The most striking part of the Vivo X500 leak is not the main camera, but the decision to place a 64 MP periscope telephoto lens on the standard model. That move suggests Vivo is preparing a camera strategy that gives the regular X500 more premium appeal than many buyers may expect.
According to tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo, the device in question is still an engineering prototype. That means the leaked hardware details are not final, but they already show where Vivo appears to be heading with the next X series.
Three rear cameras, with zoom as the headline feature
The leaked Vivo X500 is said to use a 50 MP Sony main sensor with a 1/1.28-inch size. It is joined by a 50 MP ultra-wide camera, forming a triple-camera setup on the back.
The standout component is the 64 MP periscope telephoto camera. It reportedly uses a 1/2-inch sensor and a 70mm equivalent focal length, pointing to optical zoom and portrait shooting capabilities that are usually more closely associated with higher-tier phones.
| Leaked Camera Component | Reported Specification | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 50 MP Sony, 1/1.28-inch | Primary imaging sensor |
| Ultra-wide camera | 50 MP | Wide-angle shooting |
| Periscope telephoto | 64 MP, 1/2-inch, 70mm equivalent | Zoom and portrait use |
What may still change before launch
One detail that remains unconfirmed on the prototype is telephoto macro support. Digital Chat Station said the feature could still appear when the Vivo X500 moves into final production, which leaves room for the specification list to evolve.
That uncertainty matters because the phone is still early in the process. Even so, the leak already makes one thing clear: Vivo does not seem to be reserving periscope zoom only for its top model.
How the X500 family may be split
Earlier leaks suggest the Vivo X500 family could include four models: Vivo X500, Vivo X500e, Vivo X500 Pro, and Vivo X500 Pro Max. The lineup is also expected to span different screen sizes, from more compact devices to larger ones.
That kind of spread would give Vivo flexibility across multiple buyer segments. It also helps explain why the standard X500 is being positioned with stronger camera hardware than a bare-bones entry model.
| Reported Model | Key Leak | Camera Positioning |
|---|---|---|
| Vivo X500 | 50 MP main sensor, 50 MP ultra-wide, 64 MP periscope | Standard model with premium zoom hardware |
| Vivo X500 Pro | 50 MP main sensor with LOFIC, 50 MP ultra-wide, 64 MP periscope with 3x optical zoom | More advanced imaging package |
| Vivo X500 Pro Max | 50 MP Sony LYT-828 main sensor, 50 MP ultra-wide, 50 MP telephoto, 200 MP periscope | Most aggressive zoom-focused model |
Why the standard X500 stands out
Among the leaked details, the standard Vivo X500 may be the most interesting because it breaks the expectation that periscope zoom belongs only to the highest-end variant. The combination of a large 1/1.28-inch main sensor and a 64 MP periscope lens gives the regular model a more ambitious camera identity.
In comparison, the Vivo X500 Pro Max appears designed to push imaging further with a 200 MP periscope telephoto camera and an additional 50 MP telephoto unit. The Pro model sits between them with LOFIC support and a 64 MP periscope camera, keeping the hierarchy of the series clear.
For now, all of this remains part of a leak surrounding an engineering prototype. But if the specifications hold, Vivo’s next X series could be built around a much stronger zoom story, and the standard X500 may end up being one of the most closely watched models in the lineup.