• vivo South Africa has announced the launch of its latest handset, the V30e 5G.
• The smartphone from the Chinese maker is more affordable than the V30 but has a weaker processor.
• The vivo V30e 5G is now available across South Africa for R13 999.

Hot on the heels of the vivo V30 5G touching down in South Africa, the Dongguan, China manufacturer has launched a new premium mid-ranger in the guise of the vivo V30e 5G. Like the V30 before it, the V30e is another 5G-ready device that offers a good amount of RAM and a solid processor for an affordable price.

vivo continues to compare the two devices, as the V30e is more affordable than the V30 by around R6 000 but boasts similar specifications. Sporting a similar camera array and RAM compared to the base V30, the V30e is only cheaper due to the downgraded processor, as the V30 boasts an Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3.

The V30e 5G’s most impressive spec is its RAM, with vivo South Africa telling us that the device sports 12GB +12GB extended RAM. This is quite a bit for the range of smartphone the V30e is, and together with its Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, you’re likely to see good performance with the handset.

It also features a 5 500mAh cell, which vivo says is specifically designed to last longer, retaining up to 80 percent of its capacity even after 1 600 charge cycle. In comparison, most modern-day smartphones will start seeing shrinking battery capacity after 400 or so charging cycles.

This is however just a claim, and one that cannot be tested in a normal review cycle. So we’ll have to wait a few months before we start seeing just how well the battery of the V30e can do.

Moving on to the camera, the V30e sports a 50MP main shooter – namely a Sony IMX882 image sensor. There is also an 8MP back shooter for ultrawide photo mode. The main camera uses the Smart Colour Temperature Adjustment feature to automatically adjust the brightness of photos immediately after taking them.

This features adjusts brightness according to the ambient light. On the selfie cam side, there is also a 50MP snapper, but this can be region-specific as the megapixels drop to 35 in markets like Malaysia, so we’ll see what South Africans get to play with.

Aesthetics-wise, there are two colourways heading for the South African market. These are Sunny Green (as soon below) and Classy Brown. The device also features a 3D Curved Screen and 120 hz refresh rate.

“We’re thrilled to introduce the vivo V30e. This smartphone not only captivates with its visual appeal but also packs a punch in terms of power. Designed to help users capture the beauty of everyday life, we believe the V30e will be more than just a device for our users – it will be a reliable companion,” Tony Shi, general manager of vivo South Africa, expressed in a statement sent to Hypertext.

vivo says that the V30e 5G is now available across all major networks in South Africa, and is priced at R13 999.