New Delhi, May 11, 2026, 21:36 IST
Vivo’s X300 Ultra and X300 FE will go on sale in India on May 14, giving the Chinese brand two new camera-led phones in the premium Android market days after their local launch. The X300 Ultra is priced at INR 1,59,999, while the X300 FE starts at INR 79,999, Vivo said.
The timing matters. India’s smartphone shipments, or phones sent into retail channels, fell 5% year on year to 30.9 million units in the first quarter, Omdia said, as weak demand and cautious dealer buying met rising component costs. Vivo still led the market with a 20% share, giving it room to push higher-priced models while smaller brands face pressure.
It also lands in a tougher price climate. Counterpoint Research told Reuters that India’s smartphone shipments fell 3% in the first quarter, their weakest quarterly showing in six years, with more than 80 models seeing average price increases of 15%. Senior analyst Prachir Singh called it an “affordability squeeze.” Reuters
The X300 Ultra is Vivo’s main swing at the top end. It comes in a 16GB RAM and 512GB storage version, in Eclipse Black and Victory Green, and Vivo is also selling a Photography Kit bundle at INR 2,09,999. The device and kit will be sold through Flipkart, Amazon, Vivo’s India e-store and retail partners.
Vivo is leaning hard on imaging. The Ultra’s ZEISS-backed system covers 14mm, 35mm and 85mm camera views, with a 50MP Sony LYTIA 818 ultra-wide sensor, a 200MP Sony LYTIA 901 main sensor and a 200MP telephoto sensor. Optical image stabilisation, which helps steady the camera during shooting, is built into the setup.
Vikas Tagra, head of product management for Vivo India’s X Series, said the X300 Ultra “marks a significant step forward” for smartphone cameras. Vivo also said the phone is made at its Greater Noida facility, a detail the company is likely to stress as local manufacturing remains a selling point in India. vivo India
The X300 FE gives Vivo a lower-priced route into the same pitch. It has a 6.31-inch display, a 7.99mm body, weighs 191 grams, runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip and uses a 6,500mAh battery with 90W wired and 40W wireless charging. Its rear cameras include a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto camera and an 8MP ultra-wide camera.
Tagra said the FE model answers demand for “premium performance” in a form factor that fits daily use. The X300 FE is sold in 12GB/256GB and 12GB/512GB versions, priced at INR 79,999 and INR 89,999, with a 200mm ZEISS telephoto extender sold separately. vivo India
The sharper comparison is with Xiaomi’s 17. A Sportskeeda comparison published on Monday said the X300 FE has a lower starting price and larger 6,500mAh battery, while Xiaomi’s 17 counters with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and three 50MP Leica-tuned rear cameras.
Xiaomi launched the 17 in India in March at INR 89,999 for the 12GB/256GB model and INR 99,999 for the 12GB/512GB version. The phone has a 6.3-inch OLED display, 6,330mAh battery, 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, according to Gadgets 360.
The May launch calendar is busy beyond Vivo and Xiaomi. Gizbot listed Vivo’s new phones alongside OnePlus Nord CE 6 models, Motorola’s Razr Fold and Oppo’s Find X9 Ultra and Find X9s as part of a crowded India smartphone month. That gives buyers more choice, but it also raises the cost of standing out.
But the risk is clear. At nearly INR 1.6 lakh for the Ultra and close to INR 2 lakh for some bundles, Vivo is testing how many Indian buyers will pay for camera hardware at a time when analysts say upgrade cycles are stretching and price hikes are biting. The FE has a better entry point, though Xiaomi’s performance pitch may still pull in gamers and power users.
