Vivo X500 Ultra may gain 10x zoom as Xiaomi 18 Ultra faces setback
The year 2026 marks the first time all three Ultra-tier flagship phones from China have launched globally. Alongside the Xiaomi 17 Ultra as the most affordable option, the Oppo Find X9 Ultra and the Vivo X300 Ultra both entered the international market – at prices previously reserved for foldables. While rumors about the Oppo Find X10 Ultra and Xiaomi 18 Ultra have already begun circulating, almost nothing has emerged from China concerning the Vivo X500 Ultra – until now. According to Digital Chat Station, Vivo and Oppo seem to be moving in a very similar direction, not just with their traditional smartphone line-ups but also with their upcoming DJI Pocket competitors rumored to debut this fall.
Both companies are expected to deliver a typical Ultra-tier camera flagship, meaning that speculation about the Vivo X500 Ultra’s demise can probably be put to rest for now. On Weibo, another leaker has even hinted the Vivo X500 Ultra could feature a 10x telephoto option. At the very least, the company seems to exploring this possibility. Huawei has already demonstrated with the Pura 80 Ultra how this can be achieved using just three sensors.
Xiaomi 18 Ultra's development on hold
In line with previous leaks, Smart Pikachu claims that the Vivo X500 series will feature new teleconverters, and that dedicated vlogging accessories are apparently in the works as well. In less positive news, Indian leaker Kartikey Singh recently reported on X that development of the Xiaomi 18 Ultra has been put on hold, suggesting issues potentially related to high component costs, as discussed in the comments. Although a permanent cancellation is not yet on the table, consumers will likely need to brace themselves for further price increases.
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