Every phone launch promises to reinvent mobile photography. I’m not buying it. With the X500 series, Vivo is betting on the zoom camera. Most flagships handle close-up shots well. They fall short when your subject is far away or moving fast. Picture a batsman mid-shot from the stands.
vivo’s India teasers push the tagline “ZEISS Cinematics. Create Further.” and show two of the three phones with the extender, all set for a November 26 launch. Vivo also confirmed the Watch GT 2 will launch with the X500 series. Most hardware details are public, but Indian prices, variants, and sale dates remain a mystery. Unless I say otherwise, consider every price and India-specific spec below a tip.
X500 Pro Max: built for the shots your phone usually misses
The Pro Max stands out. Its 200MP periscope telephoto uses a 1/1.4-inch sensor, which is large for a zoom camera. Tipped Indian specs put it at 3.5x. You also get a 50MP main camera with a 1/1.28-inch sensor and a 50MP ultrawide to complete the rear setup.
The ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Ultra is a clip-on lens that extends reach well beyond the built-in zoom. It reportedly offers a 400 mm equivalent and works only with the Pro Max. Vivo hasn’t announced its Indian price.
The rest of the phone is just as oversized. There’s a 6.85-inch 2K LTPO OLED at up to 144Hz and an 8,000mAh battery. Charging is fast too, with 90W wired and 40W wireless.
ALSO READ: vivo X500 Ultra launch tipped for March to April 2027 with Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
X500 Pro: the same chip in a smaller body
The X500 Pro is for anyone who wants flagship hardware in a phone that actually fits in one hand. It packs a 6.36-inch 1.5K LTPO display and the same Dimensity 9600 Pro chip as the Pro Max. The 6,510mAh battery is big for this size. Most smaller flagships struggle with battery life, but this one looks promising.
The trade-off is the telephoto. Here, you get a 64MP periscope at 3.5x instead of the Pro Max’s 200MP sensor.
X500: the one to watch
The standard X500 uses the Dimensity 9600M, which is a step down from the Pro chip. Tipped specs include a 6.59-inch 1.5K LTPS OLED, a 7,500mAh battery, and a 64MP 3x telephoto with OIS. If the ₹1,19,999 tip holds, this is the model most Indian buyers will look at. What matters is how the camera and battery actually perform.
ALSO READ: Samsung’s Galaxy S27+ Just Cleared its India Paperwork. Now About That Price
vivo X500 vs X500 Pro vs X500 Pro Max Specs
| Specs | vivo X500 | vivo X500 Pro | vivo X500 Pro Max |
| Display | 6.59-inch 1.5K LTPS OLED | 6.36-inch 1.5K LTPO OLED | 6.85-inch 2K LTPO OLED |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz | 144Hz | 144Hz |
| Chipset | Dimensity 9600M | Dimensity 9600 Pro | Dimensity 9600 Pro |
| Main camera | 50MP | 50MP | 50MP |
| Ultrawide | 50MP | 50MP | 50MP |
| Telephoto | 64MP, 3x | 64MP, 3.5x | 200MP, 3.5x |
| Telephoto extender | No | No | Yes |
| Battery | 7,500mAh | 6,510mAh | 8,000mAh |
| Charging | 90W wired, 40W wireless | 90W wired, 40W wireless | 90W wired, 40W wireless |
Price will decide the series. Last year’s X300 Ultra launched in India at ₹1,59,999, with sales starting May 14, 2026. It will be intresting to see at what price Pro Max lands in India. The Pro Max is tipped at ₹1,79,999, with sales expected to start December 2.
vivo Watch GT 2
vivo has confirmed the Watch GT 2 for India, and it will sell separately from the phones. This is reportedly vivo’s first smartwatch launch in the country. Vivo hasn’t published India specs yet. Tipped details include a 2.07-inch AMOLED display with up to 2,400 nits brightness, 25 days of battery life, and a price around ₹20,000. Battery claims like this usually reflect light use, so treat that number as a ceiling.
What we don’t know
- The event start time and how Vivo will stream it.
- Official prices, offers and sale dates.
- Which memory and storage variants reach India.
- The price of the ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Ultra.
- Official specs for the Watch GT 2 and the X500.
FAQ
When is the Vivo X500 series launching in India?
November 26, 2026, according to Vivo India. The Vivo Watch GT 2 launches alongside it.
What is the expected price of the Vivo X500 series in India?
Tipster Sanju Choudhary expects the X500 to cost ₹1,19,999, the Pro ₹1,49,999, and the Pro Max ₹1,59,999. Vivo has not announced official prices.
Which devices are launching with the Vivo X500 series?
The Vivo Watch GT 2 and the ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Ultra. Vivo has confirmed both for India.
Which chipset does the Vivo X500 series use?
The Pro and Pro Max use the 2nm MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro, and the standard X500 uses the Dimensity 9600M.
What is the difference between the Vivo X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max?
The Pro Max has a bigger 6.85-inch 2K display, a 200MP periscope telephoto, and an 8,000mAh battery. The Pro has a 6.36-inch 1.5K display, a 64MP telephoto, and a 6,510mAh battery. Both use the same chip.
Does the telephoto extender work with every X500 phone?
No, it works only with the X500 Pro Max.
Is the Vivo X500 Pro Max the same price as the X300 Ultra?
It could be. The Pro Max is tipped at ₹1,59,999, and the X300 Ultra launched in India in May 2026 for ₹ 1,59,999.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
