Vivo has confirmed the Vivo X500 launch for September 21 in China, announcing the date during its Creator Festival. The lineup brings three phones: the standard X500, the X500 Pro, and a brand-new X500 Pro Max tier that did not exist in the last generation.

The timing is deliberate. MediaTek is expected to unveil its next flagship Dimensity processors on September 15, just six days before Vivo's event, and reports point to the new silicon powering the lineup. Vivo's entire pitch for the series rests on camera hardware and video tools, aimed squarely at the creators who turn up to its festival circuit. September is already stacked with hardware news, from Apple's foldable iPhone Duo to this camera push from Vivo.

The new camera sensor is the headline

Vivo confirmed the X500 Pro series will be the first phones to carry its BluePrint LightGuard 900 sensor, a unit the company says delivers up to 17EV of dynamic range when combined with its high-dynamic-range imaging pipeline. According to Gizmochina, the sensor is likely based on Sony's LYT-910, which was announced earlier this year.

Both the main camera and the periscope telephoto on the Pro models get CIPA 7-level stabilization, built for steadier handheld shooting and video. The standard X500 is not being left behind either. Vivo product manager Han Boxiao confirmed it will use a 50MP Sony LYTIA-828 main sensor measuring 1/1.28 inches, a part previously reserved for the X300 Pro. That makes it the largest main camera sensor ever put in a standard X-series phone.

The Pro Max goes further still. Tech press reports point to a 200MP HP0 telephoto camera on the flagship, paired with a 50MP main camera and a 50MP ultrawide. Vivo is also preparing a 400mm telephoto extender accessory, which positions the Pro Max for wildlife and travel photography rather than everyday snapshots.

Video features aimed at creators

The series leans into video in a way few phone launches have. Vivo teased 4K recording at 240 frames per second for slow-motion footage, 4K 120fps HDR video, and professional formats including 10-bit 4:2:2 encoding with the ACES color system. The Pro models add 4K 120fps 10-bit Log recording, and Vivo has teased 8K native Live output alongside AI-assisted video features.

A new AI photography assistant analyzes scenes through an on-device imaging interface and suggests compositions, poses, and camera features to try. An album-based AI editing tool applies custom color adjustments based on the scene in each photo, extending the AI push beyond the shutter press. For creators who film on phones, Log recording and 10-bit 4:2:2 output mean footage can be graded properly in editing software instead of arriving pre-baked with a phone look. It is the clearest sign yet of what the Vivo X500 launch is really about. The creator pitch also arrives alongside other creator gear landing this month, from phones to new podcast tools for creators on Threads.

A leak filled in the chip and battery

Official teasers skipped the silicon, but a leaked "About Phone" screenshot from a review-unit X500 surfaced on Weibo and filled the gap. Notebookcheck reported the screenshot, posted by leaker Bald Panda, lists the Dimensity 9600M chipset clocked at up to 4.21GHz, alongside 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The outlet also reported that reservations are already open in China ahead of the event.

The same leak confirmed Vivo's V3+ custom image processor and a large 7,500mAh battery, with the unit running OriginOS 7. The status bar identified it as a demo unit rather than final retail hardware, so the numbers could shift slightly at retail. A separate unboxing of a white X500 put the display at 6.59 inches and showed a 90W charger and a matching silicone case included in the box. More detail comes from the full report at Notebookcheck.

What Vivo has not said yet

Pricing remains unknown for all three models. Vivo has not announced an India launch date, though reporting suggests October is likely, and international availability, including Europe, is expected to follow the China debut. With the Vivo X500 launch set for 7 PM China time on September 21, the remaining question is how much of the leaked hardware survives in the final retail versions.

The full launch breakdown is covered by Gizmochina, which first confirmed the date and camera upgrades. The full launch breakdown is covered by Gizmochina, which first confirmed the date and camera upgrades.