Vivo’s latest smartphone models, including the recent X and V series phones, have proven that you don’t need a professional camera to take stunning photos. This is also thanks to Zeiss, whose partnership continues to bring fruitful results for the Chinese company. However, its smartphones are priced below Rs. At the 30,000 mark, for example, the recently launched Vivo V60e does not have this privilege. So, does this phone deliver on its unique selling point and make it a smart buy in this competitive price range?
Vivo V60e price in India is Rs. The 8GB RAM + 128GB model is $29,999. Here are my thoughts. m
Vivo V60e design: Inspired by its siblings
- Dimensions – 163.53 × 76.96 × 7.49 mm
- Weight – 190g
- Color – Elite Purple, Noble Gold
- Protection level – IP68 + IP69
At first glance, the Vivo V60e looks very similar to its more expensive sibling, the Vivo V60 ( review ). The phone inherits the same slim and sleek design of the Vivo V50e, with one key exception: the camera module. The circular camera unit has been replaced by a vertically placed camera island in the upper left corner of the rear panel, giving it a more high-end appeal. The rear panel also houses an Aura Light, which doubles as a flash.
The camera decoration of Vivo V60e is similar to that of Vivo V60
Like its predecessor, the Vivo V60e has a slim profile, measuring 7.49 mm and weighing 190 grams. It offers a comfortable feel, rounded corners, and proper weight distribution.
Vivo V60e is available in two color options: Elite Purple and Noble Gold. We have the former, which is certainly a flashy option. The colorway looks more like burgundy than purple. Both color options feature a matte back panel that registers fingerprints and smudges fairly quickly, though they erase just as quickly.
In addition to its comprehensive cushioning and Diamond Shield glass protection, the phone has an IP68+IP69 durability rating; it features protection against accidental drops, dust, and water immersion.
Apart from that, you’ll find the power and volume buttons on the right edge. The bottom panel houses a USB Type-C port, speakers, SIM card tray, and dual microphones.
Vivo V60e display: vibrant, but lacks brightness
- Size and resolution – 6.77-inch Full HD+, 1,080 x 2,392 pixels
- Refresh rate – 120Hz
- Protection – Diamond Shield Glass
Vivo V60e comes with a 6.77-inch Full HD+ quad-curved AMOLED display. It supports up to 120Hz refresh rate, 1900 nits peak brightness, 480Hz touch sampling rate, and HDR10+ certification.
While the display offers vibrant colors, outdoor readability can be an issue
Overall, the phone provides a satisfying experience while watching movies and shows. The colors are bright and vibrant. Black levels are deep and streaming is an immersive experience, thanks to the four-curved design. This makes it more premium than a flat monitor. There’s also Widevine L1 certification for streaming content from Netflix, Prime Video and other apps.
However, the brightness levels leave something to be desired. While I didn’t have any issues indoors, the panel, which has a peak brightness of 1,900 nits, doesn’t get incredibly bright outdoors and is difficult to read. This is especially noticeable when using the phone in direct sunlight.
Vivo V60e camera: Key highlights
- Rear – 200-megapixel main camera (f/1.88) + 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle (f/2.2)
- Front-50 megapixel (f/2.0)
Like other V-series models, the USP of the Vivo V60e is its camera. It sports a dual rear camera setup that includes a 200-megapixel primary camera with Samsung HP9 sensor and f/1.88 aperture, and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture. Interestingly, it is the first Vivo smartphone in this price segment to come with a 200-megapixel camera. However, there is no Zeiss branding here. There’s a 50-megapixel eye autofocus camera on the front with an f/2.0 aperture.
Vivo V60e lacks Zeiss branding
In daytime scenes, the main camera captures bright, sharp, and detailed images. As is the case with Vivo phones, images tend to lean toward more saturated tones, and generally result in a social media-friendly look. But if you prefer more natural shades, it might not appeal to you. When taking photos of buildings or plants, I could notice a lot of detail in the leaves, thanks to the new 200-megapixel sensor. The Vivo V60e also handles shadows well.
Vivo V60e daylight and low light main camera samples (click to expand)
Note, however, that the phone won’t automatically shoot at 200-megapixel resolution and will need to be manually toggled to enable it. Doing this results in higher quality and sharper footage, and can be cropped without losing too much detail.
This also applies to low-light photography, where images typically retain a lot of detail. However, the Vivo V60e often struggled to control flare and maintain natural colors. This is especially noticeable when taking photos of night skies, which take on an unnatural blue tint.
Moving on, photos taken with the ultra-wide-angle sensor also have a similar vibrancy and detail as the main shooter. Barrel distortion is well controlled and images appear sharp. However, it struggles to preserve detail when shooting in low-light scenes.
Vivo V60e ultra-wide-angle camera sample (click to expand)
Despite not having a dedicated telephoto sensor, the Vivo V60e can still take decent portrait photos. It offers variable focus, allowing users to take photos from a variety of distances. Edge detection is pretty good, with good separation between subject and background.
However, I noticed an issue with some of the photos, they seemed to be artificially lit, ruining skin tones.
Vivo V60e daylight and low-light portrait camera examples (click to expand)
When it comes to selfies, the Vivo V60e’s front-facing sensor is on par with its competitors. Selfies have plenty of detail and warm colors, while portraits have decent foreground and background separation. However, skin tone is usually slightly brightened.
Vivo V60e daylight and low-light selfie camera examples (click to expand)
This produces a stylized image that, while social media ready, results in softer details.
Vivo V60e performance and software: great value for money
- Processor – MediaTek Dimensity 7360 Turbo
- Memory – up to 12GB LPDDR4X, up to 256GB UFS 2.2
- Software version – FuntouchOS 15
- Update Support – 3 years OS + 5 years SMR
The Vivo V60e is the third consecutive “e” series model powered by the Dimensity 7300 series. However, unlike the previous two models, the SoC has been updated and now comes with Dimensity 7360 Turbo. It has almost the same architecture as the Dimensity 7300, with the only exception being support for Adaptive Gaming Technology 3.0. The phone’s processor is paired with Mali-G615 MC2 GPU, 12GB LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB UFS 2.2 onboard storage.
The phone runs FuntouchOS 15 and is promised three OS upgrades
The daily performance of Vivo V60e is generally relatively smooth. During normal use, which included answering calls, sending messages, taking photos, and browsing social media, I didn’t experience any lag or system slowdown. The phone stays fairly cool under load and has good thermal management.
Gaming performance is on par with other competitors in the same price range. I played Call of Duty: Mobile and Battlefield India on medium graphics settings, and it delivered a solid 60 fps for about 40 minutes before throttling and choppy.
The Vivo V60e comes with stereo speakers that aren’t very loud. While it maintains clarity at moderate volumes, I did notice a bit of distortion at full volumes. Finally, the haptic features on the phone are decent for its price, but nothing to write home about.
Vivo V60e runs FuntouchOS 15 based on Android 15. You get some camera and productivity-focused artificial intelligence (AI) features out of the box. These include AI Image Extender, Photo Enhancer, AI Eraser 2.0, Circle to Search, and Gemini. Most of these features are borrowed from the Vivo V60, including AI Seasons Portrait, which can transform a single portrait photo into four different versions.
One feature exclusive to the V60e is AI-powered Holiday Portraits, which, as the name suggests, enhances holiday photos by adding halos, lights, warmth, and other effects. This feature works very well alongside other AI features.
AI four-season portrait on Vivo V60e
A common problem on Vivo phones is bloatware. Similar to the V60, the Vivo V60e also comes with some bloated software apps such as Block Blast, Bubble Shooter, Tile Explorer, and StockGro. Additionally, you’ll also find Vivo’s own apps, such as Browser, iManager, Store, and VStore, as potential alternatives to the Google suite of apps.
This isn’t entirely surprising, however, as even brands that once promised a bloatware-free experience are now adding ads to their non-premium devices. (Yes, we’re looking at you, nothing!)
What’s actually nice is the software support. The brand promises three major operating system upgrades and five years of security updates to enhance its long-term availability.
Vivo V60e battery: impressive
- Battery capacity – 6,500mAh
- Wired charging – 90W
- Charger – 90W (included in the box)
The battery life of the Vivo V60e is impressive. The 6,500mAh battery lasts for a day and a half with normal usage. Casual users can also extend this to two days. In daily use, it easily delivers over eight hours of screen time.
The charging speed is also good. A 90W charger is included in the box and can charge the Vivo V60e from 0% to 100% in an hour. But like its more expensive sibling, wireless charging is not available here.
Vivo V60e Verdict
The Vivo V60e is a good choice in its segment. It relies on its gorgeous color options and quality design. Performance is up to average user standards, and battery life is impressive. The phone also comes with an impressive camera, capable of capturing social media photos in favorable conditions.
However, the experience isn’t flawless. The display’s brightness suffers when outdoors, and there are color accuracy issues when taking photos in challenging low-light conditions. The inclusion of significant bloatware can also detract from an otherwise smooth software experience.
So, should you buy the Vivo V60e? Yes, if your main concern is all-day battery life and portrait photography without spending extra money. However, the Moto Edge 60 Pro (review) and OnePlus Nord 5 (review) are more balanced options and reasonable choices if you’re considering whether you need a good all-around phone.
