Amid much anticipation, the king of camera phones in 2025 was updated with the vivo X300 Ultra at the end of March 2026.
Among a crowd of Ultra models, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica features the best optical zoom lens in the world, and the stunning colors of the Leica Essential mode leave a deep impression. As for the OPPO Find X9 Ultra, although it hasn’t been released yet, the official has already revealed an exciting piece of information: it will come with a 200MP 3x telephoto, along with the world’s best 10x ultra-telephoto camera.
In contrast, the vivo X300 Ultra doesn’t seem to bring us many surprises, and there are even “downgrades” in its camera specifications. If last year’s X200 Ultra was one of my favorite phones, then this year’s X300 Ultra is probably no longer on that “favorites” list.
Camera
Looking purely at the raw capabilities of the camera system, the X300 Ultra remains one of the strongest contenders. However, when compared to its predecessor, it feels like vivo hasn’t fully pushed the envelope. Most of the upgrades are concentrated on the main camera, which now features a slightly larger sensor and higher pixel count. And It also follows the industry trend by incorporating a 5MP multispectral camera.
The ultra-wide camera remains largely unchanged, while the apertures on both the main and telephoto cameras have actually been reduced. For a device priced over $1,000, seeing such minimal hardware improvements is unlikely to sit well with most users. All that’s left is to hope the real-world camera performance delivers a pleasant surprise.
Teleconverter
That said, for those with ultra-long-distance photography needs, vivo remains a trusted choice. Its teleconverter kit was well-received last year, and the new iteration should be no exception. The new 200mm teleconverter is significantly more compact, and an additional 400mm lens is now available. If you’re determined to capture wildlife on the African savannah or shoot from the back of a concert hall using a smartphone, the X300 Ultra paired with the teleconverter kit might be your best option.
Unlike the hardware, the camera software sees no downgrades. The most notable addition is a new photo color tuning style—no need to guess where the inspiration comes from, right? There are also two new photography styles, said to be developed using vivo’s latest color science. We’ll dive into how effective these new features are in our full review.
Design
Aside from the camera, I also have some reservations about the design. The X300 Ultra is available in three colors. While the black version remains as satisfying as ever, the other two fall short of their counterparts on the X200 Ultra. The white model, in particular, feels a bit overdone—in my opinion, the snow mountain pattern is simply unnecessary. Then again, maybe I’m wrong—maybe it could end up being a favorite for some people.
After a year of trial and error, vivo has finally come to the conclusion that the camera control button was unnecessary—so it’s gone on the X300 Ultra. Personally, I wish they had added an AI button instead; having an extra customizable button is quite convenient for everyday use.
Other
Other changes aren’t very noticeable. For example, the body is slightly thinner, but the weight has increased a bit. Charging power has gone up slightly, and so has the battery capacity, both by around 10%. As for the processor, it’s definitely the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen5.
The screen refresh rate has been upgraded to 144Hz, while the resolution remains at 2K (3168×1440), and the display finally uses flat glass. The bezels are very narrow and appear symmetrical on all four sides. There are also some upgrades that aren’t visible from the outside, including an improved vibration motor and top speaker.
During the initial hands-on, the X300 Ultra feels more like an X200s Ultra – far from what I would define as a true next-generation upgrade.
The good news is that we can still safely say it remains one of the most powerful camera phones on the market. If you really love a 35mm main camera, then the X300 Ultra is indeed a more reassuring choice than the Nubia Z80 Ultra. But beyond that, if you are holding an X200 Ultra, I don’t see enough must-buy reasons to upgrade. I would even recommend buying the X200 Ultra instead—it’s not that different from the X300 Ultra, but costs less. Meanwhile, I’m more looking forward to the OPPO Find X9 Ultra, which, based on the rumors we know so far, feels much closer to what the X300 Ultra should have been—the true king of camera phones. In any case, please wait and see whether our real-world tests and full review prove us completely wrong.
The X300 Ultra is now available on GeekWills.
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