vivo X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max hands-on review

Camera samples and features

As mentioned, we had significantly more time to spend with the top-tier vivo X500 Pro Max, so the provided camera samples below are from the Pro Max only. We refrain from commenting on the image quality, we will leave that for the full review.

And since we've already covered the camera hardware on all three phones, let's go over the new features. It's clear that vivo focused heavily on the video side of things.

Main camera samples (1x)

For starters, kudos to vivo for bringing some flagship-level video recording features to the regular X500 like 4K@120fps videos with 10-bit Log and HLG. The telephoto also supports 4k@120fps slow-motion videos.

Ultrawide camera samples (0.6x)

Of course, the Pro models take things a bit further. The main cameras on both devices can record 4K@240fps videos for detailed, cinematic-level slow-motion videos.

Telephoto camera samples (3.5x)

Perhaps the biggest new technical video features are 17 EV TrueDynamic Log Videos, 10-bit 4:2:2, ACES support, official DaVinci Resolve color transformation and 4K@120fps 10-bit Log direct output. All these features combined make the X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max capable of not just recording high-quality Log videos, but also useful for professional color-grading workflows.

Telephoto camera samples (10x)

Some of the features are in part enabled by the new Sony Lytia L910 sensor, particularly the ultra-high 17 EV dynamic range capabilities.

Portrait: 50mm • 85mm • 135mm • 85mm • 135mm • 85mm • 85mm • 135mm • 242mm

And in case you are looking for a certain mood or in for inspiration, vivo provides new cinematic video color styles - Golden, Platinum, Sunny Day, Paris Afterglow, Noir and Amber. Some specific cinema modes are also available on the Pro and Pro Max like Auto Framing, Vortex Shot, Super Slow-Mo and Dual View. All are different editing effects.

The two Pros introduce a new AF Tracking mode, which the Pro Max supports even during 4K@60fps recording. The name itself is pretty self-explanatory - it keeps track of a subject even when obscured by foreground objects.

X500 Pro Max Creator Kit

Last but not least, the Pro Max model supports the tele-extender accessory called vivo Zeiss Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Ultra, extending the focal length to 400m while the X500 and X500 Pro get a 200mm vivo Zeiss Telephoto Extender Gen 2. There's also the X500 Pro Max Creator Kit that comes with a set of accessories for video recording.

vivo Zeiss Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Ultra

Can't go without some quick clips. Check out the YouTube playlist below.

OriginOS 7

The new OriginOS 7 based on Android 17 is vivo's latest proprietary software, which we expect to hit the global market on older phones very soon. But for now, the stable version of the software can only be experienced on the Chinese versions of the vivo X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max.

Most of the OriginOS 7 changes remain invisible to the naked eye. Vivo focused heavily on optimizing the performance and the overall perceived smoothness of the OS. That's not to say there aren't new features or visual changes.

OriginOS 7

Vivo is highlighting the new smoother-looking animations, inspired by real-world physics. UI elements can stretch, bounce and have momentum effects.

Speaking of smooth, the OriginOS 7 employs a so-called Origin Smooth Engine, which improves graphics computations, memory management and system scheduling. The Ultra-Core Computing, for example, allocates processing resources where the demand is high. Vivo promises faster shorter app launch times, faster app switching and consistently smooth animations. This level of fluidity is supposed to hold up after six years of daily use, but this particular claim is hard to verify.

OriginOS 7

On the practicality side, OriginOS 7 introduces a new unified task space where you can keep up to five active apps at a time, greatly improving multitasking. It also supports cross-app drag-and-drop functions and multi-app workflows.

Some new customizations options for the home and lock screens are also available and each theme has its own unique style and feel.

OriginOS 7's new connectivity options are perhaps one of the best in the industry. While most Android phones nowadays running at least Android 16 or later offer cross-platform connectivity features, the X500 series are probably the first we've heard of that offer better support for Apple-made accessories.

For instance, OriginOS 7-powered phones can receive notifications from an Apple Watch and sync health data, too. AirPods will show battery level on the Origin Island and the Spatial Sound feature will also work.

Of course, data transfers, syncing and overall continuity with Macs, iPads and Windows devices is also on the menu, which now most modern Android phones offer. But again, vivo takes it a bit further by introducing native iCloud access through vivo's File Manager app.

Vivo's AI Jovi assistant sees some improvements as well. The AI assistant is now capable of executing multi-step workflows and works on multiple devices, similarly to Motorola's recently introduced Qira assistant.

Early verdict

With the new Pro Max member to the vivo X family this year, users will have a better choice months before the Ultra arrives. By the looks of it, the X500 Pro Max will get very close to the Ultra in terms of features, but at a much more affordable price point. Currently, the phone can be found in China for CNY 6,999 ($1,045), although the tag will be sensibly higher outside China. The handset also shapes up to be a solid all-rounder, not just a capable cameraphone, or merely a successor to the older X300 Pro. This year's battery upgrade makes things exciting.

The standard X500 Pro is going to be the obvious choice for anyone looking for a more compact solution with a solid camera hardware. The cameras on the back don't feel like an afterthought, as they usually do with most compact flagships. We can't wait to test out the telephoto camera and the battery life. At CNY 6,499 ($970), it shapes up to be one of the best compact flagship this year.

And as for the X500 priced at CNY 5,499 ($820), it might turn out to be the most sensible solution of the three. It offers many of the high-end features that the Pros have at a much lower cost. We also expect it to deliver solid battery life results and hopefully we won't be disappointed.