Vivo has launched its X500 flagship smartphone range in China, led by the new X500 Pro Max, which places photography and video capabilities at the centre of the lineup. Its new Sony sensor is designed to deliver exceptionally wide dynamic range, while MediaTek’s latest processor enables high-quality 4K slow-motion recording. The launch matters because these features could push smartphone imaging closer to dedicated camera capabilities.

The X500 Pro Max uses a 50-megapixel Sony Lytia L910 sensor with claimed 17-stop dynamic range, alongside a returning 200-megapixel 3.7x telephoto camera and support for a 400mm teleconverter. The Pro and Pro Max use MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 Pro, while the standard X500 uses the Dimensity 9600M; the Pro chip supports 4K video at 240 frames per second, 10-bit Log recording and cinematic video styles. The phones have OLED screens from 6.36 to 6.85 inches, 6,510mAh–8,000mAh silicon-carbon batteries and Vivo’s OriginOS 7, with a global release planned but undated.