Vivo X300 Review: Industry-leading photography in a compact form factor

It’s remarkable to see how Vivo has transformed its narrative over the past decade, especially when it comes to cameras. And if you’ve seen the X200 series, you’ll know exactly what I mean. With every generation, Vivo has pushed the boundaries of what mobile photography can be, and with the X300, the company takes an even more confident leap. Positioned squarely in the ₹70,000–₹80,000 flagship segment, it arrives to challenge the OnePlus 15, Realme GT 8 Pro, and iQOO 15 head-on. It’s a crowded space, but if one thing is clear from the outset: the Vivo X300 is here with intent. The question is obvious, does it have what it takes to stand tall?

Design

The compactness of the Vivo X300 is the first thing that strikes you. It feels refreshing in a world where flagships keep getting larger. The 6.31-inch footprint makes it incredibly easy to handle, and the slim 7.99mm profile paired with a 190g weight ensures effortless usability throughout the day. Vivo’s Coral Velvet Glass technique elevates the tactile experience, understated, silky, resistant to fingerprints, and refined in a way that feels polished but never flashy. I particularly liked the Mist Blue variant; under bright light, it often appears white, shifting beautifully with changing reflections, adding a subtle sense of luxury.

In the hand, the phone feels wonderfully balanced because of its unibody 3D glass design. There are no abrupt transitions anywhere, everything melts into the frame as if the camera module naturally grows out of the body. Buttons have a solid, clicky feel, and the ports are laid out with precision. What stands out most is how clean the front looks. The symmetrical, ultra-thin bezels create an open, immersive view without distractions.

Durability has also received meaningful upgrades. The phone features Diamond Armor Glass for improved drop resistance and the complete suite of IP68 and IP69 ratings, making it capable of withstanding dust, submersion, and even high-pressure, high-temperature water jets. This places it directly in line with the OnePlus 15 in terms of ruggedness while feeling more compact and easier to wield.

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Display

Vivo has equipped the X300 with a top-tier display both in hardware and tuning. The 6.31-inch flat panel features 8T LTPO technology, an adaptive refresh rate, and a peak brightness that reaches up to 4,500 nits in local areas. Even its global peak brightness of 2,000 nits ensure excellent outdoor visibility, comfortably surpassing the OnePlus 15’s 1,800 nits and competing closely with the ultra-bright Realme GT 8 Pro. Content looks stunning on this screen, rich, full, and accurate, thanks to Vivo’s improved HDR tuning and Immersive Dual-Engine technology, which maintains saturation even under harsh sunlight.

The second highlight is the refinement in motion handling. UltraMotion elevates fluidity across the UI, lifting refresh rates to 90 Hz or 120 Hz even in apps traditionally locked to lower rates. Whether browsing, reading, or watching HDR content, the X300’s screen is a pleasure, and the attention to eye care with 1-nit minimum brightness and a suite of anti-fatigue features adds long-term comfort. For users, this simply means crisp visuals, excellent sunlight readability, and a display that feels both lively and soothing at the same time.

OS and AI

Running on OriginOS 6 built over Android 16, the X300 delivers a polished, delightful software experience. The redesigned visuals add texture and depth, each transition feels intentional. Flip Cards bring an entirely new gyroscope-based wallpaper interaction that creates personality without adding clutter. The control center has been revamped for better one-handed accessibility, and the improved iconography gives the OS a mature, contemporary identity. Compared to OxygenOS 16 on the OnePlus 15, OriginOS feels more animated, while staying less experimental than Realme UI 7.0.

AI enhancements take center stage too. Origin Island brings smart, context-aware suggestions for navigation, meetings, and media. You can drag-and-drop content between apps instantly, extract text, or share images with seamless intent detection. The Office Kit further lets you mirror your phone to a PC, handoff tasks, and sync notes with better integration than most competitors. It’s a thoughtful blend of smart utility and everyday convenience.

Performance

Powering the Vivo X300 is the MediaTek Dimensity 9500, a 3nm powerhouse built on the new ARM V9.3 architecture. Paired with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage on the review unit, the performance remains consistently smooth. The all-big-core design and upgraded GPU bring massive IPC gains, ensuring the phone feels fast regardless of what you throw at it. In benchmarks, the Vivo X300 scored 3,379 in single-core and 10,127 in multi-core on Geekbench, placing it slightly below the Realme GT 8 Pro and iQOO 15 but still competitive. The AnTuTu score of 3,252,362 trails the OnePlus 15 and Realme GT 8 Pro, but in daily usage, the difference is negligible.

GPU performance at 23,745 matches closely with the iQOO 15’s 23,484, showing that the Dimensity chip holds its own in graphics-heavy tasks. Games like COD Mobile, BGMI, and F1 Clash ran smoothly at high settings with stable frame rates. The Glacier Cooling System’s new ice-vein design ensures temperatures remain under control during extended sessions, and the cool-touch frame makes holding the device more comfortable. Overall, the phone delivers stable, fluid performance with excellent thermal management, making it a reliable daily driver and a capable gaming machine.

Camera

This is where the Vivo X300 doesn’t just shine; it dominates. The 200 MP ZEISS main camera with HPB hardware customization is a powerhouse. The detailing and clarity are unmatched among this year’s flagships. Even when zoomed in, images retain impressive sharpness without unnatural oversharpening or noise. The multi-frame fusion ensures that each 200MP image is more than just a high-resolution shot; it’s a composition of multiple layers of clarity, tone, and dynamic range. Against the OnePlus 15’s DetailMax engine, Realme GT 8 Pro’s Ricoh-inspired photography, and iQOO 15’s natural color calibration, the X300 simply pulls ahead.

Vivo X300 camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan

Low-light photography benefits from enhanced SNR10 performance and superb ultra-low-reflection ZEISS T* coating. Colours remain accurate; highlights stay controlled, and shadows have real depth. Portraits are stunning; ZEISS Natural Portrait avoids artificial editing and delivers lifelike skin tones with natural texture. Whether it’s makeup preservation, hair detail, or lighting transitions, the phone gets everything right without looking processed.

Vivo X300 camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan

The telephoto camera, featuring the LYT-602 sensor with 100x HyperZoom, brings class-leading clarity. Thanks to NICE 3.0 and Magic 2.0, text, patterns, and buildings retain sharpness even at long zoom ranges. The front 50MP ZEISS wide-angle camera is equally impressive with autofocus, a rarity, and captures selfies with remarkable detail and natural rendering. The X300’s imaging pipeline, powered by the V3+ chip, ensures your photos remain true to what your eyes saw, not what an algorithm decided.

Vivo X300 camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan

Battery

The 6,040 mAh battery isn’t the biggest in this segment, especially compared to the massive 7,300 mAh on the OnePlus 15 or the 7,000 mAh cells in the Realme GT 8 Pro and iQOO 15. However, Vivo’s optimisation with silicon-anode technology and a lightweight system architecture ensures all-day battery life comfortably. In real usage, the phone lasts a full day with moderate to heavy use without anxiety.

Charging is handled via 90W FlashCharge and 40W wireless charging, fast, though not as speedy as the Realme GT 8 Pro. Bypass charging and Battery Life Extender help reduce heat and preserve long-term battery health, making it reliable even under heavy camera or gaming workloads.

Verdict

The flagship race has never been this heated, and Vivo enters the arena with confidence. The Vivo X300 covers every essential; front, premium design, a compact form factor, smooth performance with the latest chipset, polished software, and a gorgeous display. But its unmatched strength lies in the camera. If imaging is your top priority, there’s no question, the Vivo X300 stands miles ahead of the OnePlus 15, Realme GT 8 Pro, and iQOO 15.

With its price positioned within the ₹75,999 segment, the Vivo X300 emerges as a well-rounded contender. For users seeking a refined flagship experience with industry-leading photography, the X300 is undeniably one of the best choices of the year.