 50MP main camera and 50MP ultra-wide. While the ultra-wide lens has been dialed down on the V60, in my view, it’s a fantastic trade-off considering you now have a 50MP telephoto lens.
In terms of quality, you can always trust vivo to deliver the goods – even on their mid-rangers. It’s the same here. Expect punchy, vivid colours with plenty of sharpness in both photo and portrait modes. A sigh of relief: the photos don’t turn out too overprocessed, as is typical with mid-range phones. In this case, I was more than impressed with the V60’s cameras.
Okay-ish Performance
Performance-wise, the vivo V60 gets the job done with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor. For the record, this is a direct upgrade from the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 that powered its predecessor. The V60 is a mid-tier device, so performance was never expected to be class-leading.
However, I did encounter some stuttering even when swiping through the homepages, which compels me to list performance as a minor con. The stuttering doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it usually occurs after unlocking the phone and swiping immediately after. In another isolated incident, the camera app glitched and refused to load until I restarted the phone.
To vivo’s defense, these weren’t widespread issues and could be isolated to just this review unit. In any case, I believe issues like these could be rectified via software updates, which I’m sure would be addressed if this became a widespread problem. For the most part, barring these minor hiccups, the V60 performed fine.
vivo V60: Should you buy?
The vivo V60 has plenty going for it, positioning it as a more-than-decent offering in its segment with a few upgrades that elevate the experience. The addition of the ZEISS telephoto lens is the primary one in my books.
That said, the difference between the V50 and V60 is only slightly incremental. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, while an upgrade from the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, is not something the average person would notice. Essentially, you’re getting more or less the V50, packaged in a facelifted model with a telephoto lens added.
So, should you buy? If you’re switching from another brand and you’re set on having a telephoto lens, then yes. However, if you’re coming from the V50 and wondering if it’s worth the upgrade, the better move might be to wait for the next iteration – potentially the V70 – to truly feel an elevated experience. I reckon you wouldn’t have to wait long anyway.
PriceShop Rating
Not Bad Leh!
✅Classy colourway with solid build quality
✅ Large 6,500mAh battery with 90W fast charging
✅ Addition of 50MP ZEISS telephoto lens
❌ Glitchy performance that include occasional stutters and non-loading apps
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