Vivo rolled out X500 Pro as a compact flagship smartphone, combining MediaTek processor, Zeiss-tuned cameras, a 6,510mAh silicon-carbon battery and 90W charging in a relatively lightweight body.
The specs make it appealing, but Pakistani buyers may face several issues, including official availability and warranty, higher import prices, China-market software differences, Google services and network-band compatibility concerns, and possible regional variations in eSIM and charging support.
The smartphone was announced in China with its domestic release expected around September 29. Vivo is expected to expand availability to international markets later, with a European launch event reportedly planned for late October and sales potentially beginning in early November.
vivo X500 Pro
Unlike many current premium smartphones that approach or exceed 6.8 inches, the X500 Pro uses a 6.36-inch display while keeping its overall dimensions relatively compact. It comes with aluminum frame, a glass front and either a glass or glass-fiber-reinforced plastic rear panel. Vivo has also given the phone IP68 and IP69 protection, providing resistance against dust, water immersion and high-pressure water jets.
Depending on the market, connectivity configurations can include dual Nano-SIM support and eSIM. The phone is expected in Black, Gray, White and Orange. X500 Pro features a 6.36-inch BOE Q11 LTPO AMOLED display with a 1216 × 2660-pixel resolution and approximately 459ppi density. Its adaptive refresh rate ranges from 1Hz to 144Hz, allowing the panel to increase smoothness when required while reducing refresh activity during static content.
Performance comes from MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 Pro, manufactured on a 2nm process. The octa-core processor configuration consists of two C2-Ultra cores clocked at up to 4.55GHz, three cores reaching 4.35GHz and three additional cores running at up to 3.1GHz. Graphics processing is handled by the Mali-G2-Ultra-NX GPU.
X500 Pro comes with 12GB of LPDDR5X-class RAM, while storage options include 256GB, 512GB and 1TB using UFS 4.1. There is no microSD card slot, meaning buyers will need to select their preferred storage capacity at purchase.
Camera
Vivo has made photography one of the phone’s central features through a three-camera rear system tuned in collaboration with Zeiss. The main shooter is 50MP sensor. It offer OIS, PDAF and laser autofocus, along with LOFIC technology. Vivo also advertises up to 17 stops of dynamic range, designed to preserve detail across high-contrast scenes.
The second rear camera is a 64MP periscope telephoto offering approximately 3.5x optical zoom, equivalent to around 85mm. It also supports OIS, PDAF and telephoto macro photography. An optional Zeiss telephoto extender can be used to increase the system’s reach.
Completing the rear setup is a 50MP ultrawide camera with an approximately 15mm equivalent focal length, a 119-degree field of view and autofocus. For selfies and front-facing video, the handset uses a 50MP f/2.0 camera with autofocus.
X500 Pro also targets mobile video creators with support for 8K video at 30fps. At 4K resolution, recording options extend to 30fps, 60fps, 120fps and 240fps. One of the X500 Pro’s biggest hardware highlights is its 6,510mAh silicon-carbon battery. The capacity is particularly notable because the battery is housed inside a phone weighing less than 200 grams.
Charging support includes 90W wired charging and 40W wireless charging. The phone can also provide reverse wired and reverse wireless charging for compatible accessories and devices.
Vivo X500 Pro price
| Configuration | China price | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| 12GB + 256GB | CNY 6,499 | ~$970 |
| 12GB + 512GB | CNY 7,499 | ~$1,120 |
| 12GB + 1TB | CNY 8,499 | ~$1,269 |
How it compares with iPhone 18
X500 Pro takes a substantially different approach from Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max. Apple’s flagship reportedly features a much larger 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED with a 1320 × 2868 resolution, approximately 460ppi and a 120Hz refresh rate.
Its peak brightness reaches around 3,000 nits, with Ceramic Shield 2 protection.
iPhone 18 Pro Max is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro 2nm chip, paired with 12GB RAM and storage configurations reaching 2TB, while running iOS 27. Its camera system includes a 48MP variable-aperture main camera, 48MP 4x telephoto and 48MP ultrawide, accompanied by LiDAR.
The iPhone is significantly larger and heavier, measuring approximately 163.4 × 78 × 8.8mm and weighing around 249 grams.
Vivo’s key hardware differences include its smaller body, 144Hz display, larger 6,510mAh battery, 90W wired charging and 40W wireless charging. iPhone, meanwhile, is far ahead in areas such as ecosystem integration, long-term software support, Face ID, LiDAR and an established professional video workflow.
Facts you need to know before buying
X500 Pro’s compact size comes with some compromises. The smaller chassis provides less display area than the 6.9-inch screens found on the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra and could potentially offer less thermal headroom during prolonged gaming or intensive video recording.
Imported Models Could Create Software Issues
For Pakistani buyers, the first issue may not be the hardware but the regional version of the Vivo X500 Pro. Early units available through importers are likely to be China-market models, which can have a different software environment from international variants. Differences may include pre-installed applications, Google services, language support, notifications, regional features, NFC and payment functions, as well as Vivo’s own apps. Buyers should therefore confirm the exact variant before purchasing the phone.
Google Play and Software
Google services should also be checked carefully on imported units. While sellers may advertise Google Play as fully functional, China-market devices can come with a different software configuration from global models. Extra caution is needed if a phone has been flashed or modified with unofficial software, as such changes can potentially create problems with future updates, application compatibility and overall system stability.
Network Compatibility
Although the X500 Pro supports modern 4G and 5G connectivity, network compatibility can vary between regional versions. A phone supporting 5G does not necessarily mean it will support every frequency used by Pakistani operators. Buyers should check the exact model number and its LTE and 5G bands before purchasing an imported device, particularly if they intend to use it as their primary smartphone.
Warranty and Repairs
After-sales support is another concern for imported X500 Pro units. If Vivo does not officially sell the particular variant in Pakistan, manufacturer-backed warranty coverage may not be available in the same way as it is for officially marketed models. Retailer warranties can provide some protection, but their terms vary.
Repairing components such as the display, motherboard, camera system, battery or charging hardware could also become more expensive if compatible replacement parts are difficult to obtain.
3.5x Zoom May Not Be Enough for Photography
Vivo equips the X500 Pro with a 64MP periscope telephoto camera offering roughly 3.5x optical zoom, supported by OIS and autofocus. This setup should be useful for portraits and medium-distance subjects, but some competing Ultra phones offer longer native optical zoom ranges. Users who frequently photograph distant objects may therefore find the X500 Pro less flexible than devices with higher optical zoom magnification.
No microSD Slot
The phone can be configured with as much as 1TB of internal storage, but Vivo has not included a microSD card slot. While 512GB and 1TB should provide plenty of room for most users, the 256GB model could become restrictive for people who regularly capture large files.
No Headphone Support
The X500 Pro also lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack. Users who prefer wired headphones will need USB-C headphones, an adapter or wireless earbuds. For most flagship users this may be a minor inconvenience, but those who rely on traditional wired audio will need to factor it into their purchase decision.
Resale in Pakistan
The phone’s imported status could also affect its second-hand market. Prospective buyers may want to know whether the handset is PTA approved, a China or global variant, running its original software, compatible with Google services, covered by warranty and fully compatible with local networks.
If these details are unclear, an imported X500 Pro may attract fewer potential buyers when it is eventually sold.
