Vivo’s Hidden Camera Power
Vivo has long been an underrated brand when it comes to smartphone photography. While it doesn’t always get as much global attention as Samsung or Apple, it often surprises experts with its top-notch camera results. The latest Vivo X300 Pro is no exception — it has once again proven that Vivo knows how to build a true camera powerhouse.
Popular tech leaker IceUniverse recently tested the Vivo X300 Pro against Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 Ultra, focusing mainly on zoom photography. The results are making headlines for all the right reasons!
The Camera Hardware Showdown
Let’s start with the specs. The Vivo X300 Pro is equipped with a 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HPB (HP10) sensor, placed under a ZEISS-optimized periscope lens system. This setup gives the phone incredible clarity and control at high zoom levels.
On the other hand, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a more modest zoom setup — a 50MP 5x periscope telephoto lens and a 10MP 3x optical zoom camera. While those specs are impressive on paper, the real-world test tells a different story.
Low-Light Zoom Test: Vivo Dominates
IceUniverse compared both phones in a low-light zoom photography test, capturing a bird at 10x and 35x zoom. These lighting conditions are extremely challenging for any smartphone, but this is where Vivo truly showed its power.
The Vivo X300 Pro’s images were noticeably sharper and cleaner, with less noise and better detail on the subject. Even at 35x zoom, the textures and edges looked natural and well-preserved.
In contrast, the Galaxy S25 Ultra struggled. Its images looked softer, with visible noise and loss of fine detail. The difference became even more obvious at higher zoom levels, where Samsung’s software-based image processing couldn’t match the hardware strength of Vivo’s camera.
Color and Texture Differences
Both phones managed to maintain balanced color tones, but Vivo clearly had the edge in texture preservation and noise control. Thanks to its 200MP ISOCELL HPB sensor, the X300 Pro captures tiny details that the S25 Ultra’s camera tends to smooth out.
Samsung relies heavily on AI-based image enhancements to improve its zoom photos, but this test shows there are limits to what software can achieve. Vivo’s advanced optics and sensor quality make the difference clear.
Price vs. Performance: A Surprising Result
Here’s the shocking part — the Vivo X300 Pro costs around $750 in China, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra sells for roughly $1200. That’s a massive price gap, yet Vivo’s phone outperforms Samsung’s flagship in one of the most important areas: zoom photography.
For anyone who loves mobile photography, this makes the X300 Pro a seriously tempting option. It proves that you don’t always have to pay premium prices to get world-class camera performance.
What’s Next for Samsung?
Samsung has always been known for pushing camera technology forward, but this time, Vivo seems to have taken the lead. If the Galaxy S26 Ultra is to compete with Vivo’s new sensor magic, Samsung will need to rethink its approach — especially when it comes to periscope zoom and image detail.
Final Thoughts
The Vivo X300 Pro isn’t just another camera phone — it’s a statement. With its ZEISS collaboration, powerful 200MP sensor, and incredible low-light zoom, it has raised the bar for smartphone photography in 2025.
While the Galaxy S25 Ultra remains a strong all-rounder, this test proves that Vivo has become the new zoom champion. If you’re passionate about mobile photography and love capturing distant details, the X300 Pro might just be your next favorite device.