vivo X500 Ultra may swap its 200MP main camera for a 50MP sensor, but the zoom gets bigger

vivo's next camera flagship is taking shape, and it may not be the megapixel monster many expected. Tipster Digital Chat Station says the latest X500 Ultra engineering sample uses a 50MP main sensor with a 35mm focal length. It also pairs that with a large 200MP telephoto camera. The phone is still in testing, so none of this is final.

The main camera is what everyone talks about. In July, vivo was reportedly weighing two options: a 50MP 1/1.28-inch LOFIC sensor or a 200MP 1/1.12-inch LOFIC sensor. The new sample points to the 50MP route. The telephoto is reportedly a 200MP 1/1.2-inch sensor, which is very large for a periscope lens.

For context, vivo reportedly tested three 200MP periscope sensors in July, with sizes from 1/1.4 inch up to 1/1.12 inch. It also dropped a dedicated 10x periscope prototype in June, in favor of a single 200MP periscope with in-sensor zoom.

vivo has already confirmed a spring 2027 launch in China. Digital Chat Station expects March or April, which matches the March 2026 debut of the X300 Ultra. Earlier leaks mention a Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chip, a 2K BOE display and a battery of around 7,000mAh. vivo hasn't confirmed any of these specs tho. The cheaper X500 Pro Max is reportedly getting a 200MP Samsung telephoto with about 3.5x optical zoom, so the Ultra will need to stand apart.

A 200MP main camera sounds better on a spec sheet, but resolution isn't everything. A 50MP sensor has larger individual pixels, which usually helps in low light. LOFIC technology also helps with highlights and shadows in a single shot. A 35mm focal length gives a tighter view than the usual 23mm or 24mm main camera, which suits portraits and street shots.

I really like this direction. Spec-sheet wars have made many phones worse at the basics, and the X-series has always been about how photos look, not how many pixels they contain. If vivo puts the big resolution where it helps most, in the zoom lens, that feels like a sensible trade.

That we don't know. vivo hasn't said whether the X500 Ultra will leave China, and Ultra phones often stay home. If you're outside China, the X500 Pro and Pro Max may be more likely to reach you.