Vivo may have performed it protected with the X500 sequence. Give the telephones a barely sooner processor, slap on a brand new coat of paint, throw round just a few AI buzzwords, and name it a day. No person would have been significantly shocked. Fortunately, Vivo appears to have had different concepts.
The brand new X500 lineup consists of three telephones: the X500, X500 Professional, and X500 Professional Max. However don’t let the names idiot you into considering these are merely three sizes of the identical telephone. Every mannequin has its personal identification, with variations in show measurement, processing energy, and digicam {hardware}. The X500 will get a 6.59-inch show and the Dimensity 9600M, whereas the compact X500 Professional packs a 6.36-inch display screen and the flagship Dimensity 9600 Professional. Then there’s the X500 Professional Max, the massive boss of the household, with a bigger show, upgraded cameras, and the identical flagship silicon.
I’ve acquired the Vivo X500 Professional Max in my fingers, and there’s already loads to get enthusiastic about. One vital caveat, although: that is the worldwide model, not the Chinese language variant. The worldwide launch is coming quickly, so we’ll have to attend somewhat longer to see what the complete household brings to the desk. For now, let’s discuss in regards to the telephone that has caught my consideration.
Design and construct: Refined flex, most impact
I’ve acquired the grey model, and actually, that is the one I’d choose. The rear panel doesn’t scream for consideration, however look somewhat nearer, and there’s extra occurring than meets the attention.
The decrease half of the again has a matte end sprinkled with tiny star-like particulars that shimmer when the sunshine hits them. The higher half will get a barely raised part with a distinct texture, though the complete floor stays clean to the contact. It’s understated, elegant, and simply flashy sufficient to remind you that this isn’t some run-of-the-mill slab of glass.
The digicam island continues to be huge, as a result of apparently smartphone producers have collectively determined that refined digicam bumps are a factor of the previous. A minimum of Vivo has dressed it up with a color-matched ring, whereas the flash has switched from a line-shaped design to a round one.
Elsewhere, it’s enterprise as ordinary, and that’s not a criticism. You get flat glass on the again, flat aluminum rails, and a flat show. The telephone additionally retains its IP69 mud and water resistance score, so somewhat rain shouldn’t ship you into panic mode.
The field features a case, a USB cable, and a 90W charging adapter. Vivo additionally continues to supply an non-compulsory Photographer Equipment with a shoulder strap, an additional quick-release hook, and a case that includes a digicam management grip.
There’s one accent I want the worldwide model had borrowed from its Chinese language sibling: a second case designed across the newer rear show, which helps you to management the rear cameras when taking selfies. As a result of when you’re going to take selfies, why not use the higher cameras? Sadly, world consumers miss out on this explicit social gathering trick.
Show: Larger is healthier, apparently
The X500 Professional Max will get a 6.85-inch AMOLED show, up from 6.78 inches on final 12 months’s mannequin. That’s larger than the display screen on the X300 Extremely, too. The decision additionally matches the Extremely, giving the Professional Max a welcome bump over its predecessor.
Peak brightness stays at a powerful 4,500 nits, whereas LTPO expertise permits the refresh fee to adapt to what’s taking place on the display screen. This time, it might probably climb all the best way to 144Hz. Translation: scrolling ought to really feel ridiculously clean, and animations ought to look slick.
You additionally get an always-on show that may keep enabled completely, an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, USB 3.2 connectivity, twin stereo audio system, and 4 microphones.
There’s nonetheless no devoted digicam button, however I can’t say I’m shedding sleep over it. The customizable shortcut key’s sticking round, and I’d a lot somewhat have a button I can configure to do what I would like than one other piece of {hardware} I’d barely use.
Efficiency: Two nanometers of bother for the competitors
Right here’s the place issues get correctly attention-grabbing. The X500 Professional Max is the primary telephone to run MediaTek’s new 2nm Dimensity 9600 Professional chipset. Sure, two nanometers. We’re now on the level the place smartphone processors sound like they belong in a physics lecture.
The chip makes use of ARM’s newest CPU and GPU designs, with two ultra-prime cores clocked at 4.55GHz, three efficiency cores at 4.35GHz, and three extra cores at 3.1GHz. MediaTek additionally claims a 27% enchancment in peak GPU efficiency.
That’s a promising mixture of uncooked energy and improved effectivity, significantly for demanding video games, intensive multitasking, and AI workloads. The chipset additionally helps LPDDR6 RAM and UFS 5 storage, though Vivo hasn’t confirmed whether or not the examined telephone makes use of these newer requirements or sticks with LPDDR5X reminiscence and UFS 4.1 storage. We are going to discuss extra in depth in our full assessment.
On the software program entrance, OriginOS 7 runs on Android 17. OriginOS 6 was a big step ahead, so the most recent model feels extra like a refinement than a whole overhaul. The interface stays slick, and Vivo has added AI options, fluid movement, seamless interplay, and a brand new Snap Up Engine for system optimization. I’m not complaining in regards to the acquainted look. If one thing works this effectively, there’s no must tear it aside simply to make the replace really feel vital. I’ll save the ultimate verdict on efficiency for the complete assessment.
Cameras: The Extremely’s zoom, minus a few of its bragging rights
Vivo has refreshed nearly the complete digicam system, and the periscope telephoto digicam is the star of the present. It’s the identical unit discovered within the X300 Extremely, which is good news for anybody who enjoys zooming in with out turning their images into impressionist work.
Actually, the Vivo X500 Professional Max isn’t simply chasing megapixels. It’s bringing some severe digicam expertise to the social gathering, beginning with one in every of Sony’s newest 50MP, 1/1.28-inch LOFIC CMOS picture sensors. And no, LOFIC isn’t simply one other acronym for a advertising division to get enthusiastic about.
Brief for Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor, LOFIC expertise guarantees excessive dynamic vary (HDR) pictures with much less processing overhead. As a substitute of capturing a number of frames and stitching them collectively to protect highlights, shadows, and particulars whereas controlling noise, the sensor can obtain related outcomes with a single shot. For content material creators, that’s a reasonably large deal. Transferring topics are much less prone to find yourself wanting like unintentional double exposures, due to a decreased threat of ghosting. The expertise additionally permits extra environment friendly HDR 4K video recording at 60 frames per second whereas reducing energy consumption. Your footage will get the improve, with out your battery essentially paying the worth.
The digicam {hardware} doesn’t cease there. The X500 Professional Max retains a 200MP telephoto digicam and a 50MP ultrawide shooter, complementing the brand new most important sensor. Options reminiscent of 4K Cinematic Color Video, Auto-framing, and Stage Mode 3.0 additional place this telephone as a severe device for creators somewhat than simply one other costly rectangle for social media scrolling.
Need to get nearer to distant topics? Vivo additionally gives non-compulsory 200mm and 400mm telephoto extender lenses, very like these out there for the X300 Extremely. These equipment open up extra potentialities for long-range images and inventive framing. Simply keep in mind that they’re bought individually, as a result of apparently getting nearer to your topic comes with a further price ticket.
However no, the X500 Professional Max doesn’t steal each benefit from its Extremely sibling. However with upgrades to each digicam besides the selfie shooter, Vivo clearly hasn’t handled images as an afterthought. Fortunately, the cameras seem like the place Vivo desires to make the most important noise.
First impressions: That is the way you do an annual improve
The largest shock in regards to the Vivo X500 Professional Max is simply how a lot Vivo has modified. A bigger show, a brand new 2nm flagship chipset, refreshed cameras, and a large battery should not the type of upgrades I’d dismiss as incremental.
The Chinese language model will get an 8,000mAh battery, whereas the worldwide mannequin, which is our unit, is available in at 7,800mAh. That’s a severe quantity of battery for a flagship, particularly when paired with a chip designed to enhance effectivity. Wired charging stays at 90W, with 40W wi-fi charging for individuals who want to ditch the cable. After all, spectacular specs don’t mechanically make an incredible telephone. I nonetheless want to check battery endurance, sustained efficiency, digicam consistency, and the way effectively the software program holds up throughout on a regular basis use.
I went into the Vivo X500 Professional Max anticipating a good flagship refresh. As a substitute, Vivo appears decided to make the competitors work somewhat more durable. A large 7,800mAh battery, a 2nm flagship chipset, a sharper 144Hz show, and significant digicam upgrades make this really feel like greater than a yearly train in altering numbers on a spec sheet.
The digicam system is especially intriguing. With a brand new Sony 50MP LOFIC most important sensor designed to seize HDR pictures in a single shot, a 200MP periscope telephoto digicam, and a 50MP ultrawide shooter, Vivo seems to be taking cellular images significantly. The promise of decreased topic ghosting and extra environment friendly HDR 4K video recording at 60fps may make this an particularly compelling possibility for content material creators. Add help for non-compulsory telephoto extender lenses, and the X500 Professional Max begins wanting like a somewhat succesful digicam that occurs to make telephone calls.
After all, the true check continues to be forward. Battery endurance, sustained efficiency, and digicam consistency will decide whether or not the X500 Professional Max is genuinely nice or just appears spectacular on paper. However Vivo has already given me loads of causes to be optimistic.
The X500 Professional Max doesn’t appear like a telephone that exists merely to justify a brand new quantity on the field. It appears like Vivo really sat down, recognized what mattered, and determined to do one thing about it. If the complete assessment backs up these early impressions, Vivo may need a severe flagship contender on its fingers. And if different smartphone makers are watching, right here’s a pleasant suggestion: take notes. Additionally, within the meantime, right here’s our Vivo X300 Extremely assessment.
