Vivo has kicked off its teaser campaign for the upcoming Vivo X500 series launch in India, carrying the tagline “ZEISS Cinematics. Create Further.” The teaser confirms that the flagship camera-centric line up is “Coming Soon” to India, alongside the Vivo Watch GT 2 smartwatch. The official promotional images highlight the top-spec Vivo X500 Pro Max in a vibrant Sunset Orange colour option. The entire line up for India is expected to comprise three models: the base Vivo X500, the Vivo X500 Pro, and the flagship Vivo X500 Pro Max.
Continuation of ZEISS Partnership & Telephoto Lens Extender
The teaser confirms that Vivo is taking its camera partnership with ZEISS to the next level with the new series. A key highlight is the ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Ultra, an external add-on lens that provides up to 400 mm of focal length.
This specialized extender will be sold separately and will work exclusively with the top-end Vivo X500 Pro Max. Additionally, all smartphones in the X500 line up will run on the OriginOS 7 update based on Android 17 out of the box.
Technical Specifications Comparison Table
Having already launched in China, along with global rollouts for the Pro and Pro Max variants, the complete hardware specs of the X500 lineup are already out:
| Feature / Hardware | Vivo X500 | Vivo X500 Pro | Vivo X500 Pro Max |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 9600M | MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro | MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro |
| Display Setup | 6.59-inch 1.5K, 144 Hz refresh rate | 6.36-inch 1.5K LTPO, 144 Hz refresh rate | 6.85-inch 2K, 144 Hz refresh rate |
| Primary Rear Camera | 50 MP main sensor | 50 MP Sony LYT-L910 main sensor | 50 MP Sony LYT-L910 main sensor |
| Telephoto Camera | 64 MP periscope (3.1x optical) | 64 MP periscope (3.5x optical) | 200 MP periscope (3.5x optical) |
| Ultra-Wide & Selfie | 50 MP Ultra-wide / 50 MP Selfie | 50 MP Ultra-wide / 50 MP Selfie | 50 MP Ultra-wide / 50 MP Selfie |
| Battery Capacity | 7,500 mAh | 6,510 mAh | 8,000 mAh |
| Charging Speeds | 90W wired / 40W wireless | 90W wired / 40W wireless | 90W wired / 40W wireless |
| Durability Ratings | Dual IP68 + IP69 dust and water resistance | Dual IP68 + IP69 dust and water resistance | Dual IP68 + IP69 dust and water resistance |
Vivo Watch GT 2 Companion Launch
Appearing alongside the smartphones in the teaser is the Vivo Watch GT 2. Already available in select international markets, the smartwatch features a 2.07-inch AMOLED display and is rated to deliver up to 33 days of battery life, hinting at a joint launch in India alongside the X500 series.
Expected Pricing & Market Positioning
While official Indian pricing will be confirmed only at launch, the ongoing memory chip costs suggest pricing will lean towards the higher end. For baseline reference, China pricing for the line up stands at:
- Vivo X500: Starts at 5,499 Yuan (~Rs 79,000)
- Vivo X500 Pro: Starts at 6,499 Yuan (~Rs 93,000)
- Vivo X500 Pro Max: Starts at 6,999 Yuan (~Rs 1,00,000)
Due to local import duties and taxes, Indian retail prices are expected to sit higher, with the entry-level X500 likely starting around Rs 95,000, while the Pro and Pro Max variants could easily cross the 1-lakh mark. This will place them in direct rivalry with the recently launched Oppo Find X10 series, which retails at Rs 1,39,999 for the Find X10 and Rs 1,99,999 for the Find X10 Pro Max.
My Thoughts
“Vivo bringing the X500 series alongside the Watch GT 2 to India is big news for mobile photography enthusiasts. Traditionally Vivo’s X-series has consistently set the benchmark for camera performance, giving hard competition to Samsung and Apple. By packing MediaTek’s flagship Dimensity 9600 series chips, up to an 8,000mAh battery, dual IP68+IP69 protection, and bringing an optional 400mm ZEISS Telephoto Extender for the Pro Max, Vivo isn’t holding anything back. Even if Indian pricing crosses Rs 95,000, serious camera enthusiasts and creators looking for absolute top-tier optics and long battery life will find this series hard to resist. On a different note, just a few years back a flagship phone was below the 1 lakh mark, now its another story, even if the memory shortage eases these prices are not coming back down.”
— Avin Richards
