There’s something about Vivo’s X series that has always stood out to me. While many flagship smartphones focus heavily on raw specifications, vivo has consistently managed to strike a balance between design, imaging, and everyday usability. The new vivo X300 FE continues that philosophy, bringing flagship-grade hardware into a more compact form factor without losing sight of what makes the X series appealing in the first place. Priced at S$1,099 in Singapore, it positions itself as a premium option for users who want power and versatility without necessarily carrying around an oversized device.
The first thing that stood out to me about the X300 FE was just how manageable it felt in the hand. The 6.31-inch form factor makes it noticeably easier to use than many of today’s larger flagships, while its aluminium frame and curved glass back give it a refined appearance. vivo offers the phone in a selection of finishes, including Moonlight White, Cool Purple, and Luxe Black, with the latter being the variant I had for review.
The deep black finish gives the phone a subtle yet sophisticated character, complemented by a distinctive camera visor that houses the ZEISS-powered imaging system in a layout that feels modern without being overly aggressive. Combined with IP68 and IP69 protection, the X300 FE feels every bit like a device built for everyday life.
Its compact dimensions don’t come at the expense of display quality. The 6.31-inch 1.5K LTPO AMOLED panel supports a dynamic refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz and reaches an impressive peak brightness of up to 5000 nits. Colours look rich and vibrant, while text and images remain crisp thanks to the high pixel density. Whether scrolling through social media or catching up on your favourite series, the screen delivers a viewing experience that feels flagship-grade from every angle.
Performance is another area where the X300 FE feels thoroughly polished. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and paired with fast LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage, the phone feels quick and responsive in daily use. Apps launch almost instantly, multitasking feels effortless, and the interface remains smooth even with several applications running in the background. What I appreciated most during my time with the phone was how natural everything felt. Whether I was bouncing between social media, replying to messages, or editing photos, the X300 FE simply kept up without missing a beat. It’s the kind of performance that quietly fades into the background, allowing you to focus on what you’re doing instead of the device itself.
Battery life is equally impressive. Despite its relatively compact dimensions, vivo has managed to fit a large 6500mAh battery into the device, and the results are immediately noticeable. I rarely found myself worrying about battery percentage throughout the day, even with heavy usage involving photography, social media, and video streaming. More impressively, the 90W FlashCharge support makes recharging feel almost effortless, while 40W wireless charging adds another layer of convenience. It’s one of those setups that quietly removes battery anxiety from the equation.
The camera system is where the X300 FE really starts to showcase its ambitions. Co-engineered with ZEISS, the setup consists of a 50MP Sony IMX921 main camera, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and an 8MP ultra-wide camera. On paper, it may not sound overly complicated, but in practice, it delivers results that consistently punch above its size. Colours are pleasing without being overprocessed, and details are retained exceptionally well across different lighting conditions.
I particularly enjoyed using the telephoto camera. The 3x optical zoom adds genuine versatility to everyday photography, making it easy to capture subjects from a distance without sacrificing image quality. Portraits benefit from vivo’s continued collaboration with ZEISS, producing natural-looking background separation and pleasing tones that feel more refined than artificial. Even low-light performance holds up remarkably well, with the main camera capturing bright and detailed images while maintaining a realistic atmosphere.
On the software side, OriginOS 6 based on Android 16 feels mature and feature-rich. The interface remains fluid and intuitive, with thoughtful additions that enhance usability without becoming overwhelming. AI-powered tools are integrated in practical ways, helping with photo editing, content organisation, and productivity tasks. The software experience complements the hardware nicely, creating a system that feels cohesive and easy to live with over time.
Taking everything into account, the vivo X300 FE succeeds in delivering a flagship experience without relying solely on size or excess. Its compact design, vibrant display, dependable performance, excellent battery life, and versatile ZEISS camera system come together in a package that feels thoughtfully engineered from top to bottom.
Priced at S$1,099, the vivo X300 FE makes a compelling case for itself in the premium segment. It won’t necessarily be the phone with the most extravagant specifications, but for those who appreciate a compact form factor and a camera experience that consistently delivers, the X300 FE feels like one of the most complete smartphones vivo has put together in recent years.
For those who’re interested, the vivo X300 FE is priced at S$1,099 in Singapore and is available for purchase via Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, and authorised retailers including Challenger, Best Denki, Courts, Harvey Norman, Gain City, and Popular. Starting from 6 June, the device will also be available through participating telco partners.
As part of the launch promotion, every purchase of the vivo X300 FE comes with a complimentary pair of vivo Buds Air3 (worth S$99), along with a 2-year local warranty and 3 months of screen care coverage. Those looking to enhance their photography experience can also purchase the vivo X300 FE together with the vivo X300 FE Telephoto Extender Kit and enjoy S$100 off, bringing the bundle price down to S$1,298 from its usual combined retail price of S$1,398.
