vivo V70 series, mid-range smartphone aims high with Zeiss optics

It bears the signature of Zeiss, whose optics enrich the technical baggage of the V70 model, promising top-notch photographic quality even on mid-range products, the new shot fired by vivo to give substance to the operational return to the Italia market that dates back to last summer. The announcement of the new family of smartphones, to which the V70 FE model also contributes, marks another chapter for the Chinese brand, which has a solid market position at home but is not so adept at finding continuity in the Old Continent. In fact, vivo's official entry into Europe dates back to 2020, on the long wave of visibility guaranteed by sponsorship of the European football championships (played the following year) and with the declared ambition (still maintained today) of presiding over the medium-high bracket through a product proposal centred on aesthetics, photography and premium positioning. If the stop of activities in Italia after about two and a half years, due to an inadequate distribution policy and structure, has obviously weighed on the brand's popularity among users and on the shelves, the last twelve months have recorded evident steps forward, also thanks to the immediate launch of well-made devices such as the V50 and X200 FE series. Behind the manufacturer, on the other hand, operates a weighty structure, that of BBK Electronics, a giant from the Guandong region (its headquarters are in Dongguan) to which other well-known brands in the smartphone world also belong, namely Oppo, OnePlus and Realme. Technological platforms (especially on the hardware side) and industrial logics are the same (or almost the same) as the other companies in the BBK galaxy, but with the new V70 series, the idea of vivo, which confirms significant investments in product marketing, tries to distinguish itself by leveraging the imaging component in particular to elevate a midrange product to flagship status.

The new V70, on sale with a list price of €699 in the 8 GB Ram and 256 GB storage configuration (the product is the subject of promotions that temporarily lower the entry threshold), presents itself along these lines: an evolved mid-range smartphone that aspires to bridge the gap with premium models thanks to functional and construction solutions that until recently were the prerogative of the top of the range. The first element it focuses on is aesthetics, with a strong combination of materials and workmanship typical of higher-end segments (see the aluminium alloy frame and the presence of treated glass) with a marked attention to robustness, also proven by the various certifications relating to shock, water and dust resistance. The technological gems of this smartphone? There are several: for example, the 6.59-inch Oled display with 1.5K resolution, a maximum brightness of 5000 nits and extremely small bezels (we are at the 1.25 millimetre limit) aimed at maximising the visual experience without compromise. In terms of performance, the choice of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor places the device in a range now very close to that of previous generation topd devices, while the battery and fast charging - 6500 mAh and 90 watts respectively - aim to respond to one of the main needs of users, namely real autonomy in daily use.

One of the V70's strong points is its collaboration with Zeiss, which signed off on the co-engineering of this device and in particular its photographic compartment, built around a 50-megapixel main sensor with optical stabilisation and flanked by a telephoto lens - also 50 megapixels - and an ultra-wide-angle lens. The focus is clearly on portrait photography, an area in which vivo seeks to differentiate itself through solutions such as multifocal portraiture and bokeh effects developed with the help of Zeiss. Added to these qualities is a software component that is increasingly central even in mid-range devices, namely the integration of artificial intelligence functions: on the vivo V70, for example, we find a 'Stage AI' mode for managing complex scenarios and a series of automatic editing tools that contribute in various ways to making the smartphone a tool for creating (and immediately sharing) content. Also very important, according to vivo's Italian managers, is the OriginOS 6 operating system, based on Android 16, which promises a valuable contribution in terms of fluidity and customisation, as well as the promise of prolonged updates (the timeframe is six years) aimed at reinforcing the product's perceived reliability over time.

The V70 series' younger sibling, the FE model, is a declination designed to broaden the user base of this smartphone line without renouncing the distinctive elements of the range, aiming at a younger target that is more oriented towards intensive social use. Vivo's choice of field, in terms of technical equipment, is most evident in the area of photography: the collaboration with Zeiss does not apply here, and instead more attention is paid to image resolution and the device's versatility in terms of photo and video management. The 200 megapixel main sensor, supported by super zoom of up to 30x and advanced cropping functions, is the tool on which the Chinese manufacturer sees the growing demand for easily manipulated high-definition images. Here, too, autonomy and performance play a key role in the smartphone's enjoyment: the 7000 mAh battery, among the largest in its category, and the MediaTek Dimensity 7360-Turbo processor guarantee a seamless and uncompromising user experience, while the 1.5K Amoled display and stereo sound contribute to a complete multimedia experience.

Interesting, from a commercial point of view, is the choice of proposing the product as part of the so-called 'Full Experience Kit', which includes accessories such as a 90W charger and wireless earphones, with a reference price to the end user starting at €459 (with various promotions it can go as low as €399). With the V70 series, in short, vivo is trying to redefine the boundaries of the mid-range, focusing on photography, autonomy and design as the main levers. The challenge remains the same as always: to carve out a space in a mature and highly competitive market by deploying, unlike in the recent past, a strategy that appears more focused and coherent.