Vivo has officially confirmed the debut of its next flagship smartphone lineup, the Vivo X500 series, scheduled for launch in September in China. The company confirmed three models in the roster: the standard Vivo X500, Vivo X500 Pro, and the top-tier Vivo X500 Pro Max. Vivo skipped the X400 naming sequence entirely, jumping directly from the previous X300 family to X500 due to tetraphobia, the regional practice in East Asia of avoiding the number four because it sounds similar to the word for death.
Key Takeaways
- Vivo will introduce three models in September: Vivo X500, X500 Pro, and X500 Pro Max.
- The series skips the X400 moniker and succeeds the earlier X300 range.
- Vivo Product Manager Han Boxiao confirmed custom imaging hardware built with Sony and Zeiss.
- The Pro models feature a 50-megapixel Blueprint Phantom 900 sensor with 17EV dynamic range.
- Video capabilities include 4K recording at 240fps and 4K HDR at 120fps.
- The primary camera on the X500 Pro Max offers 3-degree optical image stabilization and CIPA 7.0 stabilization.
Custom Imaging Hardware and Sony Sensor Details
Vivo Product Manager Han Boxiao shared early technical details on Chinese social media platform Weibo, highlighting the imaging setup developed for the Pro variants. The X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max will carry the Zeiss Super Dynamic Main Camera system. At the center of this setup is the Blueprint Phantom 900, also known as the Guangyu 900, which is a custom 50-megapixel, 1/1.28-inch sensor co-developed by Sony and Vivo’s internal Blueprint imaging group.
Vivo states this sensor achieves a dynamic range rating of 17 exposure values (17EV), intended to prevent highlight clipping and preserve shadow detail in high-contrast shooting conditions such as direct backlit scenes. For videography, the sensor provides direct hardware support for 4K video capture at 240 frames per second for slow motion, alongside 4K HDR recording at 120 frames per second.
Camera Stabilization and Telephoto Capabilities
Stabilization serves as another primary focus for the series. The Vivo X500 Pro Max features a 3-degree wide-angle Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) module on the primary camera, paired with CIPA 7.0 standard stabilization. This hardware setup stabilizes hand movement during active handheld video recording without requiring an external gimbal accessory.
Information from industry source Digital Chat Station indicates the lineup carries the internal project name “Thanos 500”. The Pro models will also include a 200-megapixel custom HP0 periscope telephoto sensor, adapting the long-range zoom module seen in earlier high-end X-series phones.
Expected India Availability and Platform Upgrades
Vivo confirmed that the X500 series also brings updates across display quality, battery performance, and the OriginOS software package. While the initial launch takes place in China during September, Vivo typically brings its flagship X-series devices to India a few months after the domestic release, where they run Funtouch OS. Official pricing, full hardware specifications, and Indian market availability dates will follow the formal launch event next month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. When will the Vivo X500 series launch?
A1. Vivo has officially scheduled the release of the Vivo X500 series for September in China, with international availability expected later.
Q2. Why did Vivo skip the X400 series?
A2. Vivo skipped the X400 name and moved directly from X300 to X500 because the number four is considered unlucky in Chinese culture due to tetraphobia.
Q3. What models are in the Vivo X500 lineup?
A3. The lineup consists of three models: the Vivo X500, the Vivo X500 Pro, and the Vivo X500 Pro Max.
Q4. What main camera sensor does the Vivo X500 Pro use?
A4. The Vivo X500 Pro features a custom 50-megapixel 1/1.28-inch Blueprint Phantom 900 sensor developed in partnership with Sony.
Q5. What are the video recording capabilities of the Vivo X500 Pro?
A5. The phone supports 4K video recording at 240fps for high-speed slow motion and direct 4K HDR video capture at 120fps.
Q6. Will the Vivo X500 series launch in India?
A6. Vivo has not announced the official Indian launch date yet, but the company typically introduces its flagship X-series smartphones to the Indian market following their China debut.
