Vivo is preparing to launch its S50 Series, including the Vivo S50 and Vivo S50 Pro Mini, with multiple leaks and online teasers pointing toward a December 15 unveiling in China. Though Vivo hasn’t officially announced the date yet, a recent Weibo post has given the strongest confirmation so far, and internal sources in China expect the brand to publicly confirm it soon.
The lineup is expected to target camera-driven buyers, performance-heavy users, and those who prefer long-lasting battery endurance with fast charging. Early leaks suggest Vivo is putting significant effort into differentiating the S50 from the S50 Pro Mini, giving each model a distinct audience.
Launch Date Confirmed by Leaks, Not Vivo Yet
The reported December 15 launch date surfaced from a Weibo post by a popular tech tipster, reinforcing weeks of speculation.
If Vivo follows its usual pre-launch pattern, an official teaser should appear within days.
A short sentence fits here: the buzz has already started.
The S50 Series is important for Vivo because the S lineup has recently emerged as a premium mid-tier brand within China, with better display tech, higher-quality sensors, and upgraded build materials.
Big Display, High Refresh Rates and Flagship-Level Silicon
The Vivo S50 is rumored to feature a 6.59-inch 1.5K OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, making it a strong media and gaming device. Smooth scrolling, high brightness, and strong color calibration are expected given Vivo’s AMOLED track record.
Under the hood, leaked specs point to the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM for memory-intensive workflows.
Storage will reportedly use UFS 4.1, improving sustained read/write speeds for large apps, games, and multi-tasking. These are specifications seen in higher-priced flagships, giving the S50 a performance advantage in its price class.
A one-line breather: expectations are reasonably high for a mid-tier phone.
Camera Hardware Gets Major Lift
Photography is one of Vivo’s strongest selling points, and leaks indicate that the S50 is going all-in. The device is reportedly equipped with three 50MP sensors, including:
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A 50MP primary sensor with OIS
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A 50MP ultrawide shooter
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A 50MP periscope-telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom
And yes — a 50MP front camera is expected too, elevating selfie performance significantly.
All this suggests that the S50 may directly challenge upper mid-range models from Oppo, Xiaomi, and OnePlus on camera tuning.
A compact paragraph here.
The S50 will also arrive with an IP69 rating, offering dust and water resistance and a sturdier metal build.
Battery Endurance Could Steal Headlines
The S50 may offer one of the largest batteries ever seen in the segment — a silicon-carbon cell ranging from 6500mAh to 7000mAh. This is significantly higher than the familiar 5000mAh standard that dominates most price tiers in India and China.
Silicon-carbon cells offer better density and stability, extending usage time without adding excessive bulk.
Charging is just as important, and leaks point to 90W fast charging, keeping charging times manageable despite the large cell.
A one-sentence pause here: that battery alone could make the S50 one of the best long-duration smartphones in 2026.
The device is expected to run Android 16 with OriginOS 6, at least in China.
Vivo S50 Pro Mini: Smaller Size, Big Specs
The S50 Pro Mini is not just a toned-down model. Instead, it’s reportedly built with a more compact 6.31-inch AMOLED display, flat edges, and a cleaner footprint.
Under the hood, leaks suggest it might pack Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, making it even more powerful than the standard S50 in some scenarios.
RAM and storage configurations are expected to match the main S50, offering up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage options.
A short visual transition sentence: this is a small phone that doesn’t behave like a small phone.
On the imaging side, it may use:
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A VCS light-sensitive main sensor
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A Sony IMX882 periscope telephoto
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An ultra-wide lens
A 50MP selfie unit is expected on the front as well.
Battery capacity will likely be 6500mAh with 90W wired charging and 40W wireless charging, plus IP68 and IP69 water resistance — a notable upgrade for a compact device.
An ultrasonic fingerprint sensor 2.0 could round out the package.
What About India?
Vivo hasn’t confirmed Indian launch plans for the S50 lineup yet. However, the brand has consistently introduced most S-series hardware in India under either:
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The V Series branding, or
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The S Series branding, depending on pricing strategy
India typically sees Vivo flagships and mid-premium devices between 60 to 90 days after China reveals them.
A one-line paragraph: if history repeats, February or March 2026 is realistic for India.
Analysts expect Vivo to weigh pricing carefully — large silicon-carbon batteries, strong cameras, and premium materials may push the S50 into upper-tier mid-range pricing.
With OnePlus Nord CE, iQOO Neo, Realme GT Neo, and Redmi K-series all active in similar price zones, Vivo is aiming for a strong multimedia experience rather than pure benchmark bragging rights.
Why The S50 Series Matters
Smartphone buyers are demanding longer backup times, brighter displays, and camera quality that performs under varied conditions. The S50 lineup appears to answer that with a mix of durability, bigger energy capacity, and serious telephoto capabilities.
