Vivo X500Explainer
Release date
Vivo X500 release date: the X500, X500 Pro and Pro Max are out in China, with no global date yet
Vivo launched three X500 phones in Shanghai on Sept. 21, 2026: the X500, the compact X500 Pro and the big X500 Pro Max. The X500 and Pro Max went on sale in China on Sept. 24 and the Pro on Sept. 29, from CNY 5,499, CNY 6,499 and CNY 6,999. All three have Zeiss-branded cameras, and the Pro Max adds a 200MP telephoto, a new Sony-built main sensor and an 8,000mAh battery. Vivo hasn't announced the X500 series for any country outside China yet, and its global and India websites still sell the X300 series. Vivo doesn't sell phones in the US.
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Vivo launched the X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max in China on Sept. 21, 2026, from CNY 5,499. Vivo hasn’t announced a global or India launch, and it doesn’t sell phones in the US.
When does the Vivo X500 come out?
It’s already out in China. Vivo unveiled the X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max at an event in Shanghai on Sept. 21, 2026, and opened pre-orders the same day. The X500 and Pro Max went on sale on Sept. 24, and the X500 Pro followed on Sept. 29.
Vivo hasn’t announced the X500 series for any other country. Its global and India websites still sell the X300 series, and it hasn’t given dates or prices for the X500 outside China.
- Sep 7, 2026Vivo sets the X500 launch for Sept. 21 at a creators' event in Yantai, China
- Sep 21, 2026Vivo launches the X500 series in Shanghai; pre-orders open in China
- Sep 24, 2026X500 and X500 Pro Max go on sale in China
- Sep 29, 2026X500 Pro goes on sale in China
Vivo X500 prices in China
Vivo’s China prices start at CNY 5,499 for the X500, CNY 6,499 for the X500 Pro and CNY 6,999 for the X500 Pro Max. The 1TB versions of the Pro Max add satellite text messaging, which works only with China Mobile in China. A limited creator kit edition of the 16GB/1TB Pro Max costs CNY 12,999.
Each model comes in four colors. Vivo hasn’t announced prices outside China.
Vivo X500 Pro Max specs
The Pro Max is the top model. Its main camera uses the Blueprint 900, a new sensor Vivo designed with Sony, and its 200MP Zeiss APO periscope telephoto is the same one Vivo used in the X300 Ultra. Vivo says the Pro Max is the first phone with MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 Pro, the chip Oppo also uses in the Find X10 Pro Max. An optional G2 Ultra lens clips over the telephoto and reaches the equivalent of 400mm.
Vivo X500 Pro specs: the compact one
Unusually, the X500 Pro is the smallest of the three. It has the Pro Max’s chip and main camera in a body with a 6.36-inch screen, but swaps the 200MP telephoto for a 64MP one and has a smaller 6,510mAh battery.
Vivo X500 specs
The standard X500 is the cheapest, with a 6.59-inch screen, MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600M and a 7,500mAh battery, bigger than the X500 Pro’s. Its main camera uses the Sony LYTIA 828 sensor from last year’s X300 Pro.
All three work with Vivo’s G2 add-on lens, which reaches the equivalent of 200mm and weighs 153 g.
Will the Vivo X500 come to the US or India?
Vivo hasn’t announced either. It doesn’t sell phones in the US, and its US web address sends visitors to its global site. In India, Vivo’s website still lists the X300 series as its newest X phones. For other flagships launching this fall, see our pages on the Xiaomi 18, the Honor Magic 9 and the Galaxy S27.
This page is updated as soon as Vivo announces a global or India launch date for the X500 series.
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FAQ
When does the Vivo X500 come out?
It’s already out in China. Vivo launched the X500 series on Sept. 21, 2026; the X500 and X500 Pro Max went on sale on Sept. 24 and the X500 Pro on Sept. 29. Vivo hasn’t announced a launch in any other country.
When is the Vivo X500 global launch?
Vivo hasn’t announced one. Its global and India websites still list the X300 series, and it hasn’t named countries, dates or prices for the X500 outside China.
How much is the Vivo X500?
In China, the X500 costs CNY 5,499 to CNY 6,999, the X500 Pro CNY 6,499 to CNY 8,999 and the X500 Pro Max CNY 6,999 to CNY 9,499, depending on memory and storage. A limited Pro Max creator kit costs CNY 12,999.
Will the Vivo X500 be sold in the US?
Vivo doesn’t sell phones in the US, and it hasn’t announced US plans for the X500. Its US web address sends visitors to its global site.
Is the Vivo X500 Pro smaller than the X500?
Yes. Unusually, the Pro is the compact model, with a 6.36-inch screen and a 6,510mAh battery. The standard X500 has a 6.59-inch screen and a 7,500mAh battery, and the Pro Max a 6.85-inch screen and 8,000mAh.
What chip does the Vivo X500 Pro Max use?
MediaTek’s 2nm Dimensity 9600 Pro, running at up to 4.55GHz. The X500 Pro uses the same chip; the standard X500 uses the Dimensity 9600M.
Pop quiz
2 questions from this story.
Which X500 model has the smallest screen?
The X500 Pro has a 6.36-inch screen, smaller than the X500’s 6.59 inches and the Pro Max’s 6.85 inches.
How many megapixels is the X500 Pro Max telephoto camera?
The Pro Max has a 200MP Zeiss APO periscope telephoto. The X500 and X500 Pro use a 64MP telephoto.
Your call
Which Vivo X500 would you pick?
