Design and workmanship
The design immediately draws attention to the large, round camera module with ZEISS branding. Huge camera modules are now standard on almost all high-end smartphones, and the vivo X300 Pro is no exception. In everyday use, this has the usual drawbacks. The smartphone doesn't lie completely flat on a table and is slightly wobbly. This is less noticeable with a case, but it can't be completely avoided.
Aside from that, the build quality makes a very good impression. The aluminum frame feels sturdy, the glass back is cleanly finished and pleasantly matte, making fingerprints barely visible. At the same time, the surface can make the device somewhat slippery, which is why a case is definitely a good idea for everyday use.
The frame is flat and transitions with a slight curve to the front and back, which ensures a pleasant transition and improves handling.
The front has a modern and uncluttered look. The display bezels are uniformly narrow, and the punch-hole for the front camera is centrally located and barely noticeable in everyday use. The display is flush with the frame, the transitions between the frame and the glass are seamless and feel pleasant to the touch.
The buttons are firmly seated in the casing and offer a crisp click. In addition to the power button and volume rocker, there's a freely programmable secondary button that can be used, for example, to launch the camera. At 226 grams, the X300 Pro has a decent weight, but this is well distributed across the casing and feels less heavy in everyday use than you might initially expect.
There's nothing to criticize regarding its robustness either. The IP68 and IP69 certifications ensure that the device is well protected against dust, water, and even more severe stress.
Display
The 6,78-inch AMOLED panel with 2800 x 1260 pixel resolution delivers a sharp, high-contrast and very bright display with up to 4500 nits.
Even in direct sunlight, the display remains easily readable; colors appear vibrant without being overly saturated. Photos and videos look vivid, and skin tones generally remain realistic. Those who prefer a more neutral display can easily adjust the settings; the options are available.
The refresh rate dynamically adjusts between 1 and 120 Hz without the user actively noticing. Scrolling through social media or websites appears smooth, while the system seems to quickly reduce the refresh rate in the background as soon as there's less movement. It's more noticeable where things aren't running perfectly. In some apps, especially the browser, the frame rate occasionally drops below the maximum. However, this is only noticeable if you're specifically looking for it.
The panel is also well-suited for streaming and videos. HDR is supported and provides noticeably more dynamic range with compatible content. Streaming apps like Netflix or YouTube deliver high-quality content, including HDR, which is to be expected in this price range.
Software and operation
Instead of differentiating between Funtouch OS and OriginOS as before, vivo now uses OriginOS across the board. Version 6, based on Android 16, is installed here. Compared to Funtouch OS, OriginOS appears somewhat more modern, which is visibly due to effects such as slight delays, blurring, and physically based animations. Animations react directly to input and feel a touch more "alive" than on many other Android interfaces.
There are plenty of features. These include a separate area for private content, dual messaging apps, and a fairly comprehensive system for connecting the device to a PC or other smartphones. Some features, such as the so-called Origin Island, provide additional information about the front camera and enhance traditional notifications.
In everyday use, however, it also becomes apparent that the system is heavily geared towards efficiency. The energy management intervenes early and terminates background apps relatively aggressively. Those who rely on push notifications must manually intervene and explicitly allow specific apps.
Depending on the region, the user interface may vary slightly. Despite being imported from China, German is fully integrated as the system language, and the Google Play Store comes pre-installed. Banking apps and contactless payments work without any issues, and most Chinese system apps can be uninstalled or hidden in a folder.
Performance
The X300 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500, and it handles everything you throw at it with ease in everyday use. Apps launch instantly, animations run smoothly, and even when quickly switching between the camera, browser, messenger, and image editing, there's no sense of a performance bottleneck.
In the tested version, Vivo combines the chip with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of fast UFS 4.1 storage. This is more than ample for everyday use and ensures that even larger apps, games, or photo files load without any waiting time. This is particularly important for a camera smartphone, as burst shooting, 4K videos, and large RAW files quickly demand storage and processing power.
The X300 Pro also performs strongly in gaming. Demanding titles run smoothly at high detail settings, and the GPU remains top-of-the-line. Regular gamers will find plenty of headroom. However, don't expect miracles when the device is under full load for extended periods. Like many current high-end smartphones, the X300 Pro noticeably throttles its performance after a few minutes to manage temperature and power consumption.
In everyday use, this is hardly a problem, but it's measurable in benchmarks and longer gaming sessions. The device gets warm, but remains within a comfortable range. The frame, in particular, noticeably absorbs heat, without the smartphone itself feeling hot.
camera
Vivo is once again relying on a triple system developed in collaboration with Zeiss, combining it with a new main camera, a very large telephoto camera and an ultra-wide-angle camera with autofocus.
main camera
The main camera uses the Sony Lytia LYT-828 sensor with 50 MP. The sensor measures 1/1,28 inches and is mounted behind a fast lens with an f/1.57 aperture and optical image stabilization. The focal length is 24 mm, which is somewhat more traditional than some of its predecessors. In everyday use, this is a pleasant perspective because it appears neither too wide-angle nor too narrow. Photos from the main camera have a lot of detail, a wide dynamic range, and color rendition that is characteristically vibrant for vivo cameras, but not overly saturated.
Especially in daylight, the main camera performs well. Fine details are preserved, skin tones appear natural, and white balance is usually reliable. It's noticeable that vivo doesn't sharpen as aggressively as some competitors. This makes images look more organic, particularly with textures like plants, brickwork, or fabrics. Even when zooming in, plenty of detail is still visible.
The 2x zoom on the main camera is also usable. It doesn't replace a true additional focal length, but delivers decent results in everyday use when you want to get a little closer to a subject. In good light, the photos remain clean and detailed; as expected, the quality deteriorates more quickly in low light.
At night, the main camera handles bright light sources well and renders shadows cleanly. However, in scenes with warm light sources, the color saturation can be somewhat high.
Telecamera
Vivo has equipped this camera with a 200 MP sensor, designated Samsung Isocell HPB, in a 1/1,4-inch format. The lens has an equivalent focal length of 85 mm, an f/2.67 aperture, optical image stabilization, and supports 3,7x optical zoom.
The telephoto camera really shines when it comes to portraits. Faces appear less distorted than with the main camera, the background separates more naturally from the subject, and the focus is reliably sharp. The portrait mode can add additional blur if desired, but this isn't always necessary because the optical separation is already quite good. Vivo also offers various Zeiss styles, allowing you to customize the look. The Zeiss mode usually has a warmer tone and less harsh contrast, which works particularly well for portraits.
Higher zoom levels are also available. At 7x, the X300 Pro still delivers surprisingly good results, especially in good lighting conditions. 10x zoom is also usable, although the software intervention is noticeably more pronounced.
Ultra wide angle camera
The ultra-wide-angle camera also has 50 MP, but uses a smaller Samsung JN1 sensor in a 1/2,76-inch format. The focal length is 15 mm, so the angle of view is pleasantly wide. Autofocus is included, which is not only helpful for group photos or landscapes, but also provides additional flexibility for close-up shots.
In daylight, the ultrawide camera delivers good colors and decent dynamic range. It appears noticeably weaker than the main and telephoto cameras, but the difference isn't too significant. In low light, the limitations of the smaller sensor become more apparent. Details become softer, fine textures are lost more quickly, and noise becomes more visible.
Front camera
The front camera uses a 50 MP sensor with autofocus and a fairly wide 20 mm lens. The autofocus makes a difference in everyday use, as selfies are sharp both at close range and with an outstretched arm. Skin tones are pleasing, dynamic range is good, and group selfies are easier to take. In low light, detail rendition noticeably decreases, but this is true for almost all front cameras in this class.
Videos
All cameras, including the front camera, can record in 4K at 30 and 60 frames per second. The main and telephoto cameras also support 4K at 120 frames per second. The main camera also supports 8K at 30 frames per second. For more control, the Pro mode offers additional frame rates, log recording, and a preview with a LUT. Dolby Vision HDR is also included, though not in all combinations.
connectivity
Despite being imported from China, the vivo X300 Pro works largely without problems on German networks. All important LTE and 5G bands are supported, including bands 20 and 28, which is particularly relevant outside of cities. During testing, there were no issues with reception or data rates on either the Vodafone or Telekom networks.
However, there is one important difference regarding the SIM card compared to the global version. The Chinese model offers two nano-SIM slots but does not support eSIM. Those who require eSIM functionality must opt for the version officially available in Europe.
The device is also up-to-date when it comes to Wi-Fi. It supports Wi-Fi 7, which is still somewhat futuristic at the moment, but already provides very high data transfer rates in compatible networks. Bluetooth 5.4 enables lossless audio transmission and a stable connection to wearables.
The device also features an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner that unlocks the smartphone very quickly and reliably. Compared to optical solutions, it has the advantage of working well even with slightly damp fingers.
Battery and running time
The X300 Pro's battery is somewhat contradictory. On paper, it appears to be a clear advantage, at least with the 6510 mAh battery in the Chinese version tested here. In Europe, however, the capacity is significantly lower, at around 5440 mAh. Technically, it's likely the same battery, but one that operates with stricter charging limits in the EU.
In our tests, the battery easily lasted two days with mixed use, without needing to consciously monitor the battery level. Even with intensive use involving a lot of camera, streaming, and navigation, there was often still plenty of charge left in the evening.
For wired charging, vivo uses FlashCharge with up to 90 watts. After about 15 minutes, the battery level is just over half, and a full charge takes just under 30 minutes. Wireless charging is supported at up to 40 watts, provided a compatible charger is used. Additionally, reverse charging is available, both wirelessly and via cable, to power devices such as headphones or other smartphones.
