Forget the Pro models for a second. The standard Vivo X500 might be the most interesting phone in the lineup. Vivo Product Manager Han Boxiao has officially confirmed key camera specs for the base X500, and what’s coming to the standard edition is the kind of hardware that used to be reserved for flagships with “Pro” or “Ultra” in the name.
The main camera is a 50MP Sony LYT-828 sensor measuring 1/1.28 inches. That makes it the largest primary sensor ever put in an X-series standard model. And it’s not just big on paper. It comes paired with Zeiss gimbal-level stabilization carrying a CIPA 5.5 rating, which is serious hardware for low-light shooting and video work. For context, the X300 used a custom 200-megapixel HPB sensor as its main camera. Vivo is switching directions here, trading megapixel count for sensor size and light capture. That’s the right call.
The telephoto is where things get really interesting. The X500 is getting the same Sony LYTIA-610 sensor used in the X500 Pro’s APO telephoto camera, a 64MP shooter with CIPA 5.5 stabilization and 4K video at 120fps. That’s a meaningful spec. Most brands save their best telephoto hardware for the top-tier model. Vivo is putting it in the standard one. And there’s more. The phone is also expected to support Vivo’s compact Lipstick 200 telephoto extender, which could make the X500 a genuinely solid pick for concert photography or any situation where you need extra reach without carrying a camera bag.
These confirmed specs line up closely with a leak from DCS last month, which pointed to a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 64MP periscope telephoto with a 1/2-inch sensor and a 70mm equivalent focal length. Telephoto macro support was also mentioned as a possibility. A 50MP autofocus selfie camera is still in the rumor pile but hasn’t been officially confirmed yet.
So why does any of this matter beyond spec sheet excitement? Because the mid-to-flagship gap in mobile cameras has been narrowing fast, and brands like Vivo are pushing that trend harder than most. When the standard version of a phone ships with the same telephoto sensor as the Pro model, it forces the whole industry to think harder about what “Pro” actually means anymore. It’s also a signal that Vivo is serious about competing on camera quality across its entire lineup, not just at the top.
To quickly recap what’s been confirmed or strongly rumored for the X500 camera system:
- 50MP Sony LYT-828 primary sensor, 1/1.28-inch
- Zeiss gimbal stabilization, CIPA 5.5 rated
- 64MP Sony LYTIA-610 periscope telephoto, 70mm equivalent
- 4K video at 120fps on the telephoto
- Lipstick 200 telephoto extender support
- 50MP ultrawide (rumored, not confirmed)
- 50MP autofocus selfie camera (rumored, not confirmed)
Vivo is expected to launch the X500, X500 Pro, and X500 Pro Max later this month in China. No pricing or global availability has been announced yet, but given how strong these specs look on paper, this is one launch worth watching closely. If Vivo delivers on what’s been confirmed, the standard X500 could end up being the sleeper hit of the lineup.