vivo has launched the X500 series at an event in Shanghai, and the base vivo X500 is already on sale. According to the source, the standard model keeps the same Dimensity 9500 processor found in last year’s vivo X300 (vivo markets it as the Dimensity 9600M), so the upgrade is not about raw performance. Instead, the X500 brings a 7,500 mAh battery, a 64 MP periscope telephoto camera with 3.1x optical zoom, and 90 W wired charging. Two larger siblings, the X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max, move to the newer 2 nm Dimensity 9600 Pro and 200 MP telephoto cameras; the source says they go on sale later, from October 5.

vivo X500 launch poster showing the phone in pink

The new vivo X500 in pink

What you need to know

  • The base vivo X500 uses the Dimensity 9500 (branded Dimensity 9600M), the same chip as the vivo X300; it gains a 7,500 mAh battery, 90 W wired and 50 W wireless charging, and a 64 MP 3.1x periscope telephoto.
  • The vivo X500 Pro is the compact model at 6.37 inches, with the new 2 nm Dimensity 9600 Pro, an 8,000 mAh battery and a 200 MP telephoto.
  • The vivo X500 Pro Max has a 6.85-inch 144 Hz display, a 7,800 mAh battery and a 200 MP telephoto with 4.3x optical zoom, described by the source as lossless up to 10x.
  • The source stresses the Pro Max is not a replacement for the X300 Ultra: its main camera is the one from the X300 Pro.

vivo X500: what changed and what did not

The source author, who says they have used a vivo X300 for months, highlights a detail many buyers may miss: the X500 runs the Dimensity 9500, the same processor as last year’s X300. The author describes it as a capable chip that handles current tasks well, but notes that anyone expecting a fundamental jump in performance will not find it here. The improvements are elsewhere.

Grey vivo X500 held in a hand

The grey vivo X500 in hand

Cameras

The X500 has a triple camera system:

  • a 50 MP main camera;
  • a 50 MP ultra-wide;
  • a 64 MP periscope telephoto with 3.1x optical zoom.

According to the source, detail holds up without loss up to 6.2x; beyond that, digital processing takes over. The author adds that the version sold in Russia omits the blue Zeiss logo on the camera block, unlike the Chinese and European units, which is purely cosmetic and does not affect image quality.

Display, battery and colours

The display measures 6.59 inches. The battery is rated at 7,500 mAh with 90 W wired charging, which the source says reaches about 80% in roughly half an hour and 100% in 50–60 minutes. Wireless charging is supported at 50 W. Four colours are offered: pearl white, black, pink, and grey with glittering flecks. The back panel is matte glass.

For reference, the source lists launch pricing in Russia at 69,000 rubles for the 12/256 GB version and 74,000 rubles for 12/512 GB; pricing in other markets will differ.

vivo X500 Pro: a compact flagship

The source calls the X500 Pro the most unusual model in the line-up. Its 6.37-inch display makes it compact by 2026 standards, slightly larger than the X300 but noticeably smaller than the other two X500 models. For buyers who want flagship hardware without a large phone, the author describes it as a rare option on Android.

Compact vivo X500 Pro held in a hand

The compact vivo X500 Pro in hand

Inside is the 2 nm Dimensity 9600 Pro, which the source describes as a brand-new chip that has only just been released. The camera setup pairs two 50 MP sensors with a 200 MP telephoto. On paper this puts it at the level of the X300 Pro, which the source says vivo itself acknowledges. The battery is 8,000 mAh with 100 W wired charging and 50 W wireless charging – the latter, the source notes, with a caveat about needing vivo’s proprietary charging station. Sales start on October 5, according to the source.

vivo X500 Pro Max: the 10x zoom flagship

The X500 Pro Max is the most expensive and most advanced model. It has a 6.85-inch 144 Hz display, the 2 nm Dimensity 9600 Pro, a 7,800 mAh battery and 100 W charging.

The top-end vivo X500 Pro Max

The top-of-the-line vivo X500 Pro Max

The camera is its main selling point: a 50 MP main sensor, a 50 MP ultra-wide and a 200 MP telephoto with 4.3x optical zoom. The source says the telephoto shoots without quality loss up to 10x, and up to 20x with enough detail for concert photography. These zoom claims come from the source and have not been independently verified.

An important positioning note from the source: the X500 Pro Max is not a replacement for the X300 Ultra. Its main camera is the one used in the X300 Pro, not the Ultra. The body has a slight “hump” at the top to house the optics and is thinner at the bottom. It comes in orange, black, pearl white and grey. Like the Pro, it goes on sale on October 5, per the source.

Which model makes sense?

In the source author’s assessment, the base X500 is a reasonable pick for those who want a relatively compact phone with a good camera, a large 7,500 mAh battery and a platform already familiar from the X300. The processor is the same Dimensity 9500 – no worse, but no newer. The 3.1x zoom is described as well suited to portraits, with usable results up to 6.2x.

Buyers who prioritise the most capable camera system are advised to wait for the X500 Pro Max, whose 200 MP telephoto with 10x lossless zoom the author calls a fundamentally different level. Those who want a compact flagship with the newest chip should consider the X500 Pro.