There’s always something exciting about vivo’s Ultra smartphones because they tend to push beyond what you would normally expect from a conventional flagship. The vivo X300 Ultra is no exception, arriving as a phone that places photography firmly at the centre of its identity while still delivering the performance, display and battery life expected from a premium device. At S$2,499 in Singapore, it enters an increasingly competitive flagship space alongside the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Yet after using it, it becomes clear that vivo isn’t simply trying to match them spec for spec — it has its own idea of what an ultra-premium smartphone should be.
The design immediately gives away those ambitions. I had the Volcano Black version for review, and I particularly like how the darker finish complements the phone’s more serious camera-focused character. The rear has a distinctive metal biscuit-style camera module that gives the X300 Ultra a look that is considerably more purposeful than the average flagship.
At 232g and around 8.2mm thick, it certainly has some presence in the hand, but I think that works in its favour. The large camera system feels integrated into the design instead of being something that was simply added for visual impact. IP68 and IP69 ratings also add a welcome layer of reassurance, especially for a phone that is likely to accompany you on photography trips and everyday adventures.
@playfuldroid Vivo X300 Ultra in Black Colourway ? #VivoX300Ultra #VivoX300Series #Vivo #Smartphone ? GANGSTERS – Emmett Zetto & Talentless
Flip it around and the display is just as impressive. The 6.82-inch AMOLED panel offers a sharp 2K resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate and up to 4500 nits of peak brightness, giving it plenty of visual impact. Scrolling feels exceptionally smooth, while photos and videos benefit from the combination of high resolution, rich colours and excellent contrast. What I found particularly useful was having such a capable screen for reviewing photographs directly after taking them. When you’re dealing with a camera system this sophisticated, being able to properly appreciate the results on the display makes a difference.
Performance is unsurprisingly flagship-grade, with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 working alongside 16GB of LPDDR5X Ultra Pro RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. The X300 Ultra feels exceptionally responsive, whether I’m moving between apps, editing photographs, recording video or simply going through my usual daily routine. What I enjoyed most is that the phone never feels like it’s struggling to keep pace with everything happening in the background. The large vapour chamber also gives it plenty of thermal headroom, which becomes particularly useful when shooting high-resolution images or recording video for extended periods.
Battery life is another strength that I found myself appreciating more as I used the phone. The 6600mAh battery gives the X300 Ultra plenty of endurance, even with the large display and demanding camera hardware. Photography, navigation, video streaming and social media can be surprisingly demanding on a phone, but the X300 Ultra generally has enough reserve to get through a busy day without making me constantly think about the battery percentage. And when it is time to recharge, 100W FlashCharge makes the process considerably less tedious, while 40W wireless charging provides a convenient alternative.
But naturally, the camera system is where the X300 Ultra really comes alive. vivo has equipped it with three ZEISS cameras covering 14mm, 35mm and 85mm-equivalent focal lengths, giving the setup a more deliberate photographic character. The 50MP ultra-wide uses a Sony LYTIA 818 sensor, while the 35mm main camera unit features a huge 200MP Sony LYTIA 901 sensor. Completing the setup is a 200MP 85mm telephoto camera with optical image stabilisation and advanced autofocus tracking. All three rear cameras also benefit from OIS, which gives the system a solid foundation for both photography and video.
What makes this setup particularly interesting is how naturally the different focal lengths complement one another. The 35mm camera is particularly enjoyable for everyday shots, producing images with an excellent sense of depth, fine detail and natural-looking colours. Photos have a pleasing level of contrast without looking overly processed, while highlights and shadows are handled with impressive control. Even when I zoom into the finer details, images retain a remarkable amount of clarity, giving the X300 Ultra a level of photographic quality that genuinely feels a step above many other flagship phones.
The 85mm telephoto is equally impressive, especially when it comes to portraits and distant subjects. Images have a beautifully refined look, with crisp details, convincing textures and a natural separation between the subject and background. What really caught my attention, though, was how consistent the image quality remains across different lighting conditions. Even in more challenging scenes, the camera manages to preserve colour, detail and atmosphere without making everything look unnaturally bright or heavily processed. There’s a sense of depth and character to the photographs that makes me want to keep reaching for the camera, even when I’m simply out and about.
On the software side, OriginOS 6 based on Android 16 provides a smooth and feature-rich foundation for everything the hardware offers. There are plenty of photography-focused tools and shooting modes to explore, while Pro Photo and Pro Video modes give enthusiasts more control over their shots. At the same time, the automatic modes remain easy to use, so you don’t need to understand every camera setting to get good results. I like that balance because it allows the X300 Ultra to grow with you — the more time you spend experimenting, the more there is to discover.
Taking everything into account, the vivo X300 Ultra feels like a flagship with a very clear sense of purpose. It has the display, performance, battery capacity and premium build to compete with the biggest names in the segment, but its identity is ultimately defined by its cameras. The combination of large sensors, carefully chosen focal lengths, ZEISS optics, powerful telephoto capabilities and advanced video features makes photography feel like the heart of the experience.
At S$2,499, the X300 Ultra sits firmly among the most expensive mainstream smartphones available, putting it directly up against established flagships such as the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max. For those simply looking for an excellent all-round smartphone, there are plenty of compelling choices. But if photography is high on your priority list, the X300 Ultra no doubt makes a particularly strong case for itself.
In Singapore, the vivo X300 Ultra is available for purchase via Shopee, Lazada, TikTok and authorized retailers including Challenger, Best Denki, Courts, Harvey Norman, Gain City and Popular.
