Vivo S50 series leak reveals Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and release timeline

The Vivo S series is a camera-centric lineup of smartphones, positioned below the flagship Vivo X series. The Vivo S30 series was launched in May 2025, featuring two smartphones: the standard S30 and the S30 Pro Mini. A new leak has now surfaced online, revealing early details of the Vivo S50 series. For those wondering, the Vivo S40 series may be skipped because the number 4 has negative connotations in China.

It is unclear whether the S50 series will also feature two models like its predecessor. Tipster Digital Chat Station previously suggested that the series will feature a compact model, likely branded as the S50 Pro Mini. In a new leak, the tipster claims that the Vivo S50 series will use the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor. It is a sub-flagship chipset from Qualcomm, positioned below the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. For reference, the standard S30 used the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 and the S30 Pro Mini used the Dimensity 9300 Plus.

The S50 series is tipped to use the Sony IMX882 as its periscope telephoto sensor. Notably, the S30 series also used the same sensor. However, the series may bring improvements in other aspects like a an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, whereas its predecessor used an optical one. In an earlier leak, the tipster suggested that the Vivo S50 Pro Mini with a compact 6.3-inch display would also feature a larger battery than the high-end Vivo X300 (which has a 6040mAh capacity).

The Vivo S50 series is tipped to release in December. It's worth noting that the Vivo S series is usually exclusive to the Chinese market. However, some models do end up launching globally. For reference, the Vivo S30 Pro Mini was rebranded as the Vivo X200 FE in the global market.