vivo X500 Series Officially Launches With Three New variants: X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max

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vivo has officially taken the wraps off its newest flagship smartphone family, the vivo X500 series, which brings three new models to the lineup: the vivo X500, vivo X500 Pro, and vivo X500 Pro Max.The new phones were unveiled in Shanghai on September 21, 2026, with vivo putting a major focus on mobile photography, video recording and overall performance.

Rather than simply increasing camera megapixels, vivo says the X500 series is built around its new BlueImage Dynamic Imaging Technology Stack, which combines camera sensors, imaging chips, processing and software to improve both photos and videos. The Pro Max is naturally the star of the show, but the regular X500 and X500 Pro also bring some serious upgrades of their own.

vivo X500 Series

The three phones sit at different levels of the flagship lineup. The vanilla X500 offers a high-end MediaTek chipset, ZEISS-branded cameras, a 144Hz OLED display and a large battery. The X500 Pro moves to a smaller 6.36-inch display while upgrading to MediaTek’s new 2nm Dimensity 9600 Pro platform and adding more advanced imaging and video features. At the top is the X500 Pro Max, which pushes the camera system, display and battery even further.

Here’s how the three models compare at a glance:

Feature	vivo X500	vivo X500 Pro	vivo X500 Pro Max
Display	6.59-inch OLED	6.36-inch OLED	6.85-inch 2K OLED
Processor	Dimensity 9600M	Dimensity 9600 Pro	Dimensity 9600 Pro
Process	3nm	2nm	2nm
Main camera	ZEISS high-dynamic-range camera	ZEISS high-dynamic-range camera	50MP high-dynamic-range camera
Telephoto	ZEISS APO telephoto	ZEISS APO telephoto	200MP ZEISS APO telephoto
Battery	7,500mAh	6,510mAh	8,000mAh
Software	OriginOS 7	OriginOS 7	OriginOS 7
Starting price in China	CNY 5,499	CNY 6,499	CNY 6,999

vivo X500: The regular model gets a big upgrade

The standard vivo X500 may be the most affordable model in the series, but it is far from a basic flagship. It comes with a 6.59-inch ZEISS Master Color display and is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600M processor. The chip is built using a 3nm process and is paired with 12GB of RAM, with storage options going up to 1TB in China.

One of the biggest surprises is its battery. The X500 packs a 7,500mAh silicon-carbon battery, giving it a substantially larger capacity than what is normally found in flagship smartphones.

On the camera side, the X500 gets a ZEISS camera system with a high-dynamic-range main sensor, ZEISS APO telephoto camera and an ultra-wide camera. It also benefits from vivo’s new imaging system, giving the regular model access to features such as cinematic video modes, Live Moments and improved long-range photography.

The X500 is therefore positioned as the model for users who want much of the flagship X-series experience without moving all the way up to the Pro models. Prices starts at CNY 5,499 for the 12GB+256GB version, with 512GB and 1TB versions also available.

vivo X500 Pro: Smaller, more professional hardware

The vivo X500 Pro takes a different approach. Instead of getting physically larger, the Pro model actually uses a 6.36-inch ZEISS Master Color display, making it the smallest phone in the X500 lineup.

Under the hood, however, it receives a major upgrade. The X500 Pro is powered by MediaTek’s new Dimensity 9600 Pro, manufactured using a 2nm process. It is one of the first smartphone platforms to move to this new manufacturing technology. The phone also gets a 6,510mAh silicon-carbon battery, ZEISS camera hardware and the more advanced imaging technologies introduced with the X500 family.

Video is one of the major areas where the Pro model separates itself from the regular X500. The X500 Pro supports professional-oriented features including 10-bit Log video, high-frame-rate recording, enhanced subject tracking and cinematic video features. vivo also says the Pro series can record 4K video at up to 120fps and supports 4K 240fps cinematic slow motion.

The X500 Pro starts at CNY 6,499 in China for the 12GB+256GB configuration. Higher storage and RAM configurations are also available, including versions with up to 1TB of storage.

vivo X500 Pro Max: Maxing up the specs

Then there’s the phone that will probably attract the most attention: the vivo X500 Pro Max. This is the biggest and most camera-focused member of the new lineup. It features a large 6.85-inch 2K ZEISS Master Color display, making it noticeably larger than the 6.36-inch X500 Pro. But the camera system is where the Pro Max really stands out.

A 200MP ZEISS Super Telephoto Camera

The X500 Pro Max comes with a 200-megapixel ZEISS APO super-telephoto camera. The system supports a native telephoto focal length equivalent to around 200mm, while vivo also offers its ZEISS G2 Ultra teleconverter, taking the equivalent focal length to around 400mm. That gives the Pro Max considerably more reach for subjects such as concerts, sports, wildlife and distant objects.

The 200MP telephoto camera is carried over from the camera technology seen on vivo’s previous Ultra-level devices, making it one of the phone’s biggest photography features.

The main camera also gets a major upgrade. The X500 Pro Max uses a 50-megapixel main camera with vivo’s new BlueImage LightGuard 900 sensor technology, designed to deliver extremely high dynamic range.

vivo says the sensor can deliver 17EV of dynamic range, allowing the camera to preserve more detail between extremely bright and dark areas. In simple terms, this is designed to help when you’re taking photos or videos where the lighting is difficult such as a person standing in front of a bright window, a sunset scene or a concert with strong stage lighting.

4K 240fps Video Comes to the Pro Models

vivo is also making video a major selling point of the X500 Pro and Pro Max. Both models support 4K 240fps cinematic slow-motion recording, allowing users to slow down fast-moving scenes while retaining much more detail than traditional slow-motion modes. The phones also support professional 10-bit Log video, 8K recording and enhanced subject tracking.

vivo says the X500 Pro series can use its imaging hardware and software to maintain subject tracking even when a person or object becomes temporarily blocked by something in the foreground. For people who actually shoot video with their phones, this could be one of the more important upgrades in the new generation.

vivo BlueImage Imaging System

Instead of treating the camera as simply a collection of lenses and sensors, vivo is introducing what it calls the BlueImage Dynamic Imaging Technology Stack. The system combines vivo’s imaging algorithms, custom imaging chips, camera sensors and processing hardware.

On the X500 Pro and Pro Max, the system also includes vivo’s V3+ and VS1 imaging chips. The goal is to improve everything from dynamic range and stabilization to color processing and video recording. There are also new cinematic color profiles designed to give videos different film-like looks without requiring users to manually color-grade everything afterward.

For regular users, the important part is that many of these features are designed to work automatically. vivo has even added a dedicated cinema mode designed to simplify the process of creating more polished-looking videos.

Huge Batteries Across the Series

Battery capacity is another area where vivo has gone big. The regular X500 comes with a 7,500mAh battery, while the X500 Pro uses a 6,510mAh battery. The X500 Pro Max goes even further with an enormous 8,000mAh battery.

All three use silicon-carbon battery technology, which allows vivo to fit much larger battery capacities into relatively slim smartphone bodies. The Pro Max, in particular, could be an interesting option for people who prioritize battery life and don’t mind carrying a larger phone.

2nm Dimensity 9600 Pro

The X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max are also among the first smartphones built around MediaTek’s new Dimensity 9600 Pro platform. The chip uses a 2nm manufacturing process, while the standard X500 uses the 3nm Dimensity 9600M.

Beyond raw performance, moving to a smaller manufacturing process is important because it can improve efficiency and help manufacturers balance performance with power consumption. For the X500 Pro models, the new processor also plays a role in advanced video processing, including the high-frame-rate video capabilities of the phones.

OriginOS 7 Comes Out of the Box

With every flagship release, comes new software and the entire X500 continues on that tradition as it launches with OriginOS 7, vivo’s newest software platform. The company has added new multitasking and interaction features, including its Atomic Workbench and interruptible interaction functions.

vivo also says the new phones have gone through a 72-month anti-aging test model in its laboratories, although real-world software longevity will ultimately depend on updates and usage.

vivo X500 Series China Prices

For its initial Chinese launch, vivo has priced the three models as follows:

vivo X500

• 12GB + 256GB : CNY 5,499
• 12GB + 512GB : CNY 5,999
• 12GB + 1TB : CNY 6,999

vivo X500 Pro

• 12GB + 256GB : CNY 6,499
• 12GB + 512GB : CNY 7,499
• 16GB + 512GB : CNY 7,999
• 12GB + 1TB : CNY 8,499
• 16GB + 1TB : CNY 8,999

vivo X500 Pro Max

• 12GB + 256GB : CNY 6,999
• 12GB + 512GB : CNY 7,999
• 16GB + 512GB : CNY 8,499
• 12GB + 1TB satellite communication version : CNY 8,999
• 16GB + 1TB Creator Edition : CNY 12,999

The X500 and X500 Pro Max go on sale in China on September 24, while the X500 Pro follows on September 29.

The global rollout is expected to follow, but availability can also vary by market. Current reports indicate that vivo has announced international expansion plans, while specific markets and configurations may differ from the Chinese models.