Vivo’s X300 Extremely has the most productive cameras in any telephone

A couple of months in the past, I wrote that the telephoto digicam is the one lens that issues to any extent further, a minimum of in the case of Extremely-class flagships. As telephones were given higher, cameras turned into the place producers attempted to face out. As cameras were given higher, telephoto lenses turned into the following level of focal point. The newest Extremely telephones from Xiaomi, Oppo, and Huawei have all made the telephoto, above all, their promoting level. Vivo’s X300 Extremely is doing one thing other.

As an alternative of pushing its telephoto {hardware} to additional extremes, Vivo has most commonly left it’s. The corporate has centered its efforts on a considerably advanced 35mm major digicam, distinctive a few of the pageant for its slender, pure focal duration. Blended with the most productive ultrawide digicam in any telephone and new pro-level video options, the result’s a digicam machine that feels similarly balanced between all 3 rear lenses. It’s a much less flashy means, however the overall package deal is extra flexible and helpful than its opponents and my favourite to make use of thus far.

The primary digicam is for sure the most productive of the 3. The 200-megapixel, 1/1.12-inch-type Sony Lytia 901 sensor delivers a major leap in each dimension and backbone from ultimate yr’s X200 Extremely. But it surely preserves that digicam’s very best characteristic: a 35mm-equivalent focal duration. That’s narrower than maximum different telephones — 23–26mm is conventional — however nearer to what photographers have a tendency to search for of their default lens as it feels pure, shut in scope to the human eye. It’s additionally nearer to the focal duration many telephones used to make use of. In the event you’ve ever lamented the truth that your major digicam feels increasingly like an ultrawide, that is the telephone for you.

The telephoto digicam additionally has 200-megapixel solution, with an 85mm focal duration and 1/1.4-inch sensor, necessarily the similar specifications because the X200 Extremely. The quite narrower f/2.7 aperture would possibly make the X300 appear to be a downgrade, however advanced stabilization and sensor and processing tweaks give this iteration an edge total.

Then there’s the ultrawide. This additionally hasn’t modified a lot yr over yr, however stays distinctive for its sensor dimension. It’s higher than the only at the iPhone 17 Professional’s major digicam and helps optical symbol stabilization too. It’s in each sense a prime digicam spec with an ultrawide lens on best. No different ultrawide comes shut.

The selfie digicam is the one person who isn’t particularly spectacular: a 50-megapixel shooter with a relatively small 1/2.76-inch sensor. It’s superb; the opposite cameras are nice.

Pictures throughout all 3 rear lenses are of remarkably related high quality, in nearly any lights. About the one distinction I may in finding is that the telephoto and ultrawide are extra vulnerable to movement blur when capturing rapid topics like cats or vehicles, or even then most effective when it’s darkish. Another way, choosing between the lenses appears like choosing the proper focal duration to border a shot, with out the standard worries about tradeoffs in high quality. Pictures are helped through naturalistic color-processing and a variety of slightly spectacular movie simulations. Vivo’s colour science is my favourite in any telephone, and this yr isn’t any exception.

Vivo hasn’t simply thinking about nonetheless pictures. This yr it’s doubled down on video, despite the fact that the upgrades listed here are actually focused at pros. You’ll be able to now document 4K, 120fps, 10-bit Log video throughout the entire 3 rear lenses, can import customized three-D LUTs, and use a Professional Video capturing mode for complete handbook controls. In the event you don’t know what part of that implies, you’re no longer by myself! These things is past the wishes of maximum folks, myself incorporated.

Like rival Extremely telephones, there’s additionally a suite of digicam add-ons and equipment. My colleague Allison Johnson has already hung out enjoying round with Vivo’s digicam grip and separate 200mm and 400mm telephoto extender lenses, which will take unusual pictures at vary that no different telephone may ever arrange. Whilst at MWC Barcelona 2026, I were given to in short mess around with the customized SmallRig digicam cage evolved for the telephone too, which squeezes stabilization, cooling, and a fill mild into a beautiful compact package deal. All of those are offered one by one and play into Vivo’s declare that the X300 Extremely can also be the bottom of a semi-professional digicam machine if you wish to have it to.

This can be a telephone despite the fact that, no longer only a digicam, so I’d higher discuss the remainder of it too. For me the large letdown within the X300 Extremely is its drab design. My black style is a beautiful dull-looking instrument, and whilst the two-tone results at the inexperienced and white variations are higher, nor is a patch at the camera-inspired aesthetics of the most recent Xiaomi and Oppo telephones. The X300 Extremely’s digicam island may be exceptionally raised, nearly as thick as the telephone, and for some reason why Vivo has additionally ditched the bodily shutter button, which I leave out.

Different specifications are on a par with rival Extremely telephones, however spectacular in comparison to Apple and Samsung: a blended IP68 and IP69 coverage ranking, a colossal 6,600mAh silicon-carbon battery, and a 144Hz refresh fee for its 6.8-inch OLED show. Then there’s the usual flagship stuff, just like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, as much as 1TB garage and 16GB RAM, and a tight promise of 5 years of Android OS updates and 7 years of safety patches. The telephone runs on Vivo’s OriginOS, a lot advanced on its older instrument however nonetheless the weakest of the foremost avid gamers, with a bland design and too many preinstalled apps and commercials.

Extremely flagships are as a lot tech demos as client merchandise. They’re an excuse for telephone firms no longer most effective to blow their own horns their technical talents, but additionally to put down a imaginative and prescient for what makes the “very best” telephone at the moment. As processors and presentations and water-resistance scores have coalesced into common requirements that experience proved tough to give a boost to upon, it’s the cameras the place producers can set out their stalls. And Vivo’s pitch is obvious: The most efficient digicam is the person who’s nice throughout each lens, no longer only one or two.

As tech demos move, this appears like a beautiful sensible one, worth apart. The X300 Extremely isn’t launching in both america or UK, however is to be had throughout Asia, together with a handful of Eu nations together with Spain, Italy, and Austria. Its €1,999 (about $2,340) worth for sure isn’t affordable, and its pictures equipment upload on loads extra, despite the fact that it prices about the similar as a 1TB iPhone 17 Professional Max in those self same markets. It’s dear, however for what you’re getting, it more than likely must be.

I don’t suppose that is the most productive telephone you must get for that cash. This can be a superb telephone, with a very good show, giant battery, and flagship efficiency via and thru. However the design is cumbersome, and uninteresting, and perhaps just a little unsightly. Vivo’s instrument ceaselessly annoys me too. Xiaomi’s 17 Extremely is a quite higher all-round package deal, with a hanging design and extra polished OS. However the X300 Extremely’s 3 unusual lenses are so constant, and so persistently very good, that once I use the digicam all the ones different worries fall away.

If I used to be hanging my very own cash down at the moment, I’d purchase the Xiaomi. But when I simply had to pick out who’s successful this yr’s Extremely digicam contest, Vivo will get my vote.

Pictures through Dominic Preston / The Verge