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We’ve been tracking the Vivo X500 series for months now, watching the leaks pile up week after week, and as a result, we have a fairly good idea of the upcoming phones. The company has scheduled its launch event on September 21 in China and confirmed three phones: the X500, X500 Pro, and the new X500 Pro Max.
Vivo is skipping the “X400” name, as the number four has negative associations in Mandarin and Cantonese because of its similarity to the word for death. The phones won’t be the only products at the event either. Vivo is also expected to introduce the Watch 6 and a new pair of ear-clip headphones.
The company has shared several details about the X500 series ahead of the launch, including camera specifications, chip information, and official images. Taiwanese actor and singer Jay Chou, who was involved in the X300 Ultra’s marketing campaign last year, has also been seen filming an advertisement for the new lineup.
Here’s what we know so far.
1. Vivo X500
The standard model will be the compact, easier-to-hold option in the family. You get a 6.59-inch 1.5K OLED display and a large 7,500mAh battery, backed by 90W wired charging and 40W wireless charging. Vivo will offer it in four color options at launch.
On the camera side, the X500 carries over the main sensor from last year’s X300 Pro, a 50MP 1/1.28-inch Sony LYT-828, paired with Zeiss gimbal-level stabilization and a CIPA 5.5 rating for shake reduction. The telephoto camera steps up a bit, borrowing the same 64MP Sony LYT-610 sensor found in the X500 Pro, complete with 4K 120fps slow-motion support and its own CIPA 5.5 stabilization.
It’s also confirmed to work with a 200mm teleconverter accessory. As for power, the device is likely to be powered by the new Dimensity 9600M chip that MediaTek unveiled in an event just today.
2. Vivo X500 Pro
The X500 Pro gets a more advanced telephoto camera. Vivo has confirmed a 64MP Zeiss APO super telephoto lens with an 85mm focal length. The camera uses the same BluePrint design as the Pro Max, but with a different sensor and pixel arrangement.
Vivo says the lens itself is a direct evolution of the APO work it first introduced on the X100 Pro, now shrunk down to fit without the size constraints that limited that earlier design. The periscope camera details Vivo shared weeks before launch also confirm CIPA 7.0 stabilization, upgraded autofocus and subject tracking specifically tuned for zoom shots, and 4K recording at 120fps.
Display-wise, earlier leaks pointed to a 6.37-inch to 6.4-inch OLED LTPO panel, though Vivo hasn’t nailed down the exact figure officially yet.
3. Vivo X500 Pro Max
The X500 Pro Max is the new model in the series and will sit above the Pro. Its camera setup takes several ideas from the X300 Ultra while adding some new features.
The main camera uses a Sony sensor with LOFIC technology. The technology uses a separate capacitor to store overflow light, helping the sensor retain more detail in bright areas.
Vivo rates the sensor for 17 stops of dynamic range. The phone is also expected to support 4K video recording at 240fps and 4K 120fps recording in DCG HDR.
The telephoto camera is similar to the one on the X300 Ultra. It uses a 200MP Zeiss APO super telephoto camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor and Samsung’s HP0 sensor.
It also supports hardware-based 4x in-sensor zoom and Vivo’s Super Capture Engine, which can reach up to 30x zoom. The system is designed to help capture moving subjects, including people, pets, and performers.
Both the main and telephoto cameras support CIPA 7.0 stabilization. There have also been reports of a multispectral sensor being considered for improved color and white balance, although this has not been confirmed.
The phone will feature a 6.85-inch 2K display and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 Pro, which is built on a 2nm process.
Vivo has already shared official images of the X500 Pro Max. The phone is shown in silver and orange, with a large circular Zeiss-branded camera module. The design follows the general look of the X300 Ultra.
The Pro Max also has an action button, dual speakers, and a flat metal frame.
Zeiss telephoto extender
The X500 Pro Max will continue to support Vivo’s clip-on Zeiss telephoto extender. The new version reaches 400mm, giving the phone more reach than the previous accessory.
The accessory clips onto the phone and includes its own capture button and zoom controls. Combined with the phone’s periscope camera, it can provide around 16.6x optical reach without relying only on digital zoom.
Vivo is also expected to offer a matching photography grip, although details about its availability have not been confirmed yet.
4. What’s still missing
Pricing is the one piece nobody has for any of the three phones. Vivo has also not fully revealed the available RAM and storage configurations. The phones are expected to run Android 17 with OriginOS 7, but Vivo has not yet detailed all of the software changes coming with the new series.
International availability is also unclear. Previous X-series models have taken some time to reach markets outside China, so a global launch may not happen at the same time as the September 21 event. For now, the remaining details should become official when Vivo launches the X500 series in China.
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