Vivo unveils X500 series with ZEISS cameras and 2nm chips

Vivo announced its X500 series of flagship smartphones in China on September 21, 2026, unveiling three models: the X500, the X500 Pro, and the X500 Pro Max. The launch positions the company more directly against rivals such as Oppo and Xiaomi in the high-end camera phone segment. The X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max are powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 9600 Pro processor, a 2nm chip, while the standard X500 uses the 3nm Dimensity 9600M. All three models ship with Android 17 and Vivo's OriginOS 17. Camera hardware is the centerpiece of the lineup. The X500 Pro Max pairs a Sony LYTIA L910 main sensor, delivering 17 EV ultra-high dynamic range, with a 200MP ZEISS APO telephoto camera that supports a 400mm-equivalent ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Ultra. Vivo says the device records 4K 240fps cinematic slow-motion video and 8K native live video, and integrates the company's V3 and VS1 imaging chips. The main camera achieves 3-degree gimbal-grade optical image stabilization, with both main and telephoto cameras rated at CIPA 7.0 professional stabilization. Vivo also emphasized video capabilities, introducing what it calls the BlueImage Dynamic Imaging Technology Stack.