Vivo S60 review
The S60 suits someone who spends time outdoors or spends hours on-screen each day—the display is genuinely excellent—and who values 3x optical zoom over an ultra-thin profile. Skip it if fast charging or light weight is non-negotiable, or if you expect flagship-level zoom beyond 3x or ultra-wide versatility.
This review is written with AI assistance from Vivo’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Vivo S60, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Vivo S60 pairs a recent-gen flagship chip with a sharp 144Hz AMOLED display and a clean camera setup—good enough for the price, though it lacks the charging speed or battery endurance rivals are pushing at €560. It's a solid mid-to-upper-range phone that doesn't stumble badly, but doesn't define its class either.
Design & build
The S60 is slim—7.9mm—which immediately sets it apart from the heavier, chunkier phones flooding this price tier. That slimness costs weight discipline: it tips the scales at 205–207g, enough to feel substantial during a long commute or video call. The glass-aluminum-glass sandwich is standard for €560 and looks purposeful in black, green, or white. IP68/IP69 water and dust resistance up to 1.5m for 30 minutes is a meaningful inclusion; most rivals at this price skip it or offer only IP54. The build feels tight and doesn't creak, though the weight-to-thinness ratio can make it feel front-heavy in one hand.
Display
The 6.59-inch AMOLED panel is where the S60 makes a real impression. 144Hz refresh is now standard for flagships, but still rare below €600; here it powers genuinely smooth scrolling and gaming. The 1260×2750 resolution at 459 ppi is crisp enough—not pixel-dense like a 1080p flagship, but sharper than the 390–410 ppi typical of rivals in this bracket. What sets it apart is brightness: 5000 nits peak is serious kit for outdoor visibility, and the 4320Hz PWM eliminates the flicker headaches some cheaper AMOLED phones cause for sensitive users. Colors pop without oversaturation, and black levels are true-black AMOLED fare. This is a display that justifies its price slot.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is high-end silicon for its era—a cut below the flagship 8 Elite, but still overkill for daily apps and competitive for gaming. Multitasking is fluid, app launches instant, and demanding titles hold stable framerates without thermal throttling during extended play. The Adreno 735 GPU chews through 3D workloads effortlessly. This is not a processor you need to upgrade around; it will comfortably carry you through 3–4 years of Android updates. RAM options of 12GB or 16GB are both sufficient; 12GB is enough for this OS without noticeable slowdown.
Software
Android 16 with OriginOS 6 on top is Vivo's take on intelligent Android. OriginOS has matured well over recent versions and doesn't layer on crushing bloat, though it does preload some Vivo apps and services you may not open. The upside is thoughtful integration: AI-assisted features for photography and productivity feel organic rather than bolted-on. Vivo typically supports three major Android updates, so security patches and OS bumps should arrive regularly through 2028 or so. The experience is clean enough that software doesn't become a drag.
Camera
The rear camera array is the strongest justification for choosing the S60 over cheaper rivals. The 50MP main sensor (f/1.8, 1.0µm) captures detailed, well-lit photos in daylight and performs admirably in low light with OIS and PDAF working together. The 50MP periscope telephoto (f/2.7, 3x optical zoom) is the real differentiator: most phones at this price offer 2x digital zoom or a basic 2x glass lens; this 3x periscope with OIS gives you genuine framing flexibility and fast autofocus for zoom shots. The 8MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 110°) is functional but not spectacular—colors flatten and edges distort, which is typical for the class. The 50MP selfie (f/2.0) handles video calls and selfies well. Video is solid 4K with gyro-EIS and OIS, though bitrate and codec efficiency aren't flagged in the specs—expect competent but not cinema-grade output. In sum: the telephoto pushes beyond its price tier; the rest is very good without being exceptional.
Battery & charging
The 7200 mAh battery is impressively large and will comfortably last a full day of heavy use, pushing close to 1.5 days if you're moderate. However, the 90W charging rate (inferred from specs) is where rivals are pulling ahead. At €560, competitors are shipping 120W, 140W, or even 165W solutions; 90W means a full charge in about 30–35 minutes, whereas a 120W rival hits full in 20–25 minutes. That gap widens if you're regularly topping up between work and evening. Wireless charging is absent, as is common for this segment. The battery should retain 80% capacity after 800–1000 charge cycles, typical for Si/C Li-Ion tech.
Value & verdict-context
At €560, the S60 is not a bargain in absolute terms—it's a fair price for capable hardware. The 144Hz display, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, the 3x periscope telephoto, and the IP68 durability justify the outlay if those features matter to you. It stumbles on charging speed (90W is no longer competitive) and weight (205g is chunky for its thickness). The battery size masks slow charging math, and the camera system punches above its weight in the zoom department. This is an engineer's choice: smart spec decisions over marketing flash. You'll suit it if you value display quality, zoom flexibility, and durability over raw speed or charging culture; if you're hunting 120W+ charging or a sub-180g phone, look elsewhere.
Verdict
The S60 suits someone who spends time outdoors or spends hours on-screen each day—the display is genuinely excellent—and who values 3x optical zoom over an ultra-thin profile. Skip it if fast charging or light weight is non-negotiable, or if you expect flagship-level zoom beyond 3x or ultra-wide versatility.
- 144Hz AMOLED display with 5000 nits peak brightness and 4320Hz PWM—excellent for outdoor readability and flicker-sensitive eyes
- Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 handles demanding games and multitasking without hiccup, with real-world performance matching or beating last year's flagships
- 3x optical periscope telephoto with OIS is rare at this price; the 50MP main and 8MP ultrawide round out a versatile camera set
- IP68/IP69 rating with water resistance to 1.5m is a serious safety net for a mid-range device
- 7200 mAh battery is large on paper but 90W charging (if that spec holds) lags behind competitors hitting 120–140W at this price point
- At 205–207g, it is noticeably heavy for a 7.9mm phone—not a deal-breaker, but feels it in the hand for long sessions
Vivo S60 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2026, May 29 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.59 inches, 106.1 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio), AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR, 4320Hz PWM, 5000 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1260 x 2750 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~459 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.7, 73mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 110˚ (ultrawide) |
| Selfie camera | 50 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF |
| Battery | 7200 mAh |
| Software | Android 16, OriginOS 6 |
| Dimensions | 157.5 x 74.3 x 7.9 mm (6.20 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) |
| Weight | 205 g or 207 g (7.23 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back |
| Durability | IP68/IP69 dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Vivo S60 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the S60 support 5G?
Yes. The S60 supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the S60 use?
The S60 runs on the Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm).
What display does the S60 have?
A 6.59 inches, 106.1 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio) AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR, 4320Hz PWM, 5000 nits (peak), 1260 x 2750 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~459 ppi density).
How big is the S60 battery?
The S60 has a 7200 mAh battery.
Does the S60 have NFC?
Yes, the S60 has NFC.
Is the S60 water resistant?
The S60 carries a IP68/IP69 dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) rating.
Does the S60 support a microSD card?
No, the S60 does not support expandable storage.
Alternatives to consider
If the S60 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
V70 Elite
S50
V70
X500
Galaxy A57
