The battle for smartphone camera supremacy may soon enter a new phase. A fresh leak indicates that Vivo is testing a dedicated 10x telephoto camera for its next-generation Ultra flagship, the Vivo X500 Ultra. While the company has yet to confirm any details, the reported test setup hints at a notable shift in Vivo’s imaging strategy. Rather than relying primarily on a lens extender, Vivo appears to be evaluating a much longer optical zoom solution built into the phone.
Vivo X500 Ultra with 10x telephoto camera
Vivo’s next Ultra flagship could feature a telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom. Vivo’s current Ultra flagship, the X300 Ultra (review), features a 200MP periscope telephoto camera with 3.7x optical zoom. It comes with 200mm and 400mm Zeiss telephoto extenders (review), allowing you to shoot distant objects while maintaining good detail. With a 10x optical zoom, the Vivo X500 Ultra may not require an extender kit.
However, implementing a 10x zoom camera is easier said than done. Longer focal lengths typically require larger camera modules, more internal space, and increasingly complex image stabilisation systems. Smartphone manufacturers must also balance zoom performance against weight, thickness, battery capacity, and production costs. Vivo’s Ultra models are known to house large camera modules and a thick form factor altogether to incorporate the large sensors.
For Vivo, a dedicated 10x telephoto camera could strengthen an area where the company has traditionally been competitive. The brand’s flagship phones have earned a reputation for strong camera performance, partly due to its long-standing collaboration with Zeiss and a focus on imaging hardware.
If Vivo ultimately adopts a dedicated 10x periscope camera, it could make the X500 Ultra one of the most versatile camera phones on the market. For photography enthusiasts who frequently capture wildlife, sports, concerts, or distant landscapes, the upgrade could offer meaningful real-world benefits beyond the typical annual camera improvements. With this expectation, the Vivo X500 Ultra could be worth waiting for, if you’re still on the hunt for the ultimate camera phone.
