vivo X500 Series brings cinema-style video tools to smartphones
vivo has launched its X500 Series in China, with the new flagship range placing greater emphasis on video capabilities alongside smartphone photography.
The series comprises the vivo X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max, with vivo positioning the devices as part of its broader strategy to develop what it describes as “dynamic imaging” – combining photography, video and live content capabilities.
At the launch, vivo vice-president Huang Tao said the company aimed to make the X500 Series suitable for professional creators while keeping its imaging features accessible to everyday users.
“The professional ceiling of the vivo X500 Series must be high enough to become a productivity tool for creators; the barrier to a great user experience must be low enough for anyone to capture cinematic footage effortlessly,” he said.
The top-end X500 Pro Max features a new vivo-Sony LYTIA L910 sensor, which vivo claims can deliver up to 17 stops of dynamic range in its output.
It also comes with a 200MP ZEISS APO telephoto camera, support for a 400mm-equivalent vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Ultra, 4K 240fps slow-motion video and 8K Native Live.
The Pro Max is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro chipset and incorporates vivo’s V3+ and VS1+ imaging chips. It also features a 6.85-inch 2K ZEISS Master Color Display and a 7,800mAh BlueVolt battery.
The X500 Pro shares several of the imaging features, including a ZEISS APO telephoto camera and CIPA 7.0 professional stabilisation, according to vivo.
The X500 Pro series is also designed around video creation, supporting 4K 120fps video, 10-bit 4:2:2 Log recording and ACES colour management.
vivo said it has worked with DaVinci to support colour transformation for Log footage, allowing users to work with smartphone footage within the same colour space used by professional cinema workflows.
The devices also support 4K 120fps autofocus tracking video and 4K Cinematic Portrait Video.
For users seeking a more accessible approach to filmmaking, vivo has included a Cinema mode with features such as Auto Framing Video, Vortex Shot, Super Slow-Mo and Dual View.
The X500 Pro series also introduces six cinematic video colour styles, including Golden, Platinum, Sunny Day, Paris Afterglow, Noir and Amber.
Meanwhile, the standard vivo X500 adopts a vivo-Sony LYTIA 828 main camera sensor, paired with ZEISS Gimbal-Grade OIS.
Its telephoto camera uses the vivo-Sony LYTIA 610 sensor, with support for 64MP imaging, 4K 120fps slow-motion video and CIPA 5.5 professional stabilisation.
The X500 also supports 4K 120fps slow motion, 4K 60fps Cinematic Portrait Video, 4K 120fps 10-bit Log and 4K 120fps HLG video.
One feature shared across the three models is 8K Native Live, which vivo says is intended to provide greater detail in live content.
The standard X500 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9600M chipset and comes with a 7,500mAh BlueVolt battery, a 6.59-inch ZEISS Master Color Display, 90W FlashCharge and 40W wireless charging.
All three models run OriginOS 7, with features including Origin Workbench and Seamless Interaction.
The X500 and X500 Pro Max also support vivo’s external ZEISS telephoto accessories. The X500 can be paired with the 200mm-equivalent vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2, while the X500 Pro Max supports the 400mm-equivalent version.
The X500 Pro Max is available in Sunny White, Starry Gray, Moonlit Black and Sunset Orange, while the X500 comes in Starry Gray, Sunny White, Dawn Pink and Dusk Black.
vivo has not yet confirmed Malaysian pricing or an official local launch date for the series.
The company said the X500 Series could arrive in Malaysia in October, although details have yet to be officially announced.
The launch marks vivo’s latest push into smartphone video and live-content creation, expanding its imaging strategy beyond still photography.
