Vivo’s first Pro Max phone proves its Ultra is still in a league of its own

<figure> <img alt="Photo of Vivo X500 Pro Max camera from behind on a wooden table" data-caption="The X500 Pro Max is the first Vivo flagship to sit between its Pro and Ultra tiers. | Photo: Dominic Preston / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Dominic Preston / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/vivo-x500-pro-max-03.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> The X500 Pro Max is the first Vivo flagship to sit between its Pro and Ultra tiers. | Photo: Dominic Preston / The Verge </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph">When I declared this spring that Vivo's <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/926067/vivos-x300-ultra-has-the-best-cameras-in-any-phone">X300 Ultra</a> had the best cameras in any phone, two things made it stand out in my mind: its excellent main camera with a narrow 35mm focal length and what remains the most capable ultrawide in any phone worldwide.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">You won't find either in the new X500 Pro Max. It has an impressive camera system with world-leading dynamic range and the same great telephoto lens found in the Ultra. But it's lost a little something of what made its predecessor quite so special.</p> <div class="product-block"><h3>Vivo X500 Pro Max</h3> <figure class="product-image"><img width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/vivo-x500-pro-max-07.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="Photo of Vivo X500 Pro Max camera from the front on a wooden table"></figure> <div class="product-scores"><table class="product-pros-cons"><thead><tr><th>Pros</th><th>Cons</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><ul><li>Fantastic telephoto camera</li><li>17 stops of dynamic range on the main camera</li><li>Big 7,800mAh battery</li><li>1440p, 144Hz display</li></ul></td><td><ul><li>Ultrawide …</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/1023131/vivo-x500-pro-max-review-cameras-specs-price">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>