Vivo has been quietly building momentum with its S-series lineup, and the S60 represents another solid step forward. The phone sits in that sweet spot between upper mid-range and flagship territory—packing premium materials, genuine performance chops, and a camera system that punches above its weight, all without the eye-watering price tag that typically comes with true flagships.
Under the hood, you’re looking at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, up to 16GB of RAM, and UFS 4.1 storage that’s genuinely fast. But what really caught our attention is that 7,200mAh battery squeezed into a chassis that’s only 7.9mm thick. Throw in a 144Hz AMOLED display, a legitimate 50MP periscope telephoto camera, and you’ve got a phone that actually delivers across the board.
Editor’s Note: This review is based on official specifications and launch information. We’ll update this article with real-world benchmark results, camera samples, battery tests, and gaming performance once we get our hands on the device.
Design and Build Quality
Vivo clearly invested in the S60’s physical presentation. The combination of glass front, glass back, and aluminum frame gives the phone a distinctly premium feel—the kind you’d expect from something considerably more expensive. Yet despite that generous 7,200mAh battery inside, Vivo managed to keep things impressively thin at just 7.9mm thick and a manageable 207 grams.
The redesigned camera module is worth mentioning. Rather than slapping on something that looks tacked-on, Vivo integrated it smoothly into the back panel, creating a cohesive look that doesn’t scream for attention. It’s the kind of subtle design choice that suggests real thought went into the product.
Durability is where things get interesting. The IP69 rating isn’t just marketing speak—it genuinely offers more protection than many phones in its price range. You’re getting resistance to both dust and high-pressure water jets, which is pretty impressive in this segment.
The phone comes in three colorways: Gray, White, and Green. All of them maintain that premium aesthetic without feeling trendy or dated.
Display
That 6.59-inch AMOLED panel is legitimately one of the S60’s strongest selling points. At 1260 × 2750 pixels and 459 PPI, you’re looking at sharp, detailed visuals whether you’re browsing, streaming, or gaming. The color accuracy and contrast you get from AMOLED is just fundamentally better than LCD alternatives—those deep blacks are something phones at this price typically don’t deliver.
Where the display really shines is the 144Hz refresh rate. Yes, we’ve seen high refresh rates become standard, but there’s still a meaningful difference when you’re scrolling through apps or jumping into a game. Everything feels noticeably smoother than what you’d get from a 120Hz panel, and if you do a lot of gaming or social media browsing, you’ll definitely appreciate that fluidity.
HDR support and a billion color palette round out the package nicely. Compatible content will look noticeably better—richer colors, improved contrast, more realistic visuals. On paper, this is among the strongest displays in its category.
Display Specs at a Glance:
- 6.59-inch AMOLED
- 1260 × 2750 resolution
- 459 PPI pixel density
- 144Hz refresh rate
- HDR support
- 1 billion colors
Performance
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is the kind of processor that lets manufacturers market their phones as “flagship-inspired” without it feeling dishonest. Built on a 4nm process, it handles demanding workloads efficiently while keeping thermal output and power consumption reasonable.
The CPU configuration breaks down like this: one Cortex-X4 core at 3.0GHz for peak performance, four Cortex-A720 cores at 2.8GHz for heavy lifting, and three efficiency-focused Cortex-A520 cores. The Adreno 735 GPU handles graphics, delivering smooth performance in graphically demanding games while also accelerating creative tasks like video editing and high-res photo manipulation.
You can grab the S60 in three different configurations: 12GB/256GB, 12GB/512GB, or 16GB/512GB. All of them use UFS 4.1 storage, which means genuinely fast app launches, minimal load times, and quick file transfers. This is the storage standard we should have had industry-wide years ago.
In practical terms, the S60 should handle intensive multitasking, demanding games, 4K video recording, and photo editing without breaking a sweat. AI-powered Android features will run smoothly too. While we’re still waiting on real-world benchmarks, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 typically delivers performance that’s remarkably close to flagship chips in everyday scenarios.
Software
The S60 runs Android 16 with OriginOS 6, Vivo’s custom skin. OriginOS 6 focuses on smooth animations, customization features, and productivity tools while maintaining a modern Android experience. The interface emphasizes smooth navigation and responsiveness, with some genuinely useful productivity features and privacy controls thrown in. It includes several AI features designed to make things faster and simpler, though we’ll reserve final judgment until we’ve tested them in the wild.
Vivo hasn’t publicly committed to how long the S60 will receive software updates, so we’ll update this section once that information becomes official.
Cameras
Photography is clearly a priority for Vivo with the S60. The triple rear setup is genuinely versatile, with each camera designed to handle specific shooting scenarios. While we’re still waiting on real-world testing, the specs alone suggest Vivo built something genuinely capable here.
50MP Main Camera
The primary camera features a 50MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, phase detection autofocus, and optical image stabilization. That combination matters. You’re looking at sharp, detailed daytime photos, solid low-light performance thanks to the larger sensor, faster autofocus that actually keeps up with moving subjects, and better image stabilization to reduce motion blur. The sensor is large enough that portrait shots should benefit from natural background separation without needing computational trickery.
50MP Periscope Telephoto Camera
Here’s what makes the S60 stand out: a dedicated 50MP periscope telephoto camera. Most phones in this price segment either skip the telephoto entirely or throw in a lower-resolution tele sensor. Vivo went a different route. This is a 50MP camera with a 73mm focal length, 3× optical zoom, phase detection autofocus, and OIS. That’s genuinely impressive hardware for portrait shots, travel photography, architecture, or anything where you need to capture distant subjects without losing detail.
8MP Ultra-Wide Camera
The 8MP ultra-wide rounds out the setup with a 115-degree field of view. Sure, it has lower resolution than the other two, but that’s by design. You’re using this for landscapes, group photos, cityscapes, and those moments where you need to capture something expansive without backing up indefinitely.
Additional Camera Features
Vivo threw in a ring-LED flash, HDR, panorama mode, and a color spectrum sensor. That last one is worth noting—it helps maintain accurate colors across different lighting conditions. The selfie camera is a 50MP unit with autofocus (yes, you read that right), f/2.0 aperture, and 4K video support.
Video recording maxes out at 4K with gyro-EIS electronic stabilization. Combined with the OIS on the main camera, you should get reasonably smooth handheld footage.
Overall, the camera system looks like one of the more capable setups in its class, particularly thanks to that periscope telephoto and the autofocus selfie sensor.
Battery and Charging
This is where the S60 really makes a statement. That 7,200mAh silicon-carbon battery is genuinely massive for an upper mid-range phone, and the fact that Vivo kept the device just 7.9mm thick is legitimately impressive. Silicon-carbon technology offers higher energy density than traditional lithium-ion, which is how they pulled this off.
Heavy daily use, gaming marathons, video streaming binges, social media scrolling, navigation—the S60 should handle all of it without you hunting for a charger. Real-world battery testing will tell us more, but the specs suggest excellent endurance.
The 90W wired charging is equally impressive. You’re not waiting around for this massive battery to fill up. USB Power Delivery compatibility means you can charge with various supported chargers too. One thing worth noting: there’s no wireless charging, which is a bit of a miss given the premium positioning, but the wired speeds partially make up for it.
Connectivity
The S60 covers all the connectivity bases. You get 5G support alongside traditional 4G LTE, HSPA, and GSM. Dual Nano-SIM means you can juggle two numbers if needed.
For wireless, there’s Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and USB Type-C. The satellite positioning systems include GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS, QZSS, and assisted GPS, so navigation should be accurate pretty much anywhere.
Audio and Biometrics
Stereo speakers are table stakes for premium phones these days, and the S60 has them. They should deliver better sound separation and overall audio quality compared to single-speaker setups, making movies and games more immersive.
One thing that’s conspicuously absent: a 3.5mm headphone jack. If you need wired audio, you’ll want USB-C headphones or an adapter.
The ultrasonic fingerprint scanner lives under the display, and it’s a good choice. Compared to optical sensors, ultrasonic generally offers faster unlocking, higher accuracy, and better performance even with slightly wet fingers. It’s also inherently more secure. The phone also includes the usual suspects: accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and compass.
Vivo S60 Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.59-inch AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1260 × 2750 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz |
| HDR | Yes |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 735 |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.1) |
| Rear Cameras | 50MP Wide + 50MP Periscope + 8MP Ultra-Wide |
| Front Camera | 50MP Autofocus |
| Video Recording | 4K, 1080p, Gyro-EIS |
| Battery | 7,200mAh Silicon-Carbon |
| Charging | 90W Wired Fast Charging |
| Operating System | Android 16 + OriginOS 6 |
| Water Resistance | IP69 |
| Dimensions | 157.5 × 74.3 × 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 207g |
| Fingerprint | Ultrasonic Under Display |
| NFC | Yes |
| Stereo Speakers | Yes |
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Premium glass and aluminum construction that actually feels solid
- Bright, smooth 144Hz AMOLED display
- Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 delivers legitimate flagship-class performance
- Massive 7,200mAh silicon-carbon battery
- Quick 90W wired charging
- Dedicated 50MP periscope telephoto camera—rare in this price bracket
- 50MP autofocus selfie camera
- IP69 dust and water resistance
- Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner
- Fast UFS 4.1 storage
Cons
- No wireless charging
- No expandable storage via microSD card
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
- Camera performance pending real-world testing
- Long-term software support policy not yet confirmed
Vivo S60 vs Vivo S50
| Feature | Vivo S60 | Vivo S50 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.59″ AMOLED, 144Hz | AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7-series |
| Battery | 7,200mAh | Smaller battery |
| Charging | 90W | 90W |
| Telephoto Camera | 50MP Periscope | No Periscope |
| Water Resistance | IP69 | Lower protection |
| Fingerprint | Ultrasonic | Optical |
The S60 doesn’t just iterate on the S50—it meaningfully improves it. You’re getting significantly better performance, noticeably longer battery life, better durability, and a far more capable camera system thanks to that periscope telephoto. If you’re coming from the S50, you’ll notice genuine improvements across nearly every category.
Price and Availability
Vivo offers three storage configurations, giving you the flexibility to pick what matches your needs and budget:
| Variant | Price |
|---|---|
| 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage | $531 |
| 12GB RAM + 512GB Storage | $590 |
| 16GB RAM + 512GB Storage | $649 |
The phone launched in China first, with broader availability depending on Vivo’s regional rollout schedule. Keep in mind that pricing will vary by market due to local taxes, import costs, and regional promotions.
Verdict
The Vivo S60 is one of those rare phones that doesn’t pick one or two areas to excel in—instead, it delivers a balanced, well-rounded package. Based on its hardware specifications, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is expected to deliver excellent performance for demanding apps and games. The 7,200mAh battery promises excellent endurance without forcing Vivo to bloat the chassis. Add a 50MP periscope telephoto camera, solid display, IP69 protection, and ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, and you’ve got something genuinely competitive.
That said, real-world testing will tell us important things about camera quality, thermal management, and battery longevity that specs alone can’t convey. Based on the hardware alone, though, the S60 has all the ingredients to be one of Vivo’s strongest smartphones in its category.
If you’re looking for flagship features without a flagship price, the S60 deserves serious consideration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Vivo S60 waterproof?
The Vivo S60 carries an IP69 rating, offering strong resistance against dust and high-pressure water jets. While this is genuinely impressive durability, you should still follow Vivo’s guidelines regarding water exposure for maximum longevity.
Does the Vivo S60 support 5G?
Yes. The S60 supports 5G along with 4G LTE, HSPA, and GSM networks.
Which processor powers the Vivo S60?
The device uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, a 4nm chipset designed to balance flagship-level performance with power efficiency.
How large is the Vivo S60 battery?
The 7,200mAh silicon-carbon battery is among the largest you’ll find in the upper mid-range segment.
Does the Vivo S60 support fast charging?
Yes. The phone supports 90W wired fast charging and is compatible with USB Power Delivery chargers.
Does the Vivo S60 have a telephoto camera?
Yes. The rear system includes a 50MP periscope telephoto camera with 3× optical zoom and optical image stabilization.
Does the Vivo S60 support expandable storage?
No. The device doesn’t have a microSD card slot, so you’ll want to choose the storage variant that suits your needs.
Is the Vivo S60 good for gaming?
Based on the specs, absolutely. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, Adreno 735 GPU, up to 16GB RAM, UFS 4.1 storage, and that smooth 144Hz AMOLED display create a pretty compelling gaming platform.
Final Rating
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Design & Build | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0/5) |
| Display | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0/5) |
| Performance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5) |
| Cameras | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5) |
| Battery | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0/5) |
| Software | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5) |
| Value for Money | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0/5) |
Overall Score: ⭐ 4.8 / 5
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External Resource
For the latest specifications, regional availability, and official announcements, visit the official Vivo S60 product page on Vivo’s website.
Editor’s Note: This review is based on Vivo’s official specifications and launch information. We’ll update this article with hands-on impressions, benchmark results, camera samples, battery endurance tests, gaming performance, and long-term observations once the Vivo S60 becomes available for comprehensive real-world testing.
