As vivo prepares to unveil a new addition to its V series here in Malaysia, the Chinese phone maker has other devices in the works. The company is gearing up to refresh its flagship X lineup, and it has confirmed that there will be three models in the series. The X500, X500 Pro, and X500 Pro Max are set to debut on the brand’s home turf in September.
For now, the company has yet to reveal the specific launch date. However, vivo Product Manager Han Boxiao has confirmed a few tidbits about the upcoming devices. As detailed in a Weibo post, the lineup will focus on videography, with cinema-grade video recording capabilities.
To start, the new series will feature what the brand is calling a “ZEISS Ultra Dynamic Main Camera”. This camera is built around a Phantom 900 sensor developed by Sony and vivo’s Blueprint imaging team. According to the Weibo post, this sensor delivers a 17EV dynamic range and supports 4K 240fps slow-motion and 4K 120fps HDR video recording.
Beyond that, the executive revealed that the Pro Max model will feature a main camera that supports 3-degree optical image stabilisation. Finally, CIPA 7.0 professional-grade stabilisation will also be on board. Improvements to photography, OS, and display are also among the expected upgrades, but no specifics have been disclosed just yet.
Leaks And Rumours Abound
Although the brand has not offered much information on the phones, leaks have been circulating online. Last week, a tech blogger shared images of what may be the vivo X500 Pro Max. Based on the pictures, it seems that this particular model will retain the familiar circular camera module on the rear. Aside from that, though, no substantial information about the device can be gleaned.
Not long after those photographs appeared, more images of the lineup surfaced. These seem to be at the very least AI-upscaled or edited, so they certainly lean a lot more on the dubious side. The Pro model depicted in one of the images seems to align with the prior leak, though. In any case, there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly surprising here.
On the other hand, the supposed base model may raise some eyebrows. Apparently, the phone will feature a smaller (but still circular) camera module positioned on the top left corner. Said module will also supposedly sit on top of a rectangular plateau, marrying vivo’s design language with that of Apple’s. It’s an odd choice, for sure, but if the leaks prove accurate, that might be the new trend among Chinese flagships. The upcoming HONOR Magic9 series seems to be adopting the look.
Going back to the vivo X500 lineup, though, the base version is said to feature a 6.59-inch AMOLED display. The Pro and Pro Max models will reportedly sport 6.37-inch and 6.85-inch panels respectively. Internally, the vanilla variant will supposedly pack a MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset, which would make it more affordable than its fancier siblings. Speaking of which, the Pro models are expected to run on the Dimensity 9600. Finally, all members of the series will allegedly feature batteries with a capacity of at least 7,000mAh.
Global Availability
Of course, it goes without saying that leaks, particularly those of the AI-generated variety, are to be taken with a grain of salt. We will have confirmation once the phones officially launch. That being said, the September debut seems to only concern the Chinese market. For now, the company has yet to disclose details on global availability. Given its track record, though, we can only expect a local launch not too long after the China debut.
Other than that, vivo’s announcement only covers these three models, with no mention of an Ultra variant. This is not out of the ordinary, as the brand typically launches the most premium version later. However, previous reports suggest that this particular model won’t be making its way to international markets, unlike its predecessor.
(Source: Han Boxiao via Weibo)
