Vivo’s X500 Pro Max Is Turning the Camera into the Main Event

The Vivo X500 series is set to launch in China on September 21, bringing three new phones with a heavy focus on smartphone photography and video. The X500 Pro Max is the headline act, with a 50MP main camera, 200MP telephoto, up to 17EV of dynamic range, 4K 240fps slow-motion recording and CIPA 7.0 stabilization with a 3-degree gimbal system.

An India launch is expected in October, although Vivo has yet to confirm the date.

After weeks of teasers, we finally know when Vivo will show off the X500 series and, more importantly, what the company has been building around its cameras.

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The lineup: three phones, one launch date

The Vivo X500 series will comprise the standard X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max. All three are scheduled to launch in China on September 21.

The timing is also interesting. MediaTek is expected to unveil its next-generation flagship Dimensity processors on September 15, just six days before Vivo’s launch. The X500 Pro Max is expected to use the Dimensity 9600 Pro, while the standard X500 is expected to use the Dimensity 9600.

The camera upgrades

Cameras are clearly where Vivo wants most of the attention.

The X500 Pro Max will feature a new 50MP main camera based on Sony’s LYT-910 sensor, which Vivo markets as the BluePrint LightGuard 900. It is designed to deliver up to 17EV of dynamic range, while the series will support 4K 240fps slow motion and 4K 120fps HDR video.

The Pro Max also gets CIPA 7.0 stabilisation, with up to three degrees of physical movement to help compensate for camera shake. Its 200MP HP0 telephoto camera is designed for long-range photography and can support a 400mm external teleconverter.