Vivo has just presented the X300 Ultraits flagship for 2026, and the truth is that the phone fulfills what the rumors promised. The Chinese manufacturer has been building a solid reputation in mobile photography for years, and with this model it is not taking a step back: real improvements in hardware, software and a clear will to compete on a global level.
The interesting thing is that vivo has not thrown overboard what was already working. The three-camera system—14mm wide-angle, 35mm main, and 85mm— remains the same as before. What changes is everything behind it. The most obvious jump is in the main sensor: a Sony Lytia 901 200 MP with 1/1.12″ format, almost a full inch, and four times the resolution than the previous model. It's not a touch-up, it's a category change.
Compared to the Galaxy S26 Ultra
Compare it with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra It's inevitable, so it's better to do it directly. Samsung did not renew the main or wide-angle camera sensors in this generation, which leaves vivo with a clear advantage in the telephoto: 1/1.4″ sensor compared to the 1/2.5″ of the Galaxy. The 85 mm telephoto also debuts the Samsung ISOCELL HP0 —yes, the same Samsung—, with double the focusing speed and a gimbal-type OIS with the highest CIPA 7.0 certification on the market. The only problem is that the openings are somewhat more closed than in the X200 Ultrawhich can take its toll in low light situations.
Where there is no possible discussion is in the battery. 6,600 mAh with fast charging 100W and 40 W wireless charging, compared to the 5,000 mAh and 60 W of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. A difference that, on a day-to-day basis, is truly noticeable.
More than a mobile phone with good cameras
Vivo does not sell the X300 Ultra as a smartphone with a good photography system, but as a photography platform that also makes calls. It sounds like marketing, but the arguments have weight: support for two optional external teleconverters – the 400 mm “Cannon 400” and the 200 mm “Lipstick 200” -, 4K video at 120 fps in 10-bit Log at all focal lengths, import of 3D LUTs and compatibility with the ACES professional workflow. Added to all this is a new color sensor. 50 MP with 12 spectral channels. For someone serious about mobile photography, it's hard to find a direct rival on paper.
The rest of the device does not clash: screen 6.82″ AMOLED with resolution 1440 x 3168 px and adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 144 Hz, processor Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and up to 16 GB of RAM.
Vivo X300 Ultra technical sheet
- Screen: 6.82″ LTPO AMOLED, 1440 x 3168 px (~510 ppi), 1-144 Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid
- Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm), 12/16 GB RAM, UFS 4.1
- Main chamber: 200 MP f/1.85, 35 mm, Sony Lytia 901 1/1.12″ sensor, OIS CIPA 6.5, Zeiss optics
- Wide angle: 1/1.28″ sensor, 14 mm (reused from the X200 Ultra)
- Telephoto: 200 MP f/2.67, 85 mm, Samsung ISOCELL HP0 1/1.4″ sensor, OIS CIPA 7.0 gimbal
- Frontal: 50MP f/2.5, 24mm
- Battery: 6,600 mAh Si/C, 100 W charging + 40 W wireless
- Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, USB-C 3.2 with DisplayPort
- Protection: IP68/IP69
- Storage: 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB (without microSD slot)
- Price: from ~6,499 CNY (~€840) in China; European price to be confirmed
Price and availability
The launch begins in China, with four configurations: 12/256 GB, 12/512 GB, 16/512 GB and 16 GB/1 TB —the latter includes satellite communication—. The colors are Black, Silver and Red, with Green reserved for the Chinese market. The base price is around 6,499 yuan, something like 840 euros to change.
The most significant news for many users is another: for the first time in the history of the Ultra series, the X300 Ultra will hit the global market. The X200 Ultra never arrived outside of Asia, so this move is relevant for the brand. Vivo has not confirmed dates or prices for Europeand that's the key. If they manage to fine-tune the price – which is not a small thing – this could be one of the most interesting phones of the year for those who take mobile photography seriously. If they slow down, they will arrive late and expensive in a market where Samsung and Apple have not given up ground easily for years.
