Vivo X300 Review: Outstanding Cameras and Superior Performance Make It the Best Compact Flagship
If there is one thing I value most in a smartphone, it is the camera. Capturing moments, exploring shadows and colours, and chasing beautiful frames have always been my favourite off-screen adventures. So when the Vivo X300 arrived on my desk, I instinctively knew I was in for a fun ride. Vivo’s latest flagship enters the crowded and unforgiving premium segment, priced just under Rs 1 lakh, where expectations are sky-high, and compromises are not welcome. Users in this space demand everything—powerful performance, a top-tier camera system, a stunning display, and a premium design that feels luxurious from first glance. Interestingly, the X300 tries to tick every one of those boxes, starting with its oddly satisfying, velvet-textured glass back.
Design and Display: A Velvet-Finish Beauty With a Compact Flagship Identity
The Vivo X300 feels instantly premium in the hand, not just because of its materials but also because of its thoughtfully refined design. Vivo has clearly learned from its predecessor. The camera bezels are now integrated into smoother curved frames, resulting in a cleaner, more mature aesthetic. The velvet-textured glass back is one of the most unique approaches in this category, and the experience of holding it is surprisingly pleasant. It resists fingerprints and feels soft without losing its sophisticated charm.
Up front, the device features a 6.31-inch AMOLED display with extremely slim bezels, resulting in a compact footprint and a comfortable grip. The display is sharp, bright and crisp, making it ideal for streaming and content consumption. After playing several music videos and watching movies on it, I found the display to be nothing short of a visual treat. Colours appear beautifully saturated yet natural, and the blacks are deep enough to create excellent contrast.
Outdoor readability is equally impressive. The brightness holds up well even under harsh sunlight, and the screen remains comfortably readable without needing to bring it too close to the eyes. It’s an underrated convenience—especially considering how many people still zoom in dramatically on WhatsApp chats outdoors. Vivo clearly understood that screen clarity and comfort should remain uncompromised.
Battery: A 6040mAh Powerhouse That Lasts Beyond Expectations
Battery life is one of the strongest highlights of the Vivo X300. Packed with a massive 6040mAh cell, the device easily outperforms many premium phones in longevity. Vivo claims it can outlast several long-hour usage scenarios, and in real-life testing, it certainly lived up to the hype. After an entire evening of doom-scrolling, binge-watching, and mindlessly hopping between apps, I still found enough battery left to comfortably last the following morning.
This makes the X300 ideal for users who prioritize extended battery life without carrying a charger everywhere. Heavy users, content creators, travellers and mobile gamers are likely to appreciate this stamina more than they realize. The phone not only lasts long but also charges quickly. Once, ahead of a sudden weekend outing, I had forgotten to plug the device in. A short, quick charging session was enough to relieve any anxiety about battery life for the rest of the day.
Vivo’s charging optimization ensures that the device charges fast without heating, which pairs well with the massive battery capacity. In a world where people dread carrying power banks, the X300 feels like a refreshing upgrade.
Performance: Dimensity 9500 Delivers Smooth and Efficient Power
The X300 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset, a processor built specifically to handle intensive performance loads without sacrificing stability. Combined with OriginOS 6, the experience is polished, fluid and surprisingly well-optimized. Animations feel natural, transitions are smooth and the redesign of the control centre gives the interface a neat, organised appeal.
Everyday tasks glide comfortably, and multitasking feels seamless. Switching rapidly between apps like Instagram, YouTube, editing software and messaging platforms shows no sign of lag or jitter. The chipset handles heavy workflows with real confidence, something many compact phones struggle to balance.
The Vivo X300 also includes a glacier cooling system designed to regulate temperatures during high-intensity workloads. Whether you’re gaming, editing photos, recording videos or running multiple apps simultaneously, the device maintains a cooler profile than expected. Even during extended gaming sessions, the back panel remained surprisingly comfortable to touch.
During heavy gameplay, I used the game eye-protection mode to reduce visual strain. It offers a warmer tone and smoother brightness adjustments, allowing long gaming sessions without discomfort. Retro games like Pac-Man ran effortlessly, while modern titles maintained consistent frame rates, showing clearly that the device is built for performance.
Audio Experience: Loud, Clear and Surprisingly Powerful
One of the pleasant surprises on the Vivo X300 is its speaker quality. Even though the phone is compact, the speakers deliver a balanced output with enough loudness to hold up in crowded environments. I accidentally experienced this firsthand during a metro ride where I forgot my earphones at home. A couple of Batman episodes streamed just fine, though I unintentionally shared the superhero’s identity with half the compartment.
Voices remain crisp, mid-tones stay clear and the audio never distorts at higher volumes. While it may not replace a dedicated Bluetooth speaker, it is certainly reliable enough for casual content and media consumption.
Camera: A 200MP ZEISS Marvel That Exceeds Expectations
The crown jewel of the Vivo X300 is its camera system. Vivo has aggressively marketed this series for its camera capabilities, and after testing it, I can confidently say that the device not only lives up to the expectations but goes beyond them. The 200MP ZEISS primary sensor is an engineering masterpiece. Photo clarity, detail and sharpness are phenomenal, capturing even the smallest elements with lifelike accuracy.
The camera system includes a 200MP Ultra-Clear primary camera, a 200MP portrait lens and a 50MP ZEISS wide-angle front camera, making it one of the most versatile setups in a compact flagship device. The portrait mode is particularly impressive. Shots appear natural with smooth background separation and accurate skin tones. The colours do not appear oversaturated or artificial, which is something many smartphones still struggle with.
The front camera is equally powerful. It captures wide-angle shots with excellent clarity, making group selfies easier without stretching or distortion. Low-light performance is exceptional across all lenses, especially the primary sensor, which retains details even in challenging lighting conditions.
Choosing which camera mode to use becomes a fun challenge because each mode offers unique strengths. From landscapes to portraits, night shots to close-ups, the X300 consistently delivers high-quality photographs that feel ready for social media or professional-grade editing.
Is the Vivo X300 Worth Buying?
The Vivo X300 positions itself as a compact flagship, but its overall performance, battery life, display quality and exceptional camera system push it into a category above its size. If you want a flagship that is comfortable to hold, powerful enough to handle any task and capable of capturing stunning photos in every scenario, the X300 is a compelling choice.
It is especially ideal for photography enthusiasts, travellers, content creators and everyday users who prefer a compact design without sacrificing flagship-level specifications. Vivo has managed to create a rare balance between aesthetics, performance and camera brilliance.
A Compact Powerhouse That Redefines Mobile Photography
The Vivo X300 stands out as one of the most impressive compact flagship phones of the year. With its velvet-glass design, immersive display, strong battery life, powerful processor and extraordinary 200MP ZEISS camera system, it brings a complete package that is hard to ignore. In a world dominated by bulky premium phones, the X300 proves that compact devices can still lead in innovation and performance.
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