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Discover vivo X500 series in Singapore, featuring ZEISS cameras, creative video tools and bigger batteries. Prices start at S$1,999.
The stage is far away, the lighting keeps changing and your favourite performer refuses to stand still. Or perhaps it is your child’s school concert, and the moment you want to capture happens just as someone steps into the frame. These are the kinds of everyday frustrations vivo is targeting with its new X500 series. Unveiled in Singapore on 20 October, the lineup comprises the X500 and X500 Pro Max, with an emphasis on long-distance photography, subject tracking and more creative video tools.
With prices starting at S$1,999, these are premium purchases. The appeal will depend on how much you ask of your phone’s camera, particularly when the action is happening beyond arm’s reach.
Bringing distant moments closer
The X500 Pro Max leads the lineup with a 200MP ZEISS APO telephoto camera, an 85mm equivalent focal length and a 1/1.4-inch sensor. It also supports a 400mm equivalent vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Ultra, an accessory designed to give photographers greater reach when capturing distant subjects. For anyone photographing performances, wildlife or sport, keeping a moving subject in focus can matter as much as zooming in. According to vivo, the Pro Max’s X-Track Engine supports subject tracking across photography and video, with autofocus tracking at up to 60 frames per second in Snapshot Mode.
Its Lock-On Subject Tracking is designed to maintain focus through brief obstructions or when a subject temporarily leaves the frame. Those are promising capabilities on paper, although their usefulness in a crowded venue will depend on real-world performance. The standard X500 takes a more everyday approach, pairing a 50MP main camera with a ZEISS APO telephoto camera offering a 72mm equivalent focal length. It also supports a 200mm equivalent telephoto extender.
A little more control over the concert video
Concert recording is a clear focus across the series. Stage Mode 3.0 includes Auto Framing Fancam Video, designed to follow a performer, alongside tools for capturing different views of a performance.
For more ambitious video projects, the Pro Max supports Cinematic Pro Log Video and native 4K recording at 240 frames per second. Log recording gives creators more flexibility to adjust colour and tone during editing, while high-frame-rate footage opens up slow-motion possibilities.
There are also options for people who would rather achieve a finished look within the camera app. There are also film-inspired colour styles such as Paris Afterglow, Golden Hour and Pastel, alongside portrait video tools intended to improve lighting and skin tones. For family outings, travel diaries or social content, the attraction is straightforward: more ways to shape a video before opening a separate editing app.
Portraits with room for personal taste
Still photography gets a similar creative treatment. The X500’s Cinematic Portrait feature adjusts portrait lighting across daylight, dusk and indoor settings, while vivo Color Palette offers control over tone, glow and grain.
These tools could appeal to users who enjoy giving their photographs a consistent mood. Whether that means softer holiday portraits or a warmer evening scene, the emphasis is on making personal adjustments accessible within the phone.
Bigger batteries and everyday productivity
Beyond imaging, vivo says the X500 Pro Max houses a 7,800mAh battery, while the X500 has a 7500mAh battery. Both support 90W wired charging and 40W wireless charging.
Battery capacity alone does not establish how long a phone will last, particularly during extended camera use. Still, endurance is a relevant part of the proposition for anyone planning to photograph an outing and edit the footage on the journey home.
Both models run OriginOS 7 and come with floating windows, drag-and-drop file transfers between apps and AI Recorder tools that can recognise speakers, organise transcripts and generate summaries. For users juggling interviews, meetings or content creation, those functions could be useful companions to the camera features.
Singapore prices and availability
The vivo X500 series goes on sale in Singapore on 31 October 2026, with both models offering 12GB RAM and 512GB storage:
- vivo X500: S$1,999, available in Dusk Black and Sunny White
- vivo X500 Pro Max: S$2,499, available in Starry Gray and Sunset Orange
Pre-orders run until 30 October, with a S$200 pre-order discount and launch benefits include a complimentary 200mm telephoto extender and case, subject to stock availability, two years of international warranty coverage and three months of screen protection coverage. A Jay Chou exclusive gift box is also listed as an in-store exclusive. The promotional 200mm extender is distinct from the 400mm accessory supported by the Pro Max.
For those considering an upgrade, the X500 series presents a camera-focused proposition, especially for performances and distant action. How convincingly it delivers those fleeting moments is something a hands-on test will need to establish.
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