After several weeks of teasers, Vivo has announced all the details of its new X200 Ultra smartphone, which will launch in China. The X200 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm’s latest high-end Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. But what really sets it apart is the triple rear camera, which can be upgraded with accessories that not only extend the phone’s zoom capabilities to the level of a single camera, but also improve its ergonomics when taking photos and videos.
The Vivo X200 Ultra starts at 6,499 yuan (about US$890) for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage version and goes up to 7,999 yuan (about US$1,096) for the 16GB and 1TB version. It features a 6.82-inch OLED screen, a fingerprint sensor under the display, 90W charging speed with a USB-C cable, wireless charging up to 40W with a compatible charger, dust and water resistance, and silver, red, and black colors. (There are no plans for a release outside of China at this time.) The company did not provide specific battery life figures – often a problem with smartphones that are supposed to last twice as long as other gadgets – other than to say that users can “rely on their device all day long.”
For 2,598 yuan (about $356) or for 9,699 yuan (about $1,329) with the 16GB/1TB version, you can add a photographer’s kit, and that’s where the phone gets interesting.
Even without any of the accessories from this kit, the X200 Ultra’s photographic capabilities may give you enough reason to leave your professional camera at home. On the back of the phone you’ll find a pair of cameras with 50-megapixel 1/1.28-inch Sony sensors and optical image stabilization. One of them has a 14mm wide-angle lens with f/2.0 aperture, and the other has a 35mm lens with f/1.69 aperture, useful for portrait and shallow depth of field photography. The third camera uses a 200-megapixel 1/1.4-inch Samsung HP9 sensor and an 85mm f/2.27 telephoto lens with macro capabilities and image stabilization. On the front of the phone you will also find a 50-megapixel selfie camera.
All three rear cameras can shoot 10-bit 4K video at 60 frames per second with slow-motion capability that reaches a maximum speed of 4K/120 frames per second. Vivo says that image and video quality is enhanced by the use of two “newly developed” special chips: VS1, which pre-processes RAW data directly from the cameras’ sensors, and V3+, which performs post-processing tasks such as filters and color correction. Similar to the camera control feature in the iPhone 16 lineup, the X200 Ultra also features an improved shutter button that can be used to adjust exposure or zoom by swiping.
The optional Photographer Kit further enhances the photo and video capabilities of the X200 Ultra. The kit adds a grip with a dedicated video recording button, a customizable settings dial, a zoom control, and an additional 2300 mAh battery to extend the life of the phone’s 6000 mAh battery. Vivo did not say how much all the components of the kit will increase the weight of the 232-gram smartphone, but the improved ergonomics and the presence of a shoulder strap may make it easier to carry with a full set of accessories.
The kit also includes a 2.35x Zeiss telephoto lens that attaches to the phone via adapters and increases the zoom capabilities of the X200 Ultra’s 200-megapixel camera from 3.7x to 8.7x.
Can Vivo X200 Ultra completely replace the need for a separate camera? With sensors that are much smaller than those found in today’s DSLRs or mirrorless cameras, professional photographers and even amateurs will still want to carry cameras that provide better low-light performance. The ability to increase the phone’s zoom with a telephoto lens is useful, but Vivo needs to introduce a larger collection of additional lenses that will give photographers more creative choices if they want the X200 Ultra to truly be considered a viable camera replacement. Even so, it’s more camera than you’ll get with almost any other smartphone on the market.
