Tech Desk: The upcoming Vivo X500 Ultra is poised to shake up smartphone photography, but a new leak reveals Vivo is still in the midst of a crucial internal debate: which 200-megapixel telephoto sensor will power its flagship? Reliable tipster Digital Chat Station indicates the company is actively testing three distinct 200MP periscope telephoto sensors before committing to a final imaging system.

Vivo’s engineering team is evaluating 1/1.12-inch, 1/1.3-inch, and 1/1.4-inch sensor options. The largest, 1/1.12-inch, promises an aggressive leap in telephoto image quality and light gathering, albeit with potential challenges in camera module size and complexity. The slightly smaller 1/1.3-inch and 1/1.4-inch alternatives aim for a more balanced approach, optimizing between performance, device thickness, and overall design aesthetics.

This intense evaluation follows an earlier report from June, which suggested Vivo had abandoned plans for a dedicated 10x periscope camera. Instead, the focus shifted to a single 200MP periscope sensor leveraging advanced in-sensor zoom technology. The current testing phase underscores Vivo’s commitment to pushing telephoto boundaries, ensuring the Vivo X500 Ultra delivers exceptional zoom capabilities.

As development continues, the final camera configuration remains fluid. Tech enthusiasts will have to wait until the Vivo X500 Ultra likely debuts in the first half of 2027 to see which groundbreaking telephoto sensor makes the cut.