The vivo X500 series will be showcased on September 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM Chinese time. The manufacturer has already confirmed the date, four colors of both main models, and the key selling point: a periscope telephoto lens 200 MP on a 1/1.4 inch sensor in the Pro Max version.
The photographic ambassador of the brand is Jay Chou (周杰伦), who unboxed the Pro Max before the premiere — and in the process revealed an accessory that vivo had not mentioned a word about.
Note: this article was created before the official presentation. It is based on official materials from vivo and leaks from Chinese services and Weibo. Full specifications and prices will be confirmed on September 21.
Three models instead of two
vivo is splitting the series into three variants and for the first time is using the name Pro Max.
| Parameter | vivo X500 | X500 Pro | X500 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6.59″ 1.5K flat OLED | approx. 6.36″ 1.5K, 144 Hz | 6.83–6.85″ 2K LTPO, 144 Hz |
| Panel | — | — | BOE Q11 |
| Processor | Dimensity 9600M (3 nm) | Dimensity 9600 Pro (2 nm) | Dimensity 9600 Pro (2 nm) |
| Battery | 7500 mAh | approx. 6400 mAh | approx. 8000 mAh |
| Charging | 90 W + 40 W wireless | no data | 90 W |
| Main camera | 50 MP Sony LYT-828, 1/1.28″ | Phantom 900 | 50 MP Phantom 900, 3-axis gimbal |
| Telephoto | 64 MP Sony LYT-610 | 64 MP LYT-610, 85 mm | 200 MP Samsung HP0, 1/1.4″ |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP | 50 MP | 50 MP |
| Stabilization | CIPA 5.5 | CIPA 7.0 | CIPA 7.0 |
| System | OriginOS 7 | OriginOS 7 | OriginOS 7 |
The base version is by no means a poor relative. Screenshots from the “About Phone” section of the Chinese demo show Dimensity 9600M clocked at 4.21 GHz, 12 GB RAM with 24 GB of extended memory, 512 GB of storage, an additional 50 GB from compression, and a separate image processor BlueImage V3+.
Periscope 200 MP — the strongest argument for Pro Max
The heart of the X500 Pro Max is the periscope telephoto lens 200 MP on a Samsung HP0 sensor with a format of 1/1.4 inches. This is an unusual approach: most manufacturers give the largest sensor to the main camera, treating the telephoto as an addition. vivo reverses this order.
Additionally, it features 30× zoom, stabilization CIPA 7.0, and support for a detachable 400 mm teleconverter. The main camera is 50 MP with a three-axis gimbal and a dynamic range claimed at 17 EV.
The video specs are impressive on paper: 4K 240 fps, 8K in RAW, slow motion 4K 960 fps, and 4K 120 fps in 10-bit Log. All of this is produced as part of a long-standing collaboration with Zeiss.
The base model receives a Sony LYT-828 1/1.28″ sensor known from the X300 Pro, a periscope 64 MP LYT-610, and support for a 200 mm teleconverter. Stabilization at the level of CIPA 5.5.
Creator’s kit and the mysterious square screen
The most interesting element of the launch is not the phone. In Jay Chou’s unboxing, a small square display flashed, which vivo had not announced. The manufacturer confirmed that it is a 随拍屏 — an external preview monitor.
The idea is simple: you connect it to your phone and record yourself with the main camera instead of the front one, seeing the frame on a separate screen. For someone who shoots vlogs, beauty content, or unboxings from a tripod, this is the difference between a selfie lens and a full-featured rear camera.
The monitor is part of the creator kit for the X500 Pro Max, which also includes: a dedicated case, two teleconverters, a grip with a remote, and a strap. vivo has been building an ecosystem of photographic accessories around the X series for several generations, but this is the first time a separate display has landed in the box.
Colors of vivo X500 Pro Max
vivo showcased four variants, all with a two-tone back and — in some color options — flecks that illuminate at an angle.
摄夜 — “Capture the Night”, a dark, muted version.
晴天 — “Sunny Day”, a white described by vivo as “scattering clouds”.
大地回声 — “Echo of the Earth”, a silvery variant with flecks resembling the Milky Way.
The fourth is 览霞 — “Glow of the Aurora”, a warm orange visible in the opening photo of the article.
The base model receives three of the same names — 晴天, 摄夜, and 大地回声 — and instead of 览霞, it features 晨曦, meaning “Dawn”.
When is the premiere and what about Europe
The Chinese presentation will take place on September 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM. For India, leaks suggest October or November, following the V70 series.
There is no European date. vivo has been bringing the X series to our market in a trimmed version and with delays measured in months for several years, so there’s no immediate hope for the X500 Pro Max in Polish distribution — if it appears at all.
Is it worth waiting if you have the X300?
If you are using vivo X300 Pro, you have the same main camera — the LYT-828 returns in the base X500. The upgrade mainly concerns the telephoto lens, and that is the reason for the exchange, not the rest of the specifications.
However, if long focal length photography is your main scenario, the 200 MP periscope on a 1/1.4 inch sensor is simply in a different class than anything vivo has offered before.
Accessories from the X300 series will not fit — the camera module changes radically, from a rectangle to a large circle in the middle of the housing. Cases and glass for the new series will usually appear with us within a few days of the debut; all accessories for vivo phones can be found in one category.
Summary
vivo X500 Pro Max is a phone built around a telephoto lens, not around the main camera — and that is the most interesting thing about it. Additionally, it features a 2-nanometer Dimensity 9600 Pro, a battery around 8000 mAh, and an ecosystem of accessories that has grown this generation with an external preview monitor.
The base model looks more reasonable than base versions usually do: 7500 mAh, 90 W, flat 1.5K screen, and a main sensor from last year’s Pro.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
When is the vivo X500 premiere? September 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM Chinese time. The premiere in India is expected in October or November, the European date has not been announced.
What is the difference between vivo X500 Pro Max and X500 Pro? Primarily the screen and telephoto lens. Pro Max has a 6.83–6.85 inch screen and a 200 MP periscope on a 1/1.4″ sensor, while Pro is compact — about 6.36 inches — and gets a 64 MP telephoto with an 85 mm focal length. Pro Max also has a larger battery.
What processor does the vivo X500 have? The base version gets the Dimensity 9600M built on a 3 nm process, clocked at 4.21 GHz. Both Pro models use the more powerful Dimensity 9600 Pro made in 2 nm.
What is that square screen included with the X500 Pro Max? It is a 随拍屏, an external preview monitor. It allows you to record yourself with the main rear camera instead of the front one, seeing the frame on a separate display. It comes as part of the creator kit along with a case, two teleconverters, a grip, and a strap.
What colors does the vivo X500 Pro Max come in? Four: 摄夜 (night), 晴天 (sunny day), 大地回声 (earth echo), and 览霞 (glow of dawn). The base model instead of 览霞 gets 晨曦, which means “dawn”.
Does the case from the vivo X300 fit the X500? No. The camera module changes shape from rectangular to a large circle placed in the middle of the casing, so a case dedicated to the new series will be needed.
External sources: Gizmochina — overview of X500 series specifications, IT Home — official colors, Notebookcheck — confirmed launch date, iXBT — Pro Max specifications
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