Is it just me, or is it the fact that the mid-range smartphone market in India is getting more competitive by each passing day? Despite the rising costs of components, demand for new phones is high, but picking the right one can feel overwhelming. For all it matters, every few weeks, there is a new device that shows up promising the best camera, the longest battery life or the smoothest performance, all under an attractive budget. Vivo has been a consistent player in this space, and its latest offering, the V70 FE, is looking to make a strong case for itself. It comes with a 200MP camera, a massive 7,000mAh battery, and a unique glowing back that gives it a personality of its own.
But does it actually deliver where it matters? I used the Vivo V70 FE as my daily driver for a few weeks to find out. Here is my full review.
Pick up the Vivo V70 FE, and it may shrug you off as a regular mid-range phone. However, look closely, and you see the subtle glowing lines on the back panel that become more visible in the dark. There’s a caveat though, because this only happens after the phone is exposed to a strong light source. The effect feels similar to the glow-in-the-dark stickers many of us had in childhood. So, basically, you charge them under light, and they light up once the lights go off. It’s a playful touch that adds character without feeling overdone.
The Vivo V70 FE comes in two colour options: Northern Lights Purple and Monsoon Blue, both featuring matte finishes. I got the Northern Lights Purple variant for the review, and this is the colour that comes with all the bells and whistles I just mentioned.
Overall, the V70 FE follows a minimalist design language with a flat frame. It is comfortable to hold, with flat edges that provide a secure grip during daily use. That said, the use of a plastic back and frame means it does not quite feel as premium as some competitors, even though the finish does a good job of masking that.
The back panel houses a vertically aligned camera module that looks clean but does introduce a slight wobble when placed on a flat surface. But I don’t think that would be a problem.
So, while the materials are fairly standard for the segment, the Vivo V70 FE manages to stand out with its glowing lines effect.
The Vivo V70 FE comes with a 6.83-inch 1.5K OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 2800 × 1260 resolution and a claimed peak brightness of up to 1,900 nits.
I tested the V70 FE’s display using Calman and the SpectraCal C6 Colourimeter, and it is tuned for 100 per cent sRGB gamut coverage. In simple terms, this means the screen can show all the colours it is supposed to. The colour accuracy is good, but not perfect, as the display recorded an average DeltaE of 2.7. This is close to the point where colour differences start becoming noticeable. To the average viewer, colours will look mostly correct, but a trained eye will spot that colours are a bit off. That said, for everyday use like scrolling through social media, watching videos, or viewing photos, the display holds up well and colours look natural enough for most people.
In our lux meter test, the display reached 1,956 nits in high brightness mode (HBM). This is very close to the company’s claim and ensures good visibility even under bright sunlight.
So, while the Vivo V70 FE’s display might not top the charts for absolute technical perfection, it remains a good panel that will satisfy almost any user.
The Vivo V70 FE is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7360 Turbo chip based on 4nm architecture and is paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. We received the mid-variant for testing, with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, priced at Rs 40,999.
In day-to-day use, the V70 FE holds up quite well. Routine tasks such as texting, scrolling through Instagram, watching YouTube videos and switching between apps feel smooth and responsive. I did not encounter any noticeable lag during regular usage, and the overall experience remains consistent for most everyday scenarios.
For those interested in benchmarks, the V70 FE does fall behind some competitors in its price range. It scored 9,61,227 on Antutu, along with 976 in Geekbench’s single-core test and 2,953 in the multi-core test. For context, the OnePlus Nord 6 (review), which was recently launched in a similar price bracket, achieved really high scores, with 24,35,837 on Antutu, 2,087 in Geekbench single-core, and 6,689 in multi-core tests.
On the software front, the Vivo V70 FE runs OriginOS 6 based on Android 16. The company has promised up to four years of OS updates along with six years of security patches.
In short, the Vivo V70 FE delivers a reliable performance experience that should meet the needs of everyday users. However, it may not compete with the top performers in its segment when it comes to raw benchmark numbers.
The Vivo V70 FE sports a dual camera setup on the back, which is led by a 200MP main camera. It supports features like AI 30x SuperZoom, multifocal portrait modes, and motion capture enhancements. The main camera is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide camera. On the front, there is a 50MP camera for selfies and video calls.
In bright daylight, the main camera delivers sharp and detailed images with pleasing colours. The dynamic range is well handled, maintaining a good balance between highlights and shadows. There is a slight boost in contrast, but it does not feel overdone and instead gives photos a punchy, social media-friendly look.
Portrait shots are generally good. However, edge detection is not always consistent, especially around hair and finer details, making it a bit of a hit or miss in some scenarios. On the front, the 50MP selfie camera performs well, capturing sharp images with good skin tones and detail.
Low-light performance is a pleasant surprise. Images turn out bright and fairly clean, with noise kept under control. Colours remain natural even in challenging lighting conditions.
Overall, the Vivo V70 FE delivers a good camera experience. While there are some inconsistencies, especially with edge detection, the overall output should be more than satisfactory for most users.
The Vivo V70 FE packs a massive 7,000mAh battery and supports 90W fast wired charging. With a battery this large, endurance is easily one of the phone’s top strengths. On a full charge, the phone can comfortably last over two days with light to moderate usage. Even with heavy use, it easily gets through a full day without making you worry about plugging it in.
In the PCMark battery test, the device managed to last around 27 hours, which is an impressive result for this segment. Using the bundled 90W charger, the phone takes roughly 1 hour and 13 minutes to go from 0 to 100 per cent, which feels reasonable given the battery size.
In real-world usage, the efficiency is just as noticeable. The battery dropped by only about 3 per cent after 30 minutes of video streaming. Even with more demanding tasks like using Google Maps for navigation, the drain remains minimal, with around a 3 per cent drop after an hour.
So, the Vivo V70 FE stands out as a battery powerhouse. If long-lasting battery life is a priority, this is easily one of the most dependable options in its segment.
The Vivo V70 FE is a phone built for users who want a reliable everyday experience without overthinking it. Its biggest strength is easily the battery life. A 7,000mAh unit that lasts over two days and still charges to full in just over an hour is hard to argue with. The display is bright and smooth, and the camera setup does a good job in most situations. The glowing lines on the back also give it a fun, distinctive look that helps it stand out from the crowd.
That said, the phone is not without its shortcomings. The Dimensity 7360 Turbo chip lags behind some competitors in raw performance, and edge detection in portrait mode photos can be hit or miss.
But if long battery life, a vibrant display, a design that turns heads and an overall capable camera for the price, are what you are after, the Vivo V70 FE makes quite a strong case for itself.