Vivo X500 Set to Shake Up the 2026 Flagship Market

The Vivo X500 is already creating serious buzz months before its expected launch. According to multiple industry reports, Vivo is planning to unveil its next flagship on 13 October 2026 in India. And honestly, if the leaks are even 80% accurate, this could be one of the boldest Android phones of the year.

The phone is tipped to arrive alongside other flagship contenders like the Xiaomi 18 series in September, setting up a major premium smartphone showdown.

Let’s break down what makes the Vivo X500 such a big deal.

Vivo X500 Launch Date and Expected Price

The Vivo X500 is currently marked as “rumoured,” but the expected launch date is 13 October 2026.

In India, the estimated starting price is Rs 79,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant. That clearly places it in the ultra-premium segment.

If Vivo sticks to this pricing, it will compete directly with Samsung Galaxy S series and iQOO flagships. Personally, I think Vivo is betting heavily on camera lovers and power users here.

Vivo X500 Display and Design

The Vivo X500 is expected to feature the following:

• 6.8-inch AMOLED display

• 120Hz refresh rate

• Punch-hole design

• Curved edges

• HDR10+ support

• Up to 2160Hz PWM dimming

Reports also suggest IP68/69 water and dust resistance. That’s serious durability. A curved AMOLED with a 120Hz panel is now standard for flagships, but Vivo’s colour tuning usually looks fantastic in real life.

Vivo X500 Performance and Software

Here’s where things get slightly confusing.

Some reports claim it will use the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 Plus (4nm) chipset with Immortalis-G720 GPU. Others suggest a Dimensity 9600 platform. Either way, it’s clearly a next-gen flagship processor.

Expected specs are listed below:

• Android 16

• Funtouch OS / OriginOS 6 (region-dependent)

• 12GB RAM

• 256GB storage

• No expandable storage

If Android 16 ships out of the box, Vivo will be ahead of many competitors at launch. That’s a strong move.

Vivo X500 Camera System

This is the headline feature.

The Vivo X500 is tipped to include the following:

• 200MP primary camera

• 50MP ultra-wide lens

• 50MP telephoto lens

• Laser autofocus

• OIS support

• 4K video recording

• 50MP front camera

Some leaks even mention dual 200MP sensors, though that remains unconfirmed.

Vivo’s partnership with Zeiss optics could push image quality to professional levels. If the camera processing is as good as Vivo’s previous X-series phones, this could easily become one of 2026’s best camera smartphones.

Vivo X500 Battery and Charging

This is honestly the most impressive part.

• 7000mAh battery

• 90W or 100W wired fast charging

• 40W wireless charging (some reports deny this)

• Reverse charging support

A 7000mAh battery in a flagship body is massive. If optimized properly, this could be a true two-day phone. That alone makes it stand out in a crowded market.

Vivo X500 Connectivity and Features

• 5G support (multiple bands including N78, N77)

• Wi-Fi 7

• Bluetooth 5.4

• USB Type-C 3.2

• In-display fingerprint sensor

• No 3.5mm headphone jack

It checks almost every premium box.

Should You Wait for Vivo X500?

If you’re planning to upgrade in late 2026, the Vivo X500 looks like a serious contender. The combination of a 200MP camera, 7000mAh battery, Android 16 and flagship MediaTek chipset makes it future-ready.

However, at nearly Rs 80,000, expectations will be sky-high. Vivo cannot afford performance bugs or camera inconsistencies at this price.

Still, if the leaks hold true, the Vivo X500 might not just compete, it might dominate.

And that’s exactly why everyone is watching this launch closely.