vivo recently launched the X300 series in India with the sale going live on December 10th across online and offline channels, but my story with these phones began much earlier on an island far from home. I flew from Hyderabad to Mauritius with two flagship cameras in my pocket, the vivo X300 and the vivo X300 Pro.
As the aircraft descended over turquoise water and coral-shaped shadows, I realised I was holding something special. Two phones with ZEISS-tuned optics. Two phones with 200 MP sensors. Two phones built around portrait science and long-range clarity. And one accessory that changed everything the moment I attached it.
Screens Built for Outdoor Shooting and Eye Comfort
Before leaving the hotel, I charged both devices to full. The X300 with its large 6,040 mAh battery and the X300 Pro with its 6,510 mAh battery gave me enough confidence to shoot the entire day. I checked both displays under the sunlight. The X300’s compact 6.31-inch flat panel looked bright, clean, and sharp. I also noticed the super slim bezels that were barely there.
The X300 Pro’s larger 6.78-inch flat screen with its slim 1.2mm bezels and the great brightness felt ready for outdoor shooting. Both screens have been tuned for high color accuracy, strong visibility even under direct sunlight, and comfortable eye handling, something I appreciated even more as the day unfolded.
Now, the vivo X300 Series Cameras Begin to Prove Themselves
Our journey began on a bus heading toward Casela Park. Mauritius slid past the window in streaks of green, volcanic cliffs, and small clusters of settlements. I opened Snapshot Mode on both phones and began shooting through the window. The zero lag shutter captured every slice of the landscape without smear.
Snapshot Mode froze distant mountains with surprising stability even as the bus curved through turns. The 200 MP HPB ZEISS tuned main camera on the X300 and the 200 MP ZEISS APO Telephoto camera on the X300 Pro handled these shots extremely well without losing detail or introducing any motion blur. That was the first moment I realised these phones were built to capture fleeting scenes effortlessly.
Wildlife Through vivo X300 Series ZEISS Optics in Casela Park
Casela Park opened in front of me like a living canvas. Flamingos shifting in soft morning light. Ducks gliding across the water. Parrots in bright greens and reds darting from tree to tree. Lions resting in the shade. The wildlife felt close, but the distances kept changing. So I used both the X300 and the X300 Pro depending on the moment.
The vivo X300 impressed me a lot. Despite its compact size, it packs a 200 MP ZEISS main camera and a 50 MP ZEISS APO Telephoto camera that delivers some stunning results. Its 200 MP ZEISS main camera delivered sharp textures and controlled highlights.
Its ZEISS APO telephoto delivered super crisp zoom clarity with vivid color retention. It felt light in my hand and easy to switch between focal lengths. Some of the shots that I’ve taken at 6X, 10X, and 20X magnification are truly impressive, even more when you consider that this is coming from a 6.3-inch compact phone.
The vivo X300 Pro, on the other hand, brought in its gimbal-grade stabilization on the main camera, great tuning, and an unmatched telephoto performance.
Bird Mode activated automatically on the Pro when I pointed it toward flamingos and parrots at 10X magnification. This made the results look even better, with the ZEISS Mirotar Bokeh and the proper subject separation. If you’re looking for a phone that does bird photography seriously, this is the one.
ZEISS 2.35X Telephoto Extender Kit
Then came the moment the entire trip shifted. I attached the vivo ZEISS 2.35x Telephoto Extender Kit to the X300 Pro. The design felt sturdy and reassuring. The metal felt premium. The clamp and alignment locked in without too much wobble. Once mounted, the extender transformed the 85 mm telephoto lens into a true 200 mm optical one.
The jump in reach was instantly noticeable. Distant animals that looked small to the naked eye suddenly appeared like they were just across a fence. I zoomed in, hit the shutter, and saw image quality that felt unreal. Telephoto clarity with reduced fringing. Textures holding together at distances that usually turn into blur.
As I walked deeper into the safari zone the extender proved its worth repeatedly. The 200 mm optical range behaved like an attached lens on a dedicated camera. When I zoomed further, the optics continued to show clear results, even at 400 mm, 800 mm, and 1600 mm equivalent telephoto views.
The combination of high-resolution 200 MP imaging and the extender’s optical structure allowed me to push the zoom into extreme ranges. At its limit, the system reached an astonishing 5400 mm digital zoom. This is a number that sounds impossible until you see it in person.
I stood near the enclosure and photographed a faraway giraffe that looked small with my eyes but large and detailed through the extender view. The animals felt close even when they were several meters away. And the extender remained stable, with a consistent sharpness that made every frame post-worthy.
vivo X300: Compact, Yet Powerful
The X300 did not fall behind. Even though I kept the extender mostly on the Pro, the X300 handled 3X, 6X, and 10X zoom ranges with exceptional clarity. Its telephoto tuning preserved detail in feathers, fur, and even distant wildlife.
The algorithms in the X300 balanced noise and sharpness extremely well, making the base model feel as valuable as the Pro for natural light scenes. And the X300 also supports the ZEISS 2.35X Telephoto Extender Kit to give you 170 mm optical clarity and even better zoom.
AI Landscape Master and AI Visual
AI Landscape Master and AI Visual became surprisingly useful in Mauritius. Even under harsh summer light I could turn any frame into a winter scene, an evening shot, or a clear morning sky. It offered quick presets like twilight, snowy town, desert, island, spring, summer, autumn, winter, cyber, animation, oil blend, and even fireworks, and it worked well with human subjects, too.
If you like taking photos on busy streets, this feature can help you remove people and automatically do the perspective correction for you to clean up the frame instantly. It is a simple way to reshape the mood of any shot without losing detail.
AI One Shot Multicrop
AI One Shot Multicrop made the entire posting process feel effortless. I selected one photo and the tool automatically generated multiple crops in different aspect ratios suited for social media.
It identified the key subject, framed each version cleanly, and adjusted the composition so every crop looked intentional rather than auto cut. Within a few seconds I had a full set of ready to use formats that normally take several manual edits.
ZEISS Multifocal Portraits
As the afternoon sun moved overhead, I switched into portrait mode. Both phones applied ZEISS Natural Portrait rendering beautifully. The lenses produced subtle, controlled bokeh with depth that felt cinematic. The HDR performance stood out during animal portraits, too. The Lossless Exposure pipeline and hybrid HDR on the sensors kept colors from washing out even when shooting toward the light.
Video Quality That Rivals The Best
After hours of wildlife, I returned to the beach. I filmed waves in 4K 120 fps and shot some 4K 60 fps cinematic video along the shoreline. Both phones handled stabilization well. The X300 Pro’s VS1 imaging chip accelerated pre-processing so I could record and save without waiting. The VS1 + V3+ chip combination also helped with the great image quality.
50 MP ZEISS Group Selfie Camera
When I switched to the front camera, the 50 MP ZEISS wide-angle sensor with autofocus showed its strength. Even inside the aircraft, the selfies looked sharper than the iPhone 17 comparisons I made. The autofocus kept my face crisp while the ultra-wide angle helped me pull in more of the scenery.
A Smooth Experience With OriginOS 6 and MediaTek Dimensity 9500
Throughout the day, OriginOS 6 remained stable. Performance stayed fluid thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 and the optimization layers inside the system. While shooting in the park, I used Origin Island to keep music controls floating near the camera view. Being able to change songs without switching apps was very helpful.
Once I finished sorting the images, I used the Office Kit to transfer everything to my Mac in one go. It was quick and seamless, and I did not even have to put the phone down. I mirrored the X300’s screen on the Mac and continued using the phone directly from the laptop, which made reviewing shots and managing files far easier.
Smart AI Features
Beyond this, OriginOS 6 brings a wider set of AI tools that stay woven into the workflow. Features like AI Magic Move for shifting subjects inside a frame, AI Expander for extending images cleanly, and AI UHD for restoring older or softer photos all add subtle creative flexibility when needed.
Even the system level tools such as AI Captions for real time transcription, AI Creation inside Notes and Docs for polishing written content, and AI Search for pulling up files or memories instantly help the phone feel more aware of context.
These additions are tied closely to MediaTek’s work on the Dimensity 9500 chipset, which improves task prediction, reduces frame drops, and cuts down on background jitter so the OS feels consistently smooth. And with 5 years of major updates and 7 years of security patches, the X300 series is built to stay up to date for a long stretch.
Battery That Lasts
By the end of the day, both phones still had enough charge to continue shooting. Back at the hotel, I plugged in both the X300 and the X300 Pro. I used the 90W FlashCharge to top them up quickly before dinner. The phones also support 40W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, which added flexibility during travel whenever I needed a quick top up or had to power accessories without cables.
Exceptional Design and Build Quality
The vivo X300 immediately stands out because of its size. The 6.31-inch display sits inside a light, comfortable frame that never fatigues your hand. Throughout the entire day in Mauritius, this compact form factor made a bigger difference than expected. The camera module sits almost flush with the frame, and that design keeps the grip clean and uninterrupted. It feels natural to hold, natural to shoot with, and surprisingly premium for its footprint.
Both the X300 and X300 Pro are built on strong metal frames, and you feel that reassurance every time you pick them up. The structure remains solid even when the telephoto extender is attached. The refreshed finishes elevate their personality.
On the X300, Summit Red is the variant I used, exclusive to India, and it looks gorgeous. Phantom Black and Mist Blue round out the lineup. The X300 Pro’s Dune Brown, which I used in Mauritius, became an instant favourite for us, while there’s also an Elite Black option with a more understated look.
Mauritius throws a mix of humidity, splashes, sand, and unpredictable wind, yet both phones felt ready for every moment. Their IP68 + IP69-rated bodies handled the environment without worry. Whether shooting near the beach or walking through misty patches inside Casela, I never felt the need to hide the phone or slow down.
Conclusion
By the time I reached back to the hotel and plugged both phones into their chargers, something became clear. The vivo X300 series had delivered an entire day of wildlife, landscapes, portraits, cinematic video, and extreme telephoto work without slowing down. Both batteries held their ground. Both displays handled direct sunlight. Both camera systems are adapted to different shooting scenarios. And throughout the entire experience, the design made the phones easy to carry and enjoyable to use.
If you want a compact flagship that punches far above its size, the vivo X300 is the one to pick. It offers a 200 MP ZEISS main camera, an impressive 50 MP ZEISS APO telephoto camera, a flat and bright display, and a lightweight body that never becomes tiring. It supports the ZEISS 2.35X Telephoto Extender Kit as well, letting you reach 170 mm optical clarity and extreme zoom ranges even on the smaller model.
If you want the absolute best camera phone vivo has built so far, the vivo X300 Pro is unbeatable. With its gimbal-grade stabilization, its 200 MP ZEISS APO telephoto system, its VS1 + V3+ imaging pipeline, and the Telephoto Extender Kit for true 200 mm optical reach, the Pro stands in a class of its own. For bird photography, wildlife, portraits, and cinematic travel video, it is the more advanced choice.
Both phones feel premium in hand, are durable outdoors, and deliver a polished OriginOS 6 experience powered by the Dimensity 9500. Most importantly, both unlock a level of imaging versatility that makes travel and even casual shooting feel limitless.
vivo X300 Series Pricing
The vivo X300 series starts at ₹75,999 for the 12GB + 256GB configuration, followed by ₹81,999 for the 12GB + 512GB variant, and ₹85,999 for the top-end 16GB + 512GB option. The vivo X300 Pro, available in the sole 16GB + 512GB configuration, is priced at ₹1,09,999.
The ZEISS 2.35x Telephoto Extender Kit, which became the highlight of this entire trip, is priced at ₹18,999. With ongoing offers, buyers receive a 10% instant discount along with an additional ₹4,000 off on the extender when bundled with either device.
Since the extender works flawlessly with both the X300 and the X300 Pro, it becomes a natural upgrade for anyone who wants to experience the full reach and power of this camera system. For more details on the pricing and the offers, you can visit vivo Newsroom.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
