Vivo X300 Pro Review

The Vivo X300 Pro is aimed squarely at people who care about photography above all else. Developed with ZEISS, its camera system centers on a 200MP periscope telephoto that reaches far with real clarity, backed by a 50MP main with a bright f/1.6 lens and a 50MP ultrawide. For zoom and portrait work it is one of the most capable phones you can carry, and the ZEISS color science gives images a distinctive look.

The hardware around the camera is strong. A MediaTek Dimensity 9500 keeps everything fast, the 6.78 inch AMOLED is bright and runs at 120Hz, and a large 6,510mAh battery with 90W charging lasts well beyond a day. It is a big, dense phone, but it feels built to a high standard.

Software is the sticking point for some. Vivo's OriginOS and Funtouch skins on Android 16 are heavy and, outside China and a few markets, can feel less polished than the software on a Pixel or Samsung. Update support also trails the Western leaders. Official availability is mostly Europe and Asia rather than the United States.

Around 1,299 euros, the X300 Pro is a specialist tool. If your priority is the best possible zoom and portrait photography from a phone, and you are willing to live with a heavier interface, it rewards you. If you want the simplest all round experience, other flagships are easier to live with.