I tested Vivo’s $500 rival to the Pixel 10a and iPhone 17e, and I’m genuinely impressed
I tested Vivo’s $500 rival to the Pixel 10a and iPhone 17e, and I’m genuinely impressed
https://www.phonearena.com/news/vivo-v70-hands-on_id178700
Publish Date: 2026-03-06 06:23:00
Source Domain: www.phonearena.com
Question: How do you set yourself apart from the competition?
In the case of Vivo’s most recent V70 mid-ranger, the answer is obviously to combine a cool new design language with a trendy and fun camera app and some pretty decent hardware specs for the price. And you know what? It works in the context of this device.
Launching in India in roughly a week’s time, the phone starts at ₹49,999.00 (around $500) for the entry-level 8GB/256GB version, and at this price, this phone is an absolute steal! It successfully trades blows with other premium phones in the same price segment, like the iPhone 16e/17e and the Pixel 9a/10a, so if neither of Apple’s or Google’s offerings appeal to you, check this Vivo phone out.
Design and display
The Vivo V70 looks stunning. | Image by PhoneArena
Like on almost any other phone out there, there’s a flat aluminum frame with a completely flat front panel and slightly rounded corners. Like most other phones hailing from China, this one features an IR sensor at the top. The phone is moderately thin at 7.6 mm and sits well in the hand, but nothing extraordinary stands out here.
While the phone is available in a slew of colors, the most interesting one is the one I have on me right now.
Aptly dubbed Golden Hour, it utilizes a shimmery gradient that ranges from soft purple to pastel-y pink, orange, and yellow. When you hold the Vivo V70 tilted, I swear you can sort of see a semi-cloudy sunset sky, and that’s honestly spectacular. The phone definitely sets itself apart that way.
Golden Hour this certainly is. | Image by PhoneArena
Interestingly, we have the full IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance, which is the highest possible durability right now….
