Vivo’s X500 Pro Max is another phone all about the camera

Vivo has unveiled its latest camera-focused smartphone, the X500 Pro Max, bringing a new 200MP telephoto camera, improved image stabilisation and some serious video upgrades to its flagship lineup.

It’s another phone designed for photography enthusiasts, though UK buyers will once again miss out on an official launch.

The biggest upgrade is the camera system, which pairs a 50MP Sony Lytia main sensor with a 200MP periscope telephoto camera and a 50MP ultrawide lens. The main camera uses LOFIC technology to deliver up to 17 stops of dynamic range, helping preserve detail in particularly bright and dark areas of an image. Meanwhile, the larger 200MP telephoto sensor supports lossless zoom up to 10x.

Vivo has also put considerable effort into video recording. The main camera features three-degree gimbal-grade stabilisation, while the telephoto lens gets CIPA 7-rated optical image stabilisation to help reduce camera shake, particularly when shooting at longer focal lengths. There’s also 4K recording at up to 240fps, double the X300 Ultra’s 120fps limit, alongside a Pro Video Mode that supports custom LUTs with live previews and an ACES-compatible log workflow for more advanced editing.

The phone also supports Vivo’s existing Zeiss Gen 2 teleconverter lenses, offering additional 2.35x or 4.7x optical magnification. That’s useful for anyone already invested in Vivo’s camera accessories, although a new compatible case and mounting plate are required. Early hands-on impressions suggest the stabilisation performs particularly well, but the phone’s image processing can sometimes make photos look overly enhanced, especially when using the telephoto attachments.

Beyond photography, the X500 Pro Max packs MediaTek’s new Dimensity 9600 Pro 2nm processor, a 6.85-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate and up to 4,500 nits of peak brightness. There’s also a substantial 7,800mAh battery in certain markets, 90W charging, bypass charging and IP68/IP69 water and dust resistance. However, Vivo’s Origin OS 7 software still appears cluttered with unwanted prompts and preinstalled apps.

Despite being described as a global launch, the X500 Pro Max won’t officially arrive in the UK or US. Availability is confirmed for markets including Spain, India, Brazil, Italy and Singapore, with pricing expected to be announced at Vivo’s launch event.

In our X500 Pro Max review, we said: “The Vivo X500 Pro Max has a huge battery, a superb display and a versatile camera system, but aggressive throttling, camera bugs and software quirks leave it feeling unfinished next to the more polished Oppo Find X10 Pro Max.” You can see the full review below.

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