As a rule of thumb, we shouldn't be getting hyped about upcoming smartphones based purely on rumors. But, as it's sometimes the case, some rumors are more credible than others. And the latest credible rumor certainly will make you jump for joy if you're mainly interested in flagship phones that don't pull any punches.
The Vivo X500 Ultra is shaping up to be a remarkable handset.
Global or not?
The Vivo X300 Ultra is a fine phone. | Image by PhoneArena
The ongoing RAMpocalypse tragedy (thank you, AI slop fans) continues to drive RAM and storage chip prices up in the sky. Apple raised iPhone prices, Samsung raised Galaxy prices across the board, even Chinese makers "blessed" their once-affordable flagship killers with inflated prices in 2026.
Some say this phenomenon will make Chinese flagships so expensive on global markets that companies like Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi won't even bother to launch them, making them China-exclusive once again.
…and I completely agree. But let's see what we're missing with the Vivo X500 Ultra.
The details are here
So, the famous Digital Chat Station tipster claims that the Vivo X500 Ultra will use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset. This isn't a surprise, since almost all high-end Android phones pack it.
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Next, the phone is expected to feature a 6.85-inch BOE LTPO display with 2K+ resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. The screen will reportedly be flat, with LIPO technology, symmetrical bezels, rounded corners and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. What I like about this is the "will reportedly be flat" part: I hope the industry doesn't go back to quad-curved designs.
What's the most you're willing to spend on a flagship now?
4 Votes
Cameras and battery
We still don't have a complete picture regarding the camera setup, but Vivo is allegedly testing a 200 MP periscope telephoto camera with three possible sensor sizes: 1/1.12-inch, 1/1.3-inch, and 1/1.4-inch. It's not yet clear which one will make it into the final phone.
For the main camera, Vivo is testing two options: a 50 MP 1/1.28-inch LOFIC sensor with a 35mm focal length, or a 200 MP 1/1.12-inch LOFIC sensor. Whatever it is, I think the company will fine-tune it and squeeze the most out of it.
Finally, the phone could pack a battery of around 7,000 mAh. That's great for 2026, but maybe—just maybe—an 8,500 mAh cell would be better suited for 2027.
When to expect it?
According to the same tipster, the Vivo X500 Ultra might be announced in March or April 2027.
I'd like to see a global launch, too, but the price might be too high to justify such a thing happening. My fellow Redditors agree:
It's the truth. | Image by Reddit
The reality is that many in the US will simply go with the iPhone Duo for $2,000 instead of spending the same (or even higher) amount of money on a Vivo phone. At least the Duo can fold and they'll be paying for those bragging rights. Never underestimate bragging rights!
What about the Galaxy S27 Ultra?
If we're to compare the alleged Vivo X500 Ultra with the alleged Galaxy S27 Ultra, it won't be an easy task for Samsung to convince you to give your money to them and not to Vivo.
For starters, it's not yet etched in stone whether the S27 Ultra will go for the Exynos 2700 or the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset. It's almost confirmed that the phone will ditch its dreaded 5,000 mAh battery cell, but that doesn't mean we'll get a 6,000 mAh cell or one with a higher capacity. We could be getting a 5,500 mAh battery.
But what I'm most worried about is the camera department: Samsung's Ultras have remarkable main cameras, but their telephoto snappers are still struggling with petite sensors and dim lenses—an area that's dominated by Chinese OEMs.
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Sebastian is one of PhoneArena’s senior opinionators. A veteran news writer with almost 20 years of experience in media and technology, he not only covers all the hot news about Galaxies and iPhones, but often provides hot takes on industry trends. He’s fascinated with camera-focused flagships from the likes of Oppo and Vivo, as well as foldable phones.
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