The Vivo X300 series has officially made its global debut as the brand’s latest flagship lineup. This time, there’s no X300 Pro Mini; instead, the regular X300 takes on the role of the compact flagship. In China, the Vivo X300 starts at CNY 4,399 (around Rs 55,000) for the base model, though the price is expected to be higher in India since the Vivo X200 launched at Rs 65,999. There’s good news for those looking for something more affordable. Vivo is reportedly working on the X300 FE, which will succeed the X200 FE. It’s expected to be the global version of the upcoming S50 Pro Mini, likely launching in China soon.
While there’s no official confirmation yet, it seems the compact flagship trend is here to stay. Vivo has reduced the X300’s display size to 6.3 inches, putting it in closer competition with the iPhone 17 in terms of form factor. This also raises hopes that Vivo will launch the X200 FE’s successor for users seeking a more affordable alternative. Interestingly, unlike the main X300 lineup, the upcoming X300 FE could mark a major shift in hardware. Reports suggest it may swap the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, which could make it an even more exciting option globally.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is said to be a toned-down version of Qualcomm’s flagship 8 Elite Gen 5 chip. It’s expected to feature an Oryon CPU built on TSMC’s 3nm (N3P) process, with an octa-core setup featuring two performance cores at 3.8GHz and six efficiency cores at 3.32GHz. The chip will reportedly include an Adreno 840 GPU, using the same architecture as the Elite version but with fewer cores to keep costs lower.
Qualcomm hasn’t officially confirmed the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 yet, but with this chipset at the helm of the Vivo X300 FE, we can expect flagship-grade performance. Not that the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ powered Vivo X200 FE was lagging in performance. The smartphone’s benchmark numbers might not seem impressive, but it still delivers excellent daily use for everyday tasks and even demanding use cases. If the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 delivers better numbers, then we should expect an even improved performance from the successor.
The Vivo S50 Pro mini (X300 FE) is rumoured to feature a 6.31-inch 1.5K flat display, the same as the previous model. We’re yet to see if there could be any difference in the refresh rate or brightness level. There’s also a periscope telephoto camera rumoured for the S50 Pro mini. The smartphone is also tipped to house a bigger battery than the X300, which has a 6,040mAh battery. This is expected, though, as the Vivo X200 has a 6,500mAh battery, so an upgrade would only mean a larger capacity.
Do note that these specifications are unofficial and have been shared by a reliable tipster, Digital Chat Station. Also, the speculation is drawn from the fact that the Vivo S30 Pro mini launched as the X200 FE in India. Similarly, we expect the Vivo S50 Pro mini to launch as the X300 FE outside China.
The Vivo X300 FE is shaping up to sit close to premium flagships in terms of hardware, features, and pricing. It’s expected to serve not just as a more affordable flagship alternative, but also as a powerful compact option for users who don’t want to pay top-tier prices. Its predecessor, the Vivo X200 FE, impressed with excellent cameras, solid battery life, and durable build quality in a compact design, and the X300 FE is likely to carry that legacy forward. If Vivo gets the pricing right, the X300 FE could emerge as a serious contender not only among compact phones but also against full-fledged flagships.
