The Vivo X-series has long been the best-kept secret for photography enthusiasts, but with the release of the Vivo X300 Pro, the secret is officially out. Following up on the widely acclaimed X200 Pro, Vivo had a gargantuan task: how do you improve on near-perfection? The answer, it seems, lies in a new 200MP telephoto sensor, the beastly MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset, and a battery so large it defies the laws of physics for a phone this thin.
Having tested the device for the past two weeks since its December 2025 debut, here is the deep dive.
Design and Display
The most immediate change from the X200 generation is the hand feel. Vivo has finally embraced the industry shift toward flatter aesthetics. The X300 Pro features a “micro-quad-curved” screen that looks flat but feels smooth to the swipe. It retains the massive circular camera module—now dubbed the “Sunburst Halo”—which signals serious imaging business.
- Screen: 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz
- Brightness: 4500 nits (peak)
- Build: IP69 dust/water resistance
The display is stunning, pushing 1.5K resolution. The move to a flatter chassis makes the phone easier to grip, which is vital given the heavy camera housing. It comes in a sophisticated Dune Brown and Phantom Black, with the vegan leather on the Brown variant offering excellent grip.
Camera
Let’s not bury the lede: you are buying this phone for the cameras. Vivo continues its partnership with ZEISS, and the results are frankly ridiculous.
- Main Sensor: 50MP Sony LYT-828 (1-inch type equivalent quality)
- Telephoto: 200MP Samsung HPB Periscope (3.5x Optical)
- Ultrawide: 50MP Samsung JN1
The 200MP Telephoto Magic The star of the show is the new 200MP periscope lens. While the 3.5x optical zoom provides beautiful portraits with creamy, DSLR-like bokeh, the real magic happens at 10x and 20x hybrid zoom. The clarity is retained so well that you can read street signs from blocks away. Vivo’s “Telephoto Macro” mode also returns, allowing you to take microscopic shots from a comfortable distance, creating artistic, bug-eye perspectives without casting a shadow on your subject.
ZEISS Portraits Vivo’s signature portrait modes are better than ever. The new ZEISS Cine-flare portrait style adds cinematic lens flares that look authentic, not tacky. Skin tones are handled with a master touch—preserving texture rather than smoothing it into a plastic mess, a common flaw in competitors like the iPhone 17 series.
Performance
Under the hood, the X300 Pro runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9500. In 2025, the gap between Snapdragon and MediaTek is non-existent.
The phone flies through everything. From editing 4K videos directly on the device to playing Genshin Impact at max settings, the X300 Pro barely gets warm, thanks to an upgraded vapor chamber cooling system. The 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM ensures apps stay open in the background indefinitely.
Software
The device ships with OriginOS 6, based on Android 16. Historically, software was Vivo’s weak point, but OriginOS 6 is a massive leap forward. It introduces the “Atomic Island” (a dynamic notification hub similar to Apple’s Dynamic Island) and much cleaner typography.
However, it is still dense. There are endless customization options, which can be overwhelming for a casual user. Bloatware is reduced but not entirely gone—you will still spend the first 20 minutes uninstalling pre-loaded junk.
Battery Life
Perhaps the most surprising upgrade is the battery.
- Capacity: 6,510 mAh
- Charging: 90W Wired, 40W Wireless
Vivo utilized new silicon-carbon battery technology to stuff 6,510 mAh into an 8mm thick body. In my testing, this resulted in nearly 10 hours of screen-on time. I took the phone off the charger at 7 AM, shot 200 photos, used GPS for an hour, and streamed music all day—and went to bed with 35% left. This is a game-changer for photographers who hate carrying power banks.
The Verdict
The Vivo X300 Pro is not just a smartphone; it is a camera with a phone attached. It is expensive at ₹1,09,999, but it replaces a Kindle, a DSLR, and a PC for many users.
