Zeiss Cameras and Android 16: Vivo Brings X300 Series to Germany

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After a long absence from Germany due to a legal dispute with Nokia, Vivo had cautiously returned at the beginning of the year and offered selected models, such as the top model X200, again via Amazon in Germany. With the X300 series, the manufacturer is also reopening its German website. The new models are intended to impress with their cameras, among other things, which were developed in collaboration with Zeiss. Similar to Oppo, the manufacturer also offers a “telephoto extender Kit.”

Vivo X300 and 300 Pro with Triple Cams

Vivo's X300 and X300 Pro each feature three rear cameras, which have been developed with Zeiss—as with the predecessors—since 2020. Vivo is equipping the X300 with a 200 MP wide-angle camera, while the X300 Pro uses a 50 MP sensor. However, the Pro model has larger pixels and a brighter f/1.6 instead of an f/1.7 aperture. The ultra-wide-angle camera is identical on both devices: Vivo uses a 50 MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture here. For the telephoto zoom cameras, the manufacturer installs a 50 MP sensor with f/2.6 and 70 mm focal length in the X300, while the X300 Pro has a 200 MP sensor with f/2.7 and 85 mm focal length. In addition, the X300 Pro has its image processor: the “Pro Imaging Chip VS1” is said to improve “image output speed, clarity, and noise reduction,” according to the manufacturer.

Optionally, Vivo offers a teleconverter, similar to Oppo's Find X9 Pro, which can be attached to the camera element and extends the telephoto zoom optics to an equivalent focal length of 200 mm. For the kit, including the case, Vivo charges just under 400 Euros.

MediaTek 9500 and Fast Charging

Under the hood of both smartphones is MediaTek's new Dimensity 9500 chip as the computing unit, which is roughly on par with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in terms of performance. In the X300, Vivo allocates 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of flash storage to the Mediatek chip; in the Pro model, it's 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB.

There are also differences in the LTPO displays: the X300 has a 6.31-inch display with 2,640 × 1,216 pixels, and the X300 Pro has a 6.78-inch screen with 2,800 × 1,260 pixels. Both models deliver up to 120 Hz refresh rate, up to 4,500 cd/m² peak brightness, and HDR10+, with the X300 Pro also offering Dolby Vision support.

Unlike the Chinese versions with 6040 and 6510 mAh batteries (Pro), respectively, Vivo has shrunk the batteries for the European market: the base model has a 5360 mAh battery, and the X300 Pro has a 5440 mAh battery. Vivo states that both models have single-cell batteries, which are not allowed to be larger due to European transport regulations (ADR). For comparison, Oppo uses a 7500 mAh battery in its current top model, Find X9 Pro, which is distributed across two cells and is sold in Europe in this form.

The Vivo models support wired charging via USB-C at up to 90 watts and wireless charging via a proprietary charging dock at up to 40 watts. Both devices feature a fast ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and IP68 and IP69 certification; they are therefore dust- and waterproof.

OriginOS with iOS Influences

In terms of software, the devices are based on Android 16, which is supplemented by the in-house software overlay OriginOS 6. In terms of the user interface, the manufacturer is taking cues from Apple's iOS rather than Google's Material 3 Expressive. According to Vivo, the devices will receive 5 years of Android upgrades and 7 years of security patches.

The new Vivo smartphones are already available via the manufacturer's website and via Amazon. The X300 is offered in black and pink and costs 1049 euros with 12 GB and 256 GB. The Vivo X300 Pro, with 16 GB and 512 GB, costs 1,399 euros. It is offered in brown and black.

(afl)