We tested the Vivo V70 and it feels like a flagship in disguise

Smartphone cameras have reached a point where great photos are no longer limited to ultra-premium flagships. And the latest Vivo V70 just proves that. It is a device that delivers flagship-like photography without carrying flagship pricing. To see how this camera-first approach translates into real life, we took the Vivo V70 for a spin, and here is our full review.

Vivo V70 review: Build and Design

The moment you pick up the V70 out of the box, it feels premium. It doesn’t exactly feel like a mid-ranger, but rather a compact flagship. The design feels fresh, yet familiar enough to feel instantly comfortable in hand, and yes, it does remind us of some Oppo phones like the Reno 15.

The phone has a solid in-hand feel. Thanks to its relatively compact footprint, one-handed use is easily possible, which is becoming rare these days. At 194 grams, the weight sits in a balanced zone. It feels sturdy and premium, but not heavy enough to feel tiring.

Build quality is strong, too. You get glass on the front and back, along with IP68 and IP69 ratings. This means the phone is well protected against dust, splashes, and even harsher conditions.

Vivo V70 review: Display

Coming to the display, you get a 6.59-inch AMOLED panel with 1.5K resolution. This is the ideal screen size for many, and it fits perfectly in the compact chassis.

The panel looks sharp and vibrant with strong contrast levels. The 120Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling smooth and gaming responsive. Brightness is another highlight. The display peaks extremely high at 5,000 nits, making outdoor usage comfortable.

The panel also supports Widevine L1, meaning you can stream HD content easily. Watching shows like Bridgerton feels immersive, with rich colours and strong contrast helping scenes pop without looking artificial.

Vivo V70 review: Cameras

The camera system is what truly separates the V70 from typical mid-range phones. You get a triple camera setup featuring a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP telephoto sensor, and an 8MP ultra-wide camera with Zeiss tuning that truly sets it apart and makes it feel flagship-like.

The main sensor delivers detailed photos with strong dynamic range and natural colour science. Images feel rightly processed in both day and night conditions, although sometimes it may act up while handling multiple details.

Portrait photography is where the phone really shines. Edge detection is excellent, and subject separation looks clean and natural.

Skin tones are not always perfectly consistent. However, the camera app gives you multiple styles to play with. The Zeiss and Vivid profiles felt the most balanced during testing and delivered reliable results across lighting conditions.

Low-light photography is strong as well. The camera manages noise well and still keeps details intact. Night shots look bright but not overly processed, which is good to see.

Video performance is solid, too. The phone supports 4K 60fps recording, and footage comes out sharp with stable exposure control. For a mid-range phone, this is genuinely one of the most complete camera experiences you can get.

Vivo V70 review: Performance and Battery life

Powering the device is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset. While this is not a flagship processor, it is more than capable for daily usage.

Day-to-day performance feels fast and responsive. App switching is smooth, and general navigation feels polished. The phone rarely stutters during normal usage.

Gaming performance is stable, too. We tested heavy titles like Genshin Impact, and the experience was smooth with consistent frame rates. Thermal performance is also well controlled, meaning the phone does not heat up aggressively during long sessions.

RAM management is solid as well. Multiple apps stay active in memory without constant reloading, improving real-world usability.

Battery life is another major strength of this phone. The 6,500mAh battery is massive for a phone in this size category. In real-world usage, that translates to nearly two days of moderate use or a full day of heavy usage without stress.

Charging is also fast, thanks to 90W fast charging support. Even quick top-ups give you meaningful battery gains.

Vivo V70 review: Software

The phone runs OriginOS 6 based on Android 16. It’s also backed by four years of Android OS updates and up to six years of security updates. The software experience feels smooth, polished, and well-optimised. Animations feel fluid, and the UI does not feel cluttered.

Vivo has also added several useful features, including a smart sidebar for multitasking, Boost Mode for performance, AI image upscaling, and AI object eraser. These features make daily usage more convenient and add to the premium feel of the device.

Unboxed Take: Who should buy the Vivo V70?

The V70 is a strong all-rounder with a clear focus on camera and battery life. What makes it special is how well these strengths are balanced with good design, reliable performance, and polished software.

This is not a performance flagship, and it does not try to be one. Instead, it focuses on delivering a flagship-like camera experience and exceptional battery life in a more accessible price bracket. If you care about photography, want long battery life, and prefer a compact yet premium-feeling phone, this is an easy recommendation.

If you are also looking at other options in the same price range, phones like the Oppo Reno 15 and the Realme 16 Pro+ are some of the alternatives you can consider. The Reno 15 focuses more on design and balanced cameras, while the Realme 16 Pro+ leans towards performance.

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For all the above reasons, the Vivo V70 gets a solid 4.5/5. Stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for more such in-depth reviews.