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Phones usually get cheaper when their successors are about to launch. The Vivo X300 Ultra is going in the opposite direction. Vivo has raised the official prices of every X300 Ultra variant in China, with the base model now starting at 7,499 yuan (~$1,119).
Depending on the configuration, the price increase ranges from 500 yuan (~$75) to 2,000 yuan (~$299). Here’s how the new prices compare with the original launch prices:
| Version | New price | Old price | Increase |
| 12GB + 256GB | 7,499 yuan (~$1,119) | 6,999 yuan (~$1,045) | 500 yuan (~$75) |
| 12GB + 512GB | 7,999 yuan (~$1,194) | 7,499 yuan (~$1,119) | 500 yuan (~$75) |
| 16GB + 512GB | 8,999 yuan (~$1,343) | 7,999 yuan (~$1,194) | 1,000 yuan (~$149) |
| 16GB + 1TB (satellite communication) | 9,999 yuan (~$1,492) | 8,999 yuan (~$1,343) | 1,000 yuan (~$149) |
| 16GB + 1TB (Photographer’s Kit) | 13,999 yuan (~$2,089) | 11,999 yuan (~$1,791) | 2,000 yuan (~$299) |
When the Vivo X300 Ultra launched in China at the end of March, the 12GB + 256GB model started at 6,999 yuan (~$1,045), as we reported in our launch coverage. It now costs 7,499 yuan (~$1,119), meaning buyers are paying 500 yuan (~$75) more for a phone that is around six months old.
The biggest increase applies to the two 16GB + 1TB versions. The satellite communication model is now 1,000 yuan (~$149) more expensive, while the Photographer’s Kit has gone up by 2,000 yuan (~$299) to 13,999 yuan (~$2,089).
Memory costs are pushing phone prices higher
Vivo is not the only phone maker raising prices in China. Huawei, Xiaomi, and Honor also increased prices for selected models on September 1, with hikes ranging from 200 yuan (~$30) to 1,000 yuan (~$149).
Memory costs are one of the main reasons behind these increases. Vivo has also raised prices in other markets. The Vivo T5 Pro, for example, launched in India in April and received a ₹3,000 (~$31) price increase in June, followed by another hike in July. In August, it received a third increase of up to ₹7,000 (~$73).
What does this mean for the Vivo X500 series?
It is common for brands to cut the price of an older flagship before launching its successor. Lower prices help clear remaining stock and give the new model more room at launch.
Vivo has done the opposite with the X300 Ultra, and the timing is worth noting. The Vivo X500 series is set to launch in China on September 21. Vivo has confirmed three models: the Vivo X500, Vivo X500 Pro, and Vivo X500 Pro Max. You can find the leaked specifications and other details in our Vivo X500 series roundup.
The higher memory costs affecting the X300 Ultra also apply to newer phones. That makes it difficult to expect the X500 series to launch at the same prices as the current lineup, especially after Vivo has increased the price of its existing flagship.
There are signs that Vivo is also looking at costs when choosing hardware for the X500 series. Leaks suggest the standard Vivo X500 could use a 3nm Dimensity 9500-series chip instead of a 2nm Dimensity 9600-series chip. That would fit with reports of rising chip prices.
Vivo has not revealed the X500 series pricing yet, so none of this confirms what the new phones will cost. The lineup will launch on September 21, just two days from now. Once Vivo announces the prices, it will be worth comparing them with the original prices of the X300 series.
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