received an official update to Android 7.0 Nougat (Funtouch OS 3.1) in late 2017, roughly a year after its initial release. While the device originally launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, this update was a major milestone for its software lifecycle. Key Improvements & Performance
System Stability & Speed: Users reported that the update felt stable and maintained the phone's snappy performance, particularly in multitasking.
Battery Life: The update generally improved power efficiency for many users. Some reported up to 7 hours of screen-on time after the transition. New Features:
Nearby Share: Added to the Control Center for easier file sharing.
App Updates: Integrated newer versions of Vivo's default apps, including the Music Player, Video Player, and Browser.
Enhanced Security: Included updated security patches available at the time. User Experience Notes
Selfie Quality: The update maintained the quality of the V5's standout 20MP "Moonlight" selfie camera.
Minor Clunkiness: Some users noted that certain transitions, such as camera lens switching, felt slightly less smooth compared to the original Marshmallow build.
Gaming: Performance remained consistent for casual gaming, though the hardware's 720p display remained a bottleneck for higher-end visual quality. How to Update
vivo V5 - User opinions and reviews - page 38 - GSMArena.com
users! You can now upgrade your device from Android Marshmallow to Android 7.0 Nougat
. This update brings a smoother experience, enhanced security, and the latest Funtouch OS features to your V5 series smartphone. How to Update: Tutorial for Firmware Installation - Vivo
Importantly, the Android 7.0 update on the Vivo V5 arrived wrapped in Funtouch OS 3.0. Vivo’s custom skin brought its own changes:
As the V5’s primary selling point was its 20MP front-facing camera, any software update that altered image processing was critical.
The Android 7.0 update brought stability to the camera application. While the hardware sensor remained unchanged, the software processing algorithms were tweaked for better noise reduction. The update vivo v5 android version 7.0 update
While there was significant anticipation for the to receive an official Android 7.0 (Nougat) update, the device remained officially supported on Android 6.0 Marshmallow throughout its primary lifecycle. Newer iterations, such as the
, were released with or updated to Android 7.0, but the standard V5 did not follow the same path. Official Update Path
The standard procedure for checking for any available official software improvements on your device is as follows: Settings Menu: Go to Settings on your phone. System Update: Scroll down and select System update.
Check for Updates: The phone will search for the latest version. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to download and install it. How to check & update your Android version
The Archivist’s Dilemma
The rain in Kuala Lumpur had been falling for three days straight, a relentless grey curtain that turned the city streets into rivers. Inside the cluttered repair shop, "Pixels & Parts," Elias stared at the device in his hand. It was a vivo V5, its champagne gold casing scuffed and worn, a survivor from 2016.
For a three-year-old mid-range phone, it had lived a hard life. But Elias wasn't fixing a broken screen or a dead battery today. He was performing surgery on the software.
"Are you sure about this, Elias?" asked Rina, his apprentice, leaning over the workbench. "The official servers pulled the OTA updates years ago. If you brick it, the client is going to scream."
"The client is a museum curator," Elias muttered, adjusting his magnifying glasses. "He doesn't want the latest TikTok filters. He wants the specific camera algorithm this phone had before the bloatware updates ruined it. He wants Android 7.0 Nougat. Specifically, Funtouch OS 3.0."
The vivo V5 was famous for one thing: "Moonlight Selfie." It was the first phone in the budget segment to pack a 20-megapixel front camera with a dedicated flash. The curator claimed that the Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) version the phone launched with was stable, but the subsequent update to Android 7.0 was the "golden era" of its processing—before later updates throttled the processor to save battery life.
"Pass me the data cable," Elias said, his voice low.
The update file wasn't on a server anymore. It was a ghost, a '.ozip' file Elias had spent three nights digging out of a Chinese enthusiast forum. It wasn't an official rollout; it was a regional variant that had slipped through the cracks.
"Initiating the flash," Rina whispered, watching the terminal screen.
The progress bar crawled. 10%. 20%.
The vivo boot screen appeared—the simple, stark logo. Then, the progress bar froze at 87%.
"Write error," Rina snapped. "The verification failed. The anti-rollback protection kicked in."
Elias didn't flinch. "vivo’s 2017 security patch is aggressive. It knows this isn't a fresh-from-the-box update." He typed a rapid string of commands, bypassing the verification layer. "We aren't rolling back; we're side-stepping. I’m forcing the Nougat kernel. If this fails, the phone is a paperweight."
"Risk it," Rina said.
Elias hit Enter.
The phone’s screen went black. For ten seconds, the shop was silent, save for the hum of the soldering iron in the corner. Then, a vibrant, low-poly animation appeared. The colors were brighter, sharper than the old OS. It was the signature boot animation of Android 7.0.
"It’s booting," Rina breathed.
"Wait," Elias cautioned.
The phone vibrated. A jingle played—the distinct Funtouch OS chime. The lock screen materialized. The UI was cleaner, the notification shade translucent, the signature flat icons of the Nougat era filling the screen.
Elias unlocked the phone. He didn't check the settings first. He opened the camera. He switched to the front-facing lens.
"Look at the skin tone smoothing," Elias said, tilting the screen to Rina. "That’s the Sony IMX376 sensor working at full capacity. The Moonlight glow is back."
Rina took the phone and snapped a picture of the rain-streaked window. The processing was instant. "It feels lighter," she noted, swiping through the home screens. "No lag. The split-screen feature... it actually works smoothly here."
"The update cleaned out three years of residual cache data," Elias said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Android 7.0 brought the Doze mode enhancement, too. Battery life just doubled in theory."
"Solid update," Rina admitted. "But is it worth the hassle?" received an official update to Android 7
Elias took the phone back, admiring the sturdy plastic build. "For people like us, and for the curator? Yes. In a world of planned obsolescence, reviving a specific version of an operating system is like restoring a classic engine. It runs clean. It runs mean."
He powered the device down and placed it gently into a padded box. The vivo V5 wasn't a flagship. It wasn't a powerhouse. But tonight, running on Android 7.0, it was exactly what it was meant to be.
"Call the client," Elias said, turning back to his soldering iron. "Tell him the Moonlight is back."
The vivo V5 officially runs on Funtouch OS 3.0, which is based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. While there have been numerous system stability updates since its 2016 release, vivo did not provide an official OTA (over-the-air) upgrade to Android 7.0 Nougat for this specific model. Official Software Status Base OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Latest System Version: The most recent official firmware package for the vivo V5 is PD1612F_EX_A_3.14.9, released in August 2020. This update focused on system maintenance rather than an Android version jump.
Checking for Updates: You can verify your current version by navigating to Settings > System update on your device. Upgrade Limitations
V5 vs. V5s/V7: While the similar vivo V5s received guides for Android 7.0 and the later vivo V7 launched with Android 7.1, the standard V5 hardware remained on Android 6.0.
Official Downloads: You can find official firmware files for manual installation (Recovery Mode) on the vivo India Support page or vivo Philippines Support page, but these will remain based on Android 6.0. Alternative Options (Advanced Users)
Since there is no official 7.0 update, some users explore Custom ROMs to reach newer Android versions. However, this requires unlocking the bootloader and potentially rooting the device, which carries risks such as: Voiding the warranty. Potential "bricking" (making the device unusable).
Loss of specialized features like specific camera optimizations or the Hi-Fi audio chip functionality. vivo V7 - New Selfie Smartphone | vivo Global
Preparation
Update Methods
Vivo V5 can be updated to Android 7.0 (Nougat) using two methods: