- Vivo revealed its new X300 Ultra phone at MWC
- The device comes with a 400mm telephoto lens attachment.
- But the leaked Oppo Find X9 Ultra could soon become a strong rival
When people talk about the best camera phones, they usually have in mind something like Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra: you know, a normal-looking phone with an advanced but discreet camera system on the back. Well, the Vivo X300 Ultra is about to exceed all those expectations.
Revealed at MWC 2026, Vivo says this device is equipped with a 200-megapixel lens, matching that of last year’s X200 Ultra. But what really catches the eye is the optional Gen2 Ultra telephoto extender equivalent to 400mm. This is a clip-on lens made by Zeiss that adds significant zoom capabilities to the phone.
That should give you some pretty incredible power when it comes to long-range photography, especially for a smartphone. With a bit of digital cropping, it can apparently even act as a 1600mm super telephoto lens (albeit with some compromises in image quality).
The obvious compromise is portability – it’s not exactly like you can safely put the phone in your pocket when the lens is attached. And image processing is something we’d like to see in action before passing judgment; This is really pushing the boundaries of smartphone photography.
Vivo has been coy about the specifications of the X300 Ultra, leaving us guessing what else it might include. But if you’re a smartphone photography enthusiast and want high-end zoom power without resorting to one of the best DSLRs, Vivo is looking for your attention.
In addition to the Telephoto Extender Gen2 Ultra, Vivo also revealed a “pro” camera cage to hold its new phone. This is designed to complement video recording and puts “a variety of cold shoe mounts and quick release ports at your fingertips,” Vivo says. There are two hand grips for added stability, physical buttons to adjust the shutter and zoom, and even an active cooling fan to keep your device running optimally. Camera Cage is also compatible with Vivo’s lens extender.
These launches suggest that Vivo is aiming to appeal to the professional market, or at least targeting “pro-adjacent” users with big ambitions. This type of setup is beyond what most casual consumers will need, but it could be just what photographers and videographers need.
An unprecedented accessory
While these MWC teasers are out in the open, a Weibo leak suggests Vivo might have something else up its sleeve.
According to leaker Digital Chat Station on Chinese social media site (via Gizmochina), Vivo’s X300 Ultra will come with a 6.82-inch display equipped with a 2K resolution and a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. This screen will feature very thin bezels and rounded corners, while the Ultra’s battery will be slightly larger than that of the X300 Pro.
Additionally, Digital Chat Station alluded to an unreleased “teleconverter” that has not yet been revealed. Interestingly, they then followed up with the sentence: “It is more suitable for general photography enthusiasts.” That suggests this accessory will have broader use cases than the Telephoto Extender Gen2 Ultra add-on, which is very specific. However, we will have to wait to find out more information about it.
Meanwhile, it seems, new rivals appear almost every day. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra recently landed with an impressive camera setup, and now the Oppo Find It would be a great combination and could give it solid safari credentials, if not at the level of Vivo’s 400mm equivalent telephoto accessory.
Vivo says the X300 Ultra will launch later this year and will be its first Ultra phone available globally outside of China. However, given Vivo’s previous launches, it is unlikely to be sold in the US, while European availability is also uncertain. There’s also no word on the price or exact release date yet, so stay tuned for more information on that.
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