vivo X300 Ultra review – GSMArena.com tests | Infinium-tech

Introduction

Although there are a growing number of “ultra” devices on today’s market, few arguably justify the slogan like Vivo’s flagships. Today, we’ll be taking a closer look at the latest Vivo X300 Ultra. We actually have both a Chinese unit and a global unit, so we will compare and contrast the two where applicable. This time the European version has the same battery capacity as all other markets.

The X300 Ultra definitely follows on from its predecessor the X200 Ultra and refines things further, or at least changes things up, especially when it comes to the camera department. There’s a new 200MP main camera at the top, which is up from the 50MP unit on the X200 Ultra and has a larger sensor, but also a dimmer f/1.9 lens. Even though it looks the same, the telephoto camera has been upgraded to the latest HP0 200MP sensor. It’s the same size as last year but promises twice as fast autofocus and better stabilization. However, again, a dimmer f/2.7 lens, which is a notable step back from the X200 Ultra’s f/2.3 lens.

Vivo X300 Ultra specs at a glance:

• Body: 163.0×76.8×8.2mm, 232g; Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame; IP68/IP69 dustproof and water resistant (submersible up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes).
• Display: 6.82″ LTPO AMOLED, 1B color, 144Hz, 2160Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, 1440x3168px resolution, 19.8:9 aspect ratio, 510ppi; Ultra HDR image support.
• Chipset: Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm): Octa-core (2×4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6×3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M); Adreno 840.
• Memory: 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM; UFS 4.1.
• OS/Software: Android 16, OriginOS 6.
• rear camera: wide (main): 200 MP, f/1.9, 35mm, 1/1.12″, 0.7µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS; telephoto: 200 MP, f/2.7, 85mm, 1/1.4″, 0.56µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS, 3.7x optical zoom, macro 3.4:1; ultra wide angle: 50 MP, f/2.0, 14mm, 116-deg, 1/1.28″, 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS;
• Front Camera: 50 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.76″, 0.64µm, AF.
• video capture: rear camera: 8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60/120fps (10-bit log, Dolby Vision HDR), 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, Gyro-EIS, HDR10+; front camera:4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, Gyro-EIS, HDR.
• Battery: 6600mAh; 100W Wired, PD, PPS, QC, UFCS, 40W Wireless, Reverse Wired, Reverse Wireless.
• Connectivity: 5G; Wi-Fi 7; BT 5.4, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC5; NFC; Infrared port.
• various: Fingerprint reader (under the display, ultrasonic); stereo speakers; Emergency SOS (calls, messages) via satellite – 16GB + 1TB model only.

By the way, we also received the new photography kit with the X300 Ultra – even though only part of it will be available in Europe. The set we received includes two new teleconverter lenses – the 400mm and 200mm, although the 200mm is not part of the European bundle, but will be part of the kit in Asia. There’s also a case, a detachable grip with the shutter button and camera controls, some filter rings, some lens caps, and a new leather strap with a quick-release attachment for the phone.

Apart from photography, the X300 Ultra still offers some notable changes. In terms of design, both the phones are very similar, but Vivo has introduced a particularly attractive design this year. Gone are the subtle turns forward and backward. The middle frame has also become wider, although on paper the X200 is a thicker phone. However, personally it certainly doesn’t feel that way.

Vivo has also upgraded the display slightly, taking the refresh rate to 144Hz. Of course, the chipset has been swapped out for the latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. There are also some changes in battery and charging this year. For one, the battery capacity has increased from 6,000 mAh last year to 6,600 mAh this year, so that’s a welcome upgrade.

unbox

The X300 Ultra comes in a typical rectangular two-piece cardboard box. Black with silver embossed letters – another Vivo staple. It appears that Vivo is still not on the eco-friendly bandwagon with its packaging, instead opting for a large plastic cradle to keep the phone and its accessories safe.

As for accessories, you get a lot, especially on the international version we have here. It gets an updated 100W Vivo charger in the box with a Type-C port on the charger instead of a Type-A port. For better or worse, the charger won’t be in the box for European units due to local regulations.

Additionally, buyers get a nice, thick USB Type-C to Type-C cable. The cable is E-marked and rated for 5Amp support. There is also a small text on the last plug stating that it is good for current up to 9.2A.

Finally, there’s also a very nice, soft, color-matched TPU case in the box so you can start using your shiny new phone right away.