Vivo’s S-series appears to be making its return to India after almost six years. After multiple leaks and rumours around its launch timeline, tipster Yogesh Brar now says the Vivo S2 is expected to launch in early August and could go on sale during the upcoming Independence Day sales.
Earlier reports had suggested Vivo was preparing to revive the S-series in India. The phone was also recently spotted on the BIS certification website, indicating that its launch may not be far away. This one is not to be confused with the Vivo S50 from China, which are actually the V-series models in their home country.
Anticipated launch and pricing
Brar has reiterated previous leaks, which suggested the phone would be priced under Rs 50,000 in India. This would be a significant jump from the original Vivo S1, which debuted at Rs 17,990 in 2019. Back then, the S1 stood out by offering features like an AMOLED display, an in-display fingerprint scanner and a 32MP selfie camera at a price where those features were still uncommon. Differentiating has become increasingly harder in today’s times as brands fight rising memory costs, and to justify the premium, are offering increased battery sizes going over even 10,000mAh, in some cases, to users.
If the leaked pricing is true, the Vivo S2 will move into the premium mid-range segment, closer to phones such as the OnePlus 15R and iQOO 15R. Notably, Vivo has another offering in the sub-Rs 50,000 segment, the Vivo V70 FE, which currently starts at Rs 41,999 after a recent price hike from its launch price of Rs 37,999. Unlike the original S-series, which targeted the mainstream mid-range market, the new Vivo S2 appears to be aimed at buyers looking for a more premium smartphone experience. At the moment, Vivo has not confirmed any specifications for the device. Earlier leaks only suggested that it would target the mid-range segment, with chipset and hardware details still under wraps.
Launching the Vivo S2 close to the Independence Day sales could help the company capitalise on one of the busiest smartphone buying seasons in India, when brands typically introduce new products alongside promotional offers and exchange deals. The bigger challenge for Vivo, however, could be differentiating the S2 from its own lineup. The Vivo V70 FE already offers a 6.83-inch 1.5K 120Hz AMOLED display, MediaTek Dimensity 7360 Turbo chipset, a 7,000mAh battery with 90W fast charging and a 200MP primary camera. If the S2 launches at a similar price, Vivo will likely need to justify the premium with clear differentiation.
Based on Vivo’s track record, the S2 could focus on photography, design or exclusive software features to carve out its own identity. Until the company reveals the hardware, buyers considering a phone in the Rs 40,000-50,000 segment may want to wait and compare it with the V70 FE and competing offerings from OnePlus and iQOO before making a purchase decision.
