📌 Updated 2 November 2026 — New leaks detail the configuration of the Vivo X500 Ultra. Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chip and a battery of around 7,000 to 8,000 mAh, the flagship would bring together a conventional 50 MP front sensor and a 50 + 50 + 200 MP triple rear camera module, with the 200 MP unit expected for the telephoto lens although the exact role of each sensor remains to be confirmed. It would also share a flat 6.85-inch 2K+ 144 Hz display with the Vivo X500s — tipped to feature a 68 MP square IMX05A selfie sensor — during a joint launch in the first half of 2027.
Before this announcement — Although previous rumours suggested that the Vivo X500 Ultra would remain confined to the Chinese market, the registration of an international version (V2660) and a Brazilian variant under the Jovi brand (J2613) shows that the manufacturer is indeed preparing a rollout outside China following its launch in the first half of 2027. These preparations for an international release come despite the industrial pressures surrounding memory costs, which are weighing on every super-flagship in the segment. Vivo has not commented on this point.
Vivo has yet to lock down the final hardware configuration of its upcoming ultra-premium flagship, the Vivo X500 Ultra. According to the latest claims — which also mention a flat 6.85-inch 2K+ 144 Hz display with symmetrical bezels, the processor and a battery of around 7,000 to 8,000 mAh — the smartphone would combine a conventional 50 MP front sensor with a 50 + 50 + 200 MP triple rear camera module: while the exact role of each sensor remains to be confirmed, engineering prototypes have so far favoured a 50 MP Sony LYT910 (LOFIC) main sensor at 35 mm (ruling out the 200 MP avenue) as well as a 200 MP periscope telephoto lens in a 1/1.12-inch format, tested among the three sensor sizes initially evaluated.
A launch restricted to China?
This is the most striking part of the recent news cycle. Following in the footsteps of the Vivo X300 Ultra, which marked a historic step by securing its international certifications, the manufacturer is also preparing a release outside China for this generation.
The Vivo X500 Ultra will ultimately not be reserved for the Chinese domestic market, as a global version (model V2660) and a variant intended for Brazil under the name Jovi X500 Ultra (model J2613) have undergone registration steps ahead of an international release. These preparations for a launch outside China dispel initial fears that pressure on component costs — DRAM and NAND memory in particular — would push the brand to give up on foreign markets. The prospect of official distribution outside China — already backed by a specific model number for Latin America in addition to the international model — is therefore taking clear shape, even though the exact list of regions involved has yet to be made official.
Vivo would not be alone in making that move either: Oppo is reportedly considering the same for its Find X10 Ultra, and Xiaomi is said to be dropping its 18 Ultra altogether.
Three sensor sizes, three physical trade-offs
After evaluating three optical formats for the telephoto lens (1/1.12-inch, 1/1.3-inch and 1/1.4-inch), Vivo’s engineering teams are now testing the 1/1.12-inch sensor on the latest prototype. The final call will directly dictate the zoom capabilities as well as the phone’s rear design. The principle is worth recalling: the larger the light-sensitive area, the more light is gathered, which cuts digital noise in night shots — but it also demands a thicker module.
- The 1/1.12-inch option (tested on the latest engineering prototype): the most aggressive and ambitious route, offering around 56% more surface area than the 1/1.4-inch Samsung HP0 sensor on the Vivo X300 Ultra. A sensor that size would capture an unprecedented amount of light at long focal lengths for maximum sharpness, but it requires an extremely thick camera module that is complex to integrate.
- The 1/1.3-inch and 1/1.4-inch options: these represent more conservative choices, with the 1/1.4-inch format already being the one used on the X300 Ultra. They reconcile very high photographic performance with smoother hardware and software integration, preserving the phone’s overall slimness.
In-sensor zoom (ISZ) confirmed
This evaluation phase confirms a crucial strategic decision taken earlier on: dropping a dedicated periscope lens for native 10x optical zoom. Vivo has shelved the prototypes fitted with that second lens in order to focus exclusively on a single 200 MP periscope sensor.
To reach very long distances, the brand will lean on in-sensor zoom technology (In-Sensor Zoom), which crops surgically within the sensor’s native resolution without losing detail. The approach brings three decisive advantages:
- Focal versatility: a shorter native focal length, around 85 mm, delivers excellent portraits without having to step back excessively from the subject.
- Crop precision: the massive 200-megapixel resolution allows 10x magnification or beyond using only the central area of the sensor, with detail rendition very close to that of a dedicated lens.
- Telephoto macro: the formula retains a very short minimum focusing distance, enough to photograph tiny details from a distance.
A launch confirmed for March or April 2027
To drive that heavyweight imaging system, the Vivo X500 Ultra will rely on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (SM8975) built on 2 nm — whose presence is now practically confirmed —, with graphics headroom to spare and expanded GMEM memory, both essential for processing high-resolution shots.
With the Vivo X500 Ultra still in development, its final configuration could well change before mass production. Patience will be required, too: while the X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max models have already made their way to Europe following their debut in China, the X500 Ultra version will not arrive on the Chinese market until March or April 2027, as Vivo confirmed on 22 September. The brand traditionally saves its Ultra launches for the spring, several months after its standard and Pro models. And just like the previous generation, a release outside China is now taking shape with the registration of the international (V2660) and Brazilian (J2613) versions.
Expected Vivo X500 Ultra specifications
| Component | Expected specifications |
|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, built on 2 nm |
| Telephoto | 200 MP periscope — 1/1.12″ sensor tested on the latest prototype (vs 1/1.4″ on the X300 Ultra) |
| Zoom | In-Sensor Zoom cropping, 10x and beyond — no native 10x optical |
| Native focal length | Around 85 mm, with telephoto macro mode |
| Optical partnership | Zeiss processing and calibration |
| Availability | March or April 2027 in China (official) · international (V2660) and Brazilian Jovi (J2613) versions in preparation |
Conclusion
The Vivo X500 Ultra promises to push the limits of long-range capture thanks to the mastery of its 200 MP sensor and the brand’s optical expertise developed alongside Zeiss.
When it comes to distribution, however, the prospects of an international release look highly uncertain right now. As our shop stocks strictly official Global Versions and nothing else, we will update this page as soon as Vivo clarifies its roadmap for 2027. In the meantime, you will find the devices in the Vivo range at PhoneDroid, along with our Vivo screen protectors.
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