Vivo X300 Pro Review: When a Smartphone Starts Thinking Like a Camera

Most smartphones today talk loudly about photography. Bigger sensors, higher megapixels, smarter AI—every launch promises images that rival dedicated cameras. Very few phones, however, are confident enough to behave like one.

The Vivo X300 Pro belongs to that smaller, more interesting group.

This is not a phone built to win spec-sheet arguments on social media. It is built around a quieter ambition: to give users the confidence to zoom, wait, observe, and frame—behaviours traditionally associated with photographers, not phone owners. After living with it as both a daily device and a primary camera, the Vivo  X300 Pro reveals something important about where smartphone imaging is heading.

Why the Vivo X300 Pro Matters Right Now

Smartphone cameras have largely plateaued in the wide-angle space. Daylight photos are consistently good across brands. Where phones still struggle—and where real cameras still dominate—is reach. Distance compresses detail, punishes stabilisation, and exposes the limits of computational photography.

Vivo’s answer isn’t just a bigger sensor or more aggressive AI. It’s a system-level rethink of telephoto photography—one that treats zoom not as an afterthought, but as a core creative tool.

That choice alone changes the conversation.

Design That Doesn’t Apologise for Its Purpose

The Vivo X300 Pro doesn’t try to hide its priorities. The large circular camera module dominates the back, and that’s intentional. Camera-first phones shouldn’t pretend to be minimalist slabs; they should wear their purpose openly.

The matte glass finish balances the visual weight, keeping the phone grippy even in humid or sweaty conditions. Despite the prominent camera hardware, weight distribution is handled well. Shooting in landscape orientation—especially at longer focal lengths—never feels awkward or top-heavy.

On the front, Vivo’s decision to stick with a flat 6.78-inch AMOLED display deserves credit. Flat panels are underrated, especially for people who edit photos on their phones. Cropping, straightening horizons, and judging edges feel more precise without curved distortions.

The display itself is excellent: 120Hz smoothness, restrained colour tuning, strong outdoor brightness, and HDR performance that enhances rather than exaggerates. This is a screen designed for looking critically at images, not just consuming content.

Performance That Stays Invisible—and That’s a Compliment

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 with 16GB RAM, the Vivo X300 Pro never draws attention to its performance. Apps stay in memory, multitasking feels effortless, and the phone behaves consistently from morning to night.

That consistency matters more than peak numbers. When you’re switching constantly between camera, gallery, maps, editing tools, and messaging—often outdoors—any hesitation breaks flow. The X300 Pro doesn’t interrupt you.

Gaming performance is solid, thermal behaviour is predictable, and while the phone does warm up during extended camera use, it never crosses into discomfort or throttling territory.

Battery Life Built for Long Days, Not Just Benchmarks

With its 6,510mAh battery, the Vivo X300 Pro is clearly designed for users who stay out longer than their charger does.

Heavy photography days—navigation, editing, screen-on time, telephoto use—still end comfortably without anxiety. Battery drain during zoom-heavy shooting is noticeable but logical, not erratic. That predictability is key when you’re travelling or working in the field.

Charging speeds are fast enough that short top-ups actually make a difference, which matters more in real life than headline wattage figures.

Software: Vivo Finally Gets Out of the Way

OriginOS 6 marks a turning point for Vivo’s software reputation. Where older Vivo interfaces felt busy and dated, this one feels modern, fluid, and restrained.

Animations are smooth without being showy. Transitions make sense. The phone responds immediately to intent. Over time, the interface fades into the background—which is exactly what good software should do.

The camera app itself is dense, but intentionally so. This is closer to a camera menu system than a casual point-and-shoot interface. It takes time to learn, but once you do, control becomes second nature.

Some AI tools are genuinely useful—object removal, quick composition fixes—while others are easy to ignore. That balance matters. Tools should assist, not demand attention.

The Camera Philosophy: Zoom First, Everything Else Follows

On paper, the camera setup looks impressive:

• 50MP main camera

• 50MP ultra-wide

• 200MP ZEISS-backed telephoto

In practice, what stands out is how deliberately Vivo treats the telephoto lens. It isn’t secondary. It’s central.

The telephoto camera delivers reliable focus, strong stabilisation, and consistent colour science across distances. More importantly, it invites you to try shots you’d normally skip on a phone—distant subjects, fleeting wildlife moments, scenes where stepping closer isn’t possible.

The Telephoto Extender: Niche, Serious, Effective

The optional telephoto extender kit pushes the Vivo X300 Pro into unusual territory. This isn’t a gimmick lens meant for casual experimentation. It’s a serious accessory designed for specific use cases: wildlife, stage performances, distant observation.

It adds weight, requires care, and demands patience. But when conditions are right, it delivers clarity that digital zoom simply cannot replicate. Detail holds. Stabilisation remains usable. Focus doesn’t panic.

The result isn’t just sharper images—it’s confidence. Confidence to wait, to frame carefully, to trust the shot.

Image Output: Documentary, Not Decorative

Across varied subjects—landscapes, animals, people, motion—the Vivo X300 Pro’s images share a consistent character. Colours are controlled, details aren’t over-sharpened, and backgrounds fall away naturally.

Photos don’t scream “shot on a phone.” They feel observational rather than performative.

Low light still challenges the telephoto lens, as physics demands, but the phone gives you a genuine chance where most smartphones simply fail outright.

The ultra-wide camera is reliable in daylight, less impressive after dark. The front camera delivers clean, natural selfies without aggressive smoothing.

Video performance is solid and dependable. 4K60 footage is stable, telephoto video remains usable, and focus behaviour stays calm—even while moving.

Durability and Daily Confidence

With IP68 and IP69 ratings, the Vivo X300 Pro inspires trust. Dust, humidity, constant handling, travel wear—it all fades into the background. You don’t feel the need to baby the phone, which is crucial for a camera-first device.

A phone that makes you hesitate to use it freely is a failed design. This one doesn’t.

The Bigger Picture: Who Is This Phone Really For?

At ₹1,09,999, the Vivo X300 Pro is not trying to appeal to everyone. It doesn’t justify its price through flashy tricks or mass-market appeal.

Instead, it targets a specific mindset:

• People who frame before they shoot

• People who value reach over filters

• People who travel, observe, and wait

• People who want to leave a bigger camera behind—sometimes

The telephoto extender kit, priced separately, reinforces that focus. It’s not essential, but when you need it, nothing else like it exists in the smartphone world.

Final Verdict: A Tool, Not a Toy

The Vivo X300 Pro isn’t perfect. It’s large, expensive, and unapologetically specialised. But that’s precisely why it matters.

It doesn’t try to make photography effortless. It tries to make it trustworthy.

And when a smartphone earns enough trust to change how you see, wait, and frame the world, it stops being just a phone. It becomes a tool—and that’s a much rarer achievement.