Vivo V70 Elite Review: Power Meets Precision in a Sleek Package

Vivo has established a strong presence with its V series, particularly the newly launched V70 lineup, which appeals to a broad audience, from casual users to tech enthusiasts. The V70 Elite boasts impressive specifications, including enhanced processing power, Zeiss optics for its camera, and a larger battery. Priced starting at ₹45,999, it competes effectively with devices like the Google Pixel 9 and the OnePlus 15R. However, it may fall short in terms of software longevity when compared to iPhones and Samsung’s Galaxy S series. Does it truly deserve the title of “Elite”? Let’s find out.

Design & Build

The Vivo V70 Elite stands out for its sleek, modern design, prioritizing ergonomics and a premium feel without unnecessary embellishments. One of its most appealing features is its compact size, featuring a 6.59-inch OLED display. In a time when smartphones are ballooning to 6.8 inches or larger, such as the Samsung Galaxy S26 or iPhone 17 Pro Max, this size feels refreshingly manageable. It’s perfect for one-handed use and easily slips into pockets without feeling like you’re carrying a mini tablet.

The display itself is impressive, boasting a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and a peak brightness of 5,000 nits. It delivers vibrant colours, deep blacks, and smooth scrolling, making it ideal for everything from social media browsing to video streaming. The under-display fingerprint scanner is responsive, unlocking the device in under a second, and the always-on display adds convenience for quickly checking notifications.

In terms of build quality, Vivo has opted for flat sides, a design trend popularized by Apple’s iPhones, giving the V70 Elite a sturdy, industrial vibe. The frame is made from aerospace-grade aluminium, providing a solid grip and resistance to everyday bumps. The back features a flat, matte finish that resists fingerprints, unlike the glossy backs of many competitors, which tend to attract smudges. The model we received is Midnight Black with a matte texture, which looks premium and feels soft to the touch, reducing the likelihood of slippage.

The camera module adds an interesting element to the design. While it protrudes slightly, it integrates seamlessly into the back panel and draws clear inspiration from the OnePlus 15 and Oppo Reno 15 series. The squarish array, branded by Zeiss, houses the lenses. This design choice not only enhances the phone’s symmetry but also improves weight distribution, making it feel balanced in the hand. Additionally, the IP68 dust and water-resistant rating ensures the device can withstand splashes or brief submersion, making it handy on rainy days or accidental spills.

Performance

The Vivo V70 Elite is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor, which is essentially a slightly downclocked version of the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 commonly found in ultra-premium devices. It comes with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.1 storage, providing flagship-level performance in a mid-range package. Benchmark scores further illustrate its capabilities: AnTuTu scores around 1.2 million, while Geekbench reports a single-core score of 1,800 and a multi-core score of 5,200. This places it on par with the OnePlus 12 and ahead of last year’s Samsung Galaxy S25.

In real-world usage, the V70 Elite handles multitasking with great ease. We were able to run multiple apps simultaneously, such as streaming Netflix in picture-in-picture mode while editing photos in Lightroom and browsing Chrome with 20 tabs open, all without experiencing any lag or stuttering. The 120Hz display enhances this smoothness, making animations feel incredibly fluid. 

When it comes to gaming, the V70 Elite truly excels. We tested demanding titles like BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) and Call of Duty Mobile, both of which ran smoothly at high graphics settings with a stable 60 frames per second. Even during extended gaming sessions, frame drops were minimal, thanks to Vivo’s Game Boost mode that optimizes CPU and GPU performance. Other games like PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact also performed very well, with Genshin Impact maintaining 45-50 frames per second on ultra settings.

However, thermal management could be improved. After approximately 30 minutes of heavy gaming, the device warmed up noticeably around the camera module, reaching around 42°C. While this is warm, it is not uncomfortably hot like some MediaTek-powered phones we’ve tested. On the software side, the V70 Elite runs on the new OriginOS 6, which is based on Android 16. This version is clean and free of unnecessary bloatware compared to previous iterations.

Camera

Vivo’s partnership with Zeiss continues to enhance the camera system of the V70 Elite, making it one of the device’s standout features. The rear camera setup comprises a triple-camera array: a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and an 8MP ultrawide lens for capturing expansive shots. On the front, a 50MP selfie camera ensures clear and sharp self-portraits and video calls. The Zeiss optics provide professional-grade color science, with modes such as Natural Colour and Vivid that emulate the color profiles of high-end DSLRs.

During daylight, the main camera captures stunning details, exhibiting excellent dynamic range that preserves highlights in bright skies while revealing shadows in darker areas. The colors are accurate yet vibrant, avoiding the oversaturation commonly found in some Samsung phones. We tested it with urban landscapes in Mumbai, and the results were impressive, featuring sharp edges on buildings, natural skin tones in portraits, and minimal noise. The telephoto lens excels at zoomed-in shots, such as capturing distant monuments clearly, although it is limited to 3x optical zoom and can soften at extreme zoom levels.

Low-light performance showcases the true capabilities of Zeiss technology. The night mode intelligently combines multiple exposures, reducing blur and enhancing details in dimly lit environments. We tested this feature in evening street markets, and the resulting photos were bright and noise-free, outshining mid-range competitors like the Nothing Phone (3). Although the ultrawide lens is only 8MP, it effectively handles distortion while maintaining color consistency with the main sensor, making it ideal for group photos or architectural shots.

Selfies from the 50MP front camera are detailed, and the AI beauty modes provide subtle enhancements without going overboard. The video recording supports 4K at 60fps, with smooth stabilization that’s sufficient for vlogging.

Battery

Battery life is often a make-or-break factor for smartphones, and the V70 Elite doesn’t disappoint with its massive 6,500 mAh cell. In medium casual usage like browsing, social media, calls, and light streaming, it easily lasts a full day, often with 30-40% left by bedtime. Heavy users will appreciate the endurance; we pushed it with GPS navigation, gaming, and video calls, and it still clocked 7-8 hours of screen-on time.

Charging is swift via 90W wired fast charging, juicing from 0-100% in about 40 minutes. No wireless charging is a miss, especially since rivals like the Pixel 9 offer it. Still, the included charger is a rare perk in 2026, when many brands have ditched them for “environmental” reasons. In our 4K video playback test at 50% brightness, it dropped just 5% over 30 minutes, impressive efficiency thanks to the power-sipping Snapdragon chip and optimized software.

Verdict

The Vivo V70 Elite is a well-rounded smartphone that justifies its place in the V70 series as the premium option, offering flagship features at a palatable price. Its compact design, stellar performance, Zeiss-backed cameras, and robust battery make it a top pick for most users. Is it the best? If you value balance over extremes, yes, it’s better than many mid-rangers and competitive with flagships. However, if you need wireless charging or a bigger size display, look elsewhere.