Vivo X500 Ultra: The 200 MP Zoom Caught in a Dilemma

Vivo has yet to lock down the final hardware configuration of its upcoming ultra-premium flagship, the Vivo X500 Ultra. According to the latest word from leaker Digital Chat Station, the brand is currently running in-depth comparative tests on three separate 200-megapixel periscope sensors before signing off on its imaging system.

Three sensor sizes, three physical trade-offs

Vivo’s engineering teams are said to be weighing up three optical formats for the telephoto camera: 1/1.12-inch, 1/1.3-inch and 1/1.4-inch. The final call will directly shape both the zoom capabilities and the phone’s rear design:

• The 1/1.12-inch option: the most aggressive and ambitious route. A sensor of that size would gather an unprecedented amount of light at long focal lengths for maximum sharpness, but it demands an extremely thick camera module that is tricky to integrate.
• The 1/1.3-inch and 1/1.4-inch options: these are the more balanced picks. They make it possible to combine very high photographic performance with smoother hardware and software integration, keeping the handset’s overall slimness intact.

Crop-based zoom (ISZ) confirmed

This evaluation phase confirms a key strategic decision taken earlier on: dropping a dedicated periscope lens for native 10x optical zoom. Vivo has reportedly 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 into the sensor’s native resolution without losing detail.

A launch expected in early 2027

With the Vivo X500 Ultra still in development, its final configuration could well change before mass production. Patience will be required, too: while the rest of the line-up (the standard X500, Pro and Pro Max) is expected in the autumn, the X500 Ultra is not due to be unveiled before the first half of 2027, for the Chinese market as well as internationally. A future technology showcase we will be following closely for our online store. If this model appeals to you, you will find the devices in the Vivo range at PhoneDroid, along with our Vivo screen protectors.