3 reasons to buy and 2 reasons to skip the Vivo S2
The Vivo S2 enters the crowded sub-Rs 40,000 segment with a mix of premium design elements, a large battery, and a curved AMOLED display that immediately stands out against its rivals. While it gets several things right for everyday users, there are a few compromises that buyers should be aware of before making a purchase. Here’s a closer look at the biggest reasons to buy and the reasons you may want to skip the Vivo S2 (review).
Table of Contents
Reasons to buy the Vivo S2
Premium curved AMOLED display
One of the Vivo S2’s biggest highlights is its display. While most smartphones in this price segment continue to offer flat panels, Vivo opts for a 6.83-inch 3D curved AMOLED display with a sharp 1.5K resolution, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 3,000 nits peak brightness. The display delivers vibrant colours, excellent contrast, and sharp visuals, making everything from social media browsing to streaming movies feel immersive.
Outdoor visibility is equally impressive, with the panel remaining comfortably legible even under bright sunlight. The curved edges also add to the premium in-hand feel and create a more immersive viewing experience that sets the Vivo S2 apart from many similarly priced rivals.
Dependable all-day battery life
The Vivo S2 packs a sizeable 7,050mAh battery paired with 44W fast charging, delivering battery life that should comfortably last most users through an entire day of calls, navigation, gaming, photography, and media consumption. Its endurance is backed by our testing, where the phone achieved 14 hours and 57 minutes in the PCMark battery benchmark.
Battery optimisation is another strong point, with just a 5 percent drop after 30 minutes each of COD Mobile and BGMI, while an hour of YouTube streaming also consumed very little power. Charging is respectable as well, taking a little over an hour to fully replenish the battery despite its large capacity. The Vivo S2 strikes a good balance between endurance, charging speed, and everyday efficiency, making it a dependable choice for most users.
Slim, lightweight and practical design
Large-screen phones often end up feeling bulky, but that’s not the case with the Vivo S2. Despite featuring a 6.83-inch display and a massive battery, the phone remains surprisingly slim and lightweight, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods. One-handed use still requires some adjustment because of the tall form factor, but the ergonomics are otherwise well managed.
The horizontal camera module is another thoughtful design choice. Unlike many oversized camera islands, it sits almost flush with the rear panel, allowing the phone to rest flat on a table without wobbling. Our Silk White review unit is particularly eye-catching, thanks to its flowing reflective patterns that subtly shift under different lighting conditions, giving the phone a premium appearance. The handset is also available in Sapphire Blue and Regal Bronze, while IP68 and IP69 ratings add an extra layer of durability against dust and water.
Reasons to skip the Vivo S2
Missing ultra-wide camera
While the Vivo S2’s 50MP primary camera performs well for everyday photography, the overall camera hardware feels limited for its price. The rear setup consists of a 50MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor, accompanied by a 32MP selfie camera.
Features like Aura Light Portrait, Dual View Video, and 4K recording on both the front and rear cameras certainly add value. However, the absence of an ultra-wide camera is difficult to ignore, especially when many competitors in this segment offer one as standard. If you’re someone who frequently captures landscapes, architecture, or group shots may find the camera system less versatile than similarly priced alternatives.
Too much pre-installed software
The Vivo S2 ships with OriginOS 6 based on Android 16 and promises three Android version upgrades alongside five years of security updates, which is competitive for the segment. The software also includes useful AI features such as AI Creation, AI Transcript Assist, Circle to Search 2.0, and Shake and Share for quickly transferring files.
However, it comes with a huge amount of pre-installed software. Out of the box, the phone comes with 73 apps already installed, one of the highest counts in this segment. While most of them can be uninstalled, the sheer number of apps makes the interface feel unnecessarily cluttered during the initial setup and may not appeal to users who prefer a cleaner Android experience.
Summing up
The Vivo S2 is an easy recommendation for buyers looking for a premium-looking smartphone with a gorgeous curved AMOLED display, dependable all-day battery life, and a slim design that doesn’t feel bulky despite its large battery. However, if camera versatility is high on your priority list or you prefer a cleaner software experience without spending time removing pre-installed apps, there are stronger alternatives in this price range.
