vivo has officially launched its new X500 series in China, introducing the vivo X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max. The lineup skips the X400 name and moves directly on from the X300 series, while the new Pro Max marks the first time vivo has introduced a non-Ultra “super-sized” flagship in its X series.
As expected, imaging remains the main focus, but vivo is putting greater emphasis on video this generation, positioning the series around the idea of “Photography First, Video Unique.” The company is aiming to make the X500 series capable of handling more professional mobile photography and video work.
vivo X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max
The vivo X500 Pro features a ZEISS APO super telephoto camera with an 85mm equivalent focal length. It uses a jointly customised Sony LYTIA 610 sensor and supports OIS, CIPA 7.0-level stabilisation and autofocus.
Its main camera is a 50MP ZEISS TrueDynamic camera built around the new LYTIA sensor, jointly developed with Sony. The 1/1.28-inch sensor offers a 24mm equivalent focal length and is paired with a 1.5-degree gimbal-style stabilisation system.
The phone also gets a 50MP ZEISS ultra-wide camera using the JN5 sensor with a 15mm equivalent field of view, while the front camera is a 50MP ZEISS wide-angle unit using Sony’s JN1 sensor and supporting autofocus.
The X500 Pro Max takes things further with a 200MP ZEISS APO super telephoto camera. It uses a 1/1.4-inch Samsung HP0 sensor in a BluePrint configuration, together with OIS and CIPA 7.0-level stabilisation. The telephoto offers an 85mm equivalent focal length and supports up to 60fps AF Tracking for moving subjects.
Its main camera is also a 50MP ZEISS TrueDynamic unit using the new Sony 1/1.28-inch sensor, but with a larger 3-degree gimbal-style stabilisation range and a 24mm equivalent focal length. vivo says the wider physical stabilisation range is designed to improve stability when shooting handheld, particularly during movement and in low-light conditions.
For video, the X500 Pro series supports up to 17EV of dynamic range, along with 4K cinematic portrait video, 4K Dual-View Video, Auto Framing and cinematic video features. The lineup can also record 4K 240fps slow-motion and 4K 120fps HDR video.
The Pro models add professional video tools including 4K 120fps 10-bit Log recording, 10-bit 4:2:2 encoding and ACES colour encoding. vivo is also introducing dedicated professional Log video hardware for the series.
The X500 Pro Max further adds Stage Mode 3.0 and 30x telephoto tracking, targeting scenarios such as concerts, stage performances and fast-moving subjects. The Pro series also supports long-range subject tracking and RAW-domain generative reconstruction technology to improve telephoto image quality.
Another notable addition is 8K Native Live Photo, allowing users to capture moving photos at 8K resolution, with support for uploading 8K Live content on selected platforms.
The new sensor and high-dynamic-range technology are at the centre of vivo’s imaging push. The company says the system can achieve up to 17EV dynamic range, helping preserve highlight and shadow detail in challenging scenes such as backlighting, night photography and high-contrast environments.
The series also introduces features such as an AI Photography Assistant, motion tracking and cinematic LUT colour management, giving users more tools for shooting and processing content directly on the phone.
On the display side, the X500 Pro Max comes with a 6.83-inch BOE Q11 2K ZEISS Master Colour display, with chip-level AP Demura 2.0 technology.
Both Pro models are powered by the new MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro, built using a 2nm-class process and featuring a new all-large-core architecture. The X500 Pro packs a 6,510mAh BlueVolt battery, while the Pro Max pushes capacity to 8,000mAh. Both support 90W FlashCharge wired charging and 40W wireless charging.
vivo X500
The standard vivo X500 is positioned as the more accessible model, but it still gets a fairly serious camera setup.
Its main camera uses the BluePrint × Sony LYTIA-828 sensor, measuring 1/1.28-inch and making it one of the largest main sensors ever used on an X-series standard model. It supports CIPA 5.5-level stabilisation.
The telephoto camera uses the Sony LYTIA-610 sensor, while a 50MP ultra-wide camera completes the rear setup. The X500 also supports 4K 120fps slow-motion video and can be paired with a dedicated 200mm telephoto extender for longer-range shooting.
Design-wise, the X500 adopts a horizontally oriented rectangular camera island with a circular camera area inside. It is available in four colour options including Sunny, Dawn, Echo of Earth and Shooting Night.
For performance, the X500 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9600M, paired with a large 7,500mAh battery. Other highlights include a 144Hz ZEISS Master Colour display and IP68/IP69 water and dust resistance.
The vivo X500 series has currently been launched for the Chinese market, and vivo has not yet announced official international availability.
