vivo has officially set September 21, 2026 as the launch date for its next flagship line, the vivo X500 series. According to the source, the range will consist of three models — vivo X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max — built around MediaTek’s upcoming Dimensity 9600 Pro chip, which MediaTek is due to announce on September 15. vivo has also stated that even the base X500 will get a camera on the level of the current X300 Pro, while the Pro and Pro Max models move to more capable periscope telephoto systems.
Likely design of the vivo X500 series smartphones
What you need to know
- vivo has officially announced a launch event for the X500 series on September 21, 2026.
- The lineup will include three models: vivo X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max.
- The phones will be among the first to use MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 Pro, due to be announced on September 15; detailed chip specifications are not yet public.
- vivo says the base X500 gets an X300 Pro-level camera, and the Pro and Pro Max models are expected to record 4K video at 960 fps.
Launch date and lineup
The timing is not accidental. MediaTek is scheduled to unveil the Dimensity 9600 Pro on September 15, and the vivo X500 series is expected to be one of the first smartphone lines to ship with the chip. Announcing the phones six days later lets vivo capitalise on the fresh silicon.
The family will consist of:
- vivo X500;
- vivo X500 Pro;
- vivo X500 Pro Max.
The Pro and Pro Max keep vivo’s signature circular camera module — the “puck” design that first appeared with the X100 series. The source author, who has used a vivo X300 since November of last year, notes that the round platform is more than a styling choice: it gives the optics extra room for large sensors and long periscope mechanisms.
vivo X500 Pro Max with a photographer’s kit
vivo worked with photographer and filmmaker Sam Kolder on the promotional film for the X500 Pro Max — the same creator who previously tested the vivo X300 Ultra. The source author argues that bringing in a working professional to shoot real material on a phone camera says more about its capabilities than marketing figures do, though that remains an opinion rather than a measured result.
Camera: what changes compared with the X300
vivo has officially stated that the base X500 will receive a camera on the level of the X300 Pro — meaning the entry model already moves a step above the current X300. For reference, the source author’s X300 has a 50 MP main camera paired with a 3x periscope telephoto. In the X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max the periscopes become more serious: the X500 Pro is said to get a new Sony sensor with longer-reach optics, while the X500 Pro Max gets a higher-tier periscope system of its own.
One feature absent from the X300 is video recording at 4K and 960 fps on the X500 Pro and Pro Max. The source author cautions that this most likely works within a limited portion of the frame or with interpolation; the exact implementation should become clear at the September 21 presentation.
Dimensity 9600 Pro: what is known about the chip
The vivo X500 series is built around the MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro, which MediaTek will officially announce on September 15. Detailed specifications have not been released. According to rumours cited by the source, it is a next-generation 3 nm platform succeeding the Dimensity 9500s — this has not been confirmed by MediaTek.
Dimensity 9600 Pro and its key advantages
The current X300 runs on the Dimensity 9500, and the source author reports having no complaints about its performance. The Dimensity 9600 Pro is promised to bring noticeably better power efficiency and gains in AI computing. For a camera-focused phone, that matters directly: image processing and night photography depend heavily on on-device compute.
Why the X500 stands out among autumn flagships
Among the phones expected this autumn — the source mentions the Xiaomi 18 Pro, OPPO Find X10 and iQOO 16 — the author singles out the vivo X500 as the one they are following most closely. The reasoning is based on familiarity: having lived with the X line, the author says they know how vivo’s camera system performs and that the company avoids compromises in its camera-centric flagships.
A simulated frame from the vivo X500 presentation
The vivo X300, for all its strengths, is a compact device with a smaller screen and a relatively modest battery. The X500 Pro appears set to be different: a larger display, a more powerful periscope and a newer chip.
How the current X300 compares
Until the X500 arrives and its pricing is known, the source author considers the X300 to remain one of the stronger options in its class. Its key specifications, as listed in the source: a compact 6.31-inch body, Dimensity 9500, a 3x periscope telephoto, a 6,040 mAh battery with 90 W charging, and IP68/IP69 protection. Once the X500 launches and prices are published, it will be clearer whether the upgrade is worth the extra cost.
What remains uncertain: pricing, regional availability, full Dimensity 9600 Pro specifications, and how the 4K 960 fps mode is implemented have not been disclosed. All of this is expected on or after September 21, 2026.
