Vivo plans to launch its top-tier Vivo X500 Ultra smartphone in China between March and April next year, according to specifications leaked by industry tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo.

The upcoming handset is slated to sit at the absolute pinnacle of the X500 family, which debuted in China last month with the standard Vivo X500, Vivo X500 Pro, and Vivo X500 Pro Max. While the current premium tier relies on MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 Pro silicon inside the X500 Pro Max, the forthcoming Ultra variant marks a strategic hardware pivot by adopting Qualcomm’s newest performance architecture.

Breakthrough Silicon: Qualcomm’s 2nm Architecture

Under the hood, the Vivo X500 Ultra is reported to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset. Manufactured using an advanced 2nm process, this processor utilizes a specialized cluster architecture featuring two high-performance prime cores capable of reaching peak clock speeds up to 5GHz. This shift represents the first time a model within the current generation X500 series integrates Qualcomm silicon rather than the MediaTek Dimensity platforms found in the lower tiers.

The leap to 2nm fabrication addresses growing user curiosity regarding sustained processing power, peak thermodynamic efficiency, and advanced mobile computational capabilities across demanding graphic workflows and on-device processing.

Unprecedented Triple 200-Megapixel Optical System

Smartphone photography enthusiasts tracking the evolution of ultra-premium flagships have fixated heavily on the X500 Ultra’s imaging hardware. According to the leak reported by Gizmochina, the device will incorporate a triple rear camera assembly composed entirely of three separate 200-megapixel sensors.

Rather than using identical sensor footprints, the engineering layout reportedly differentiates the hardware scale across three distinct physical dimensions:

The decision to deploy an exceptionally large 1/1.12-inch sensor for telephoto duties suggests a significant emphasis on long-range clarity, light intake, and low-light periscope zoom performance. This configuration directly challenges traditional smartphone camera hierarchies where high megapixel counts are typically reserved solely for the primary wide shooter.

Vivo will launch the Vivo X500 Ultra in China next year.

High-Refresh BOE Display and Ultrasonic Security

Visual output on the Vivo X500 Ultra will reportedly be handled by a 6.85-inch LTPO panel supplied by BOE. The screen is engineered to support a crisp "2K+" resolution paired with variable refresh rates scaling up to 144Hz, providing fluid motion handling for media playback and fast-paced interaction. Structurally, the leaker claims the display panel is bordered by relatively slim bezels and finished with subtly rounded corners.

For biometric authentication, Vivo is said to be implementing a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint scanner beneath the glass. Unlike conventional optical biometric sensors, ultrasonic hardware utilizes acoustic soundwaves to map fingerprint ridges in three dimensions, resulting in faster and more reliable unlocking under varied ambient lighting or with wet fingers.

Successor to the X300 Ultra

The impending arrival of the X500 Ultra was officially foreshadowed when Vivo’s Vice President of Product, Huang Tao, acknowledged that development had begun and that the flagship device would formally debut next year. Serving as the direct successor to the previous-generation Vivo X300 Ultra, the new device will supersede the Vivo X500 Pro Max to become the brand’s primary showcase of consumer mobile technology.

Although official pricing and global launch logistics outside China remain unconfirmed by the manufacturer, the comprehensive leak outlines an aggressive hardware profile aimed squarely at commanding the ultra-flagship category through early 2027.