The Vivo X300 Ultra ships with a new 200-megapixel main sensor and, according to multiple reviewers, offers the best camera system in any phone to date. Vivo and reviewers point to the phone's larger main sensor, a 35mm-equivalent main focal length, and improved stabilization as the hardware changes that matter most. The phone pairs that main sensor with a large ultrawide that has optical image stabilization and a high-resolution periscope at a moderate telephoto focal length, delivering unusually consistent image quality across zoom ranges. Vivo has signaled a broader global rollout for the model.

Vivo built the X300 Ultra around Sony's new LYT-901 200-megapixel main sensor. Reviewers and Vivo both identify that 1/1.12-inch unit as the headline upgrade over last year's model. They also note that it's the largest 200MP sensor used in a smartphone so far.

Sensor choice and stabilization

The X300 Ultra keeps an unusually narrow main-camera framing for a modern flagship. Rather than the wider 23-26mm equivalents most rivals use, Vivo preserves a 35mm-equivalent focal length for the primary camera. Reviewers say that choice gives photos a more natural, photographer-friendly framing and reduces the need to step back for portraits and street shots.

Stabilization was another explicit area of improvement. Vivo and reviewers report the main-camera stabilization jumped to CIPA 6.5, up from the previous generation's CIPA 5.0. Reviewers credit that boost, along with the larger sensor, for crisper handheld shots and smoother low-light exposures.

Vivo didn't chase extreme tele hardware this year. Instead the company kept a high-resolution periscope while dialing back extreme focal-length claims in favor of balance across lenses. The telephoto uses a 200MP sensor at an approximately 85mm-equivalent focal length with a reported sensor size of roughly 1/1.4 inch. Reviewers say the periscope benefits from improved stabilization and processing, producing strong 10x and longer-range images with good detail and reliable autofocus behavior.

Ultrawide, zoom, and software

The ultrawide is also bigger than typical. Reviewers point out the ultrawide includes optical image stabilization, which makes ultrawide photos and video look closer to main-camera output than the usual competing results. Multiple reviews describe the three rear lenses as delivering comparable image quality across lighting conditions.

Motion blur is the most common remaining weakness, with reviewers noting it can appear on telephoto and ultrawide shots under some circumstances.

Mastheads

Software and capture tools are a material part of Vivo's pitch. The company added pro-level video tools, updated its image signal processing, and expanded color options. Reviewers highlighted new user-facing controls such as custom color profiles that can be shared. Those profiles proved useful to some reviewers who wanted to dial down Vivo's default vivid profile.

One review highlighted a feature called Raw Lighting, which reduces heavy computational processing to produce more natural-looking output. That same reviewer noted Raw Lighting is already available to X200 Ultra users via a software update, suggesting Vivo plans to roll similar controls across its lineup.

On zoom and low-light performance, reviewers report tangible gains at extended magnifications. Improvements to stabilization and processing deliver better results at 200 percent to 300 percent zoom and in low-light zoom shots. The net effect is more usable long-range detail and fewer missed autofocus moments than on prior Vivo models.

Vivo also showed accessory optics for the X300 Ultra. The company demonstrated a ZEISS-branded telephoto extender, and one outlet listed roughly 17x and 8.7x external add-on lenses in its coverage. Those accessories substantially increase effective focal length, though coverage of their exact specifications is limited to single sources.

Beyond cameras, the X300 Ultra's platform specs are typical for a flagship. The phone ships with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, 12GB to 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage.

The screen is a 144Hz OLED at 3168 by 1440 resolution. Vivo fitted a large 6,600mAh battery and lists 100W wired and 40W wireless charging for some variants.

Pricing and availability remain inconsistently reported. One review states the X300 Ultra has been released to global markets, presenting the device as the first Ultra model to reach buyers outside China. Other reports indicate Vivo launched the phone in China with a global debut planned or expected. One outlet explicitly reported Vivo was expecting a global launch by the end of the month, while other coverage framed global availability as forthcoming rather than current.

Reviewers broadly praised the camera kit, calling it the best system they've used on a phone. They singled out the combination of a larger main sensor, a photographer-friendly 35mm-equivalent main focal length, stronger stabilization, and a high-resolution periscope as the reasons the X300 Ultra handles many real-world shooting tasks with fewer compromises.

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Vivo has signaled a broader global rollout for the X300 Ultra.

This article was created with AI assistance.