Vivo X300 Ultra Hits India At Rs 1,59,999, X300 FE From Rs 79,999

Vivo started selling the X300 Ultra and X300 FE in India on Thursday, marking the first time the company has shipped its top-tier Ultra phone to the country. The Ultra costs Rs 1,59,999 for the only 16GB RAM and 512GB storage variant. Counterpoint Research’s India smartphone Q1 2026 analysis shows India’s smartphone market declined 3% year-on-year in Q1 2026, marking its weakest quarter in six years, making this launch a deliberate bet on the segment still holding up. The compact X300 FE starts at Rs 79,999 for the 12GB+256GB variant and Rs 89,999 for the 12GB+512GB model. Both run OriginOS 6 on Android 16 and pack ZEISS-tuned camera systems.

The Ultra ships with optional 200mm and 400mm telephoto extender lenses, sold separately or bundled in a Rs 2,09,999 Photography Kit. Both phones are made at vivo India’s Greater Noida facility, which a recent retail-channel note placed at approximately 8,000 workers.

This is one of the priciest Vivo phones ever sold in India. It pushes the brand into a tier it had long ceded to Apple, Samsung, and the Xiaomi Ultra line. The launch arrives in a market where premium is the only segment still expanding.

Price Breakdown And What Each Variant Costs

The X300 Ultra sells in a single 16GB+512GB configuration in Eclipse Black and Victory Green for Rs 1,59,999. Vivo’s full Photography Kit, per the X300 Ultra India launch press release, pairs the phone with the 400mm ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Ultra, the 200mm Telephoto Extender Gen 2, and the vivo Imaging Grip for Rs 2,09,999. Buyers wanting accessories alone can pick up the Zeiss Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Ultra (400mm) for INR 27,999, along with the vivo Imaging Grip Kit priced at INR 11,999, plus the 200mm extender at Rs 15,999.

On the FE side, prices start at Rs 79,999 for 12GB+256GB and Rs 89,999 for 12GB+512GB. It ships in Urban Olive, Noir Black, and Lilac Purple. The FE accessory bundle, including the base phone, the 200mm ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2, and an accessory kit, lands at Rs 95,997 after a Rs 4,000 launch discount.

Inside The X300 Ultra’s ZEISS Master Lens Setup

The Ultra leads with three ZEISS-tuned rear cameras at fixed prime focal lengths. Its primary lens is a 35mm 200MP Sony LYTIA 901 (1/1.12-inch) sensor at f/1.85, with CIPA 6.5 stabilisation. The ultrawide is a 14mm 50MP Sony LYT-818 at f/2.0 with OIS. Its telephoto is an 85mm ZEISS Gimbal-Like Stabilisation APO Telephoto with a 200MP sensor, featuring OIS rated at CIPA 7.0 and 60fps AF tracking in Snapshot mode.

All three lenses carry ZEISS T* coating and Super Blue Glass to reduce flare and ghosting. The selfie camera is a 50MP autofocus unit at f/2.45. The 60fps AF tracking in snapshot mode is designed to handle fast subjects in sports, wildlife, and concerts, a workload where most phones still rely on digital crop or burst-mode tricks.

Behind the cameras sits vivo’s dedicated Pro Imaging Chip VS1+, a 6nm imaging processor capable of up to 80 trillion operations per second, which works in parallel with the SoC to handle RAW domain processing, noise control, and dynamic range with 20% faster image output speeds than its predecessor. A new 5MP Multispectral Sensor with 12 Color Channels and an Upgraded Flicker Sensor feeds vivo Color Science with per-pixel ambient light analysis.

Video is where the Ultra makes its hardest claim. It supports 4K 120fps 10-bit Log recording across all three rear lenses, with consistent colour science and dynamic range between focal lengths. The 6.82-inch 2K ZEISS Master Color AMOLED runs at 144Hz with 1-144Hz adaptive range, peak brightness reaches 4,500 nits locally and 1800 nits globally. A 6,600mAh semi-solid-state battery handles power with 100W wired and 40W wireless FlashCharge. Vivo quotes an AnTuTu score above 4.2 million.

What The X300 FE Brings In A Smaller Body

The FE goes compact without giving up the basics. Its 16.04 cm (6.31 inch) compact display with 5000 nits brightness runs at 120Hz. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 runs vivo’s all-big-core Oryon configuration, paired with LPDDR5X Ultra memory and UFS 4.1 storage. A 4005 mm² VC liquid cooling system with high-performance thermal graphite keeps thermals stable under load.

Cameras follow a more focused ZEISS-tuned setup. The X300 FE India launch press release lists a 50MP Sony IMX921 f/1.57 OIS sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 50MP Sony IMX882 f/2.65 OIS telephoto lens that offers 3x optical zoom. The 50MP front camera carries autofocus. The FE supports the 200mm ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2, the first time vivo’s external lens system has reached an FE-tier device.

A 6,500mAh battery powers the phone with 90W wired and 40W wireless FlashCharge. Vivo positions this as India’s Biggest Battery of 6500 mAh in Screen Size Category. The FE carries IP68 and IP69 ratings and an aerospace-grade aluminium frame, matching the Ultra’s durability in a much lighter chassis.

The Photography Kit Reframes The Real Price

Strip out the marketing and the X300 Ultra splits into two products: a Rs 1,59,999 smartphone and a Rs 50,000 accessory system that converts it into a long-lens camera. Vivo wants premium buyers to pick up the bundle rather than the phone alone.

The 400mm Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Ultra uses a Kepler-inspired optical design with two groups of 15 high-transmittance glass elements and high-precision manufacturing, designed to meet APO imaging standards. The 200mm version, which works with both the Ultra and FE, has been slimmed from 210g to 153g without losing optical quality, according to vivo’s global X300 Ultra launch announcement.

Vivo’s Imaging Grip Kit adds physical controls familiar to anyone who shoots with a DSLR. An independent review noted that the grip carries a physical shutter, multifunction dial, zoom lever, video recording button, and standard tripod thread underneath. Its built-in 2300mAh battery can help top up the phone’s own battery in a pinch. A function button can shortcut to the Album app, Street Photography mode, or toggle the extender on or off.

Product manager Vikas Tagra, who heads the X-series for vivo India, framed the kit as a creator tool first in the launch materials.

“Designed as an ultimate toolkit for creators, it is built keeping professional demands in mind, offering an ultra experience across imaging, videography, and performance.”

Launch Offers And Effective Pricing

Vivo has loaded both phones with offers that meaningfully cut the sticker. On the Ultra, the effective price for the bundle comes down to INR 1,95,997 instead of INR 1,99,997 after the Rs 4,000 instant discount. The X300 FE bundle (phone, 200mm extender, accessory kit) hits Rs 95,997 after the same Rs 4,000 cut.

Most of the offers stack. You can take the bank cashback and the no-cost EMI together, but the instant discount applies only on the bundles, not the phone alone.

• Rs 4,000 instant discount on the Ultra Photography Kit and the FE bundle
• 10% instant cashback on select bank cards (SBI, Kotak, American Express, DBS, IDFC First, Axis Bank), plus HDFC for the online channel
• 24-month no-cost EMI from around Rs 6,667 a month for the Ultra and Rs 4,000 a month for the FE bundle
• One-year extended warranty free, up to 60% off on the V-Shield screen-damage protection plan starting at Rs 2,499
• Jio 5,000GB cloud storage for 18 months plus Google Gemini Pro benefits
• Up to 60% assured buyback on the Ultra at Rs 15,991 and up to 70% on the FE at Rs 799
• Rs 5,000 upgrade bonus on the FE for select users

How The Ultra Stacks Up Against Rival Flagships

The X300 Ultra lands in the same lane as the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Xiaomi 17 Ultra, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the imminent Oppo Find X9 Ultra. Most run the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, with Apple staying on its A19 Pro. The real differentiators are cameras, battery, and software support length.

Oppo’s Find X9 Ultra is the clearest local rival. Retail listings expect it to land at around Rs 1,39,999, undercutting Vivo by Rs 20,000. Oppo’s quad-camera setup includes a 200 MP main sensor, a 200 MP 3x periscope telephoto lens, a 50 MP 10x telephoto camera, and a 50 MP ultrawide sensor.

The Find X9 Ultra also brings a larger battery and faster wireless charging. Where Oppo emphasises versatility and reach, Vivo focuses on optical purity, with ZEISS-tuned prime focal lengths and a gimbal-grade APO telephoto designed to chase fast subjects without softness.

Vivo counters with precision, but software is the soft spot. The X300 Ultra runs OriginOS 6 based on Android 16, with five major OS updates and seven years of security patches promised. While this is a decent policy, brands like Google, Samsung, and Apple offer seven years of OS updates for their flagships. For buyers who keep flagships for the full upgrade cycle, that gap matters.

What The India Market Backdrop Says

The X300 Ultra arrives at an unusual moment. India’s smartphone market shrank in Q1 2026 for the first time in years. IDC’s India smartphone Q1 2026 tracker analysis pegged the decline at 4.1% year-over-year to 31.0 million units, with the decline reflecting a structural shift in demand patterns rather than a short-term slowdown. Counterpoint’s own reading called this the country’s weakest first quarter in six years.

Underneath the headline numbers, premium has been the one resilient corner. IDC reported that the premium $600-$800 band grew 32% year-over-year while sub-$100 phones collapsed 59%. The average selling price reached a record $302, increasing 10.4% year-over-year. Vivo’s X-series rode that wave through 2025 with the X series grew 185% YoY, supported by the ZEISS camera partnership and the introduction of the X200 FE.

Sanyam Chaurasia, Principal Analyst at Omdia, told Business Standard the shift is structural, not seasonal. “India’s smartphone market is structurally shifting upward as rising component costs reset the entry price floor,” Chaurasia said. The DRAM and NAND shortage that started in late 2025 has pushed memory prices up 4x over the past three quarters, and brands have responded by chasing margin in the premium tier.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Does The Vivo X300 Ultra Go On Sale In India?

Sales started Thursday, May 14, 2026, across Flipkart, Amazon, vivo’s India e-store, and partner retail outlets. Pre-bookings opened on May 6 alongside the official launch event. All other offers are valid until May 31, 2026, including the Rs 4,000 instant discount on bundle kits and the 10% bank cashback on HDFC, SBI, and Axis cards. After that, standard pricing resumes.

Is The Vivo Photography Kit Worth The Extra Rs 50,000?

Only if you shoot beyond 5x zoom regularly. The kit adds the 400mm and 200mm ZEISS extenders plus a grip with a 2,300mAh battery, a physical shutter, and a tripod thread. Casual users will rarely need 400mm reach. Wildlife shooters, concert photographers, and sports stringers get the most value. Skip the kit if you stay inside the phone’s built-in 14mm to 85mm prime range.

Will The 200mm Telephoto Extender Gen 2 Work With My Older Vivo X200 Ultra?

No, not yet. The Gen 2 extender is engineered for the X300 series mount system. For now, the reverse isn’t possible, so you can’t use either of these two lenses with the X300 Pro until Vivo releases an update to make that possible (coming soon, apparently). There is no confirmed date for X200 series support. The previous-generation 200mm extender remains available separately for X200 Ultra owners.

How Long Will Vivo Update The X300 Ultra And X300 FE?

Vivo has committed to five Android OS upgrades and seven years of security patches on both phones, starting from Android 16. That means the X300 Ultra should receive Android 21 and patches through 2033. The policy trails the seven-year OS commitments now standard from Samsung, Google Pixel, and Apple on their respective 2025 and 2026 flagships, so factor that in if you plan to keep the phone for the full update window.

Where Can I Get The Lowest Effective Price On The Vivo X300 Ultra?

The phone is identically priced at Rs 1,59,999 on Flipkart, Amazon, and vivo’s e-store. The lowest effective price comes from stacking offers. Use an HDFC, SBI, or Axis card for 10% cashback on the bundle, take the Rs 4,000 flat discount on the Photography Kit, and add the 24-month no-cost EMI. The combination can save roughly Rs 24,000 to Rs 28,000 on the bundle before the buyback bonus kicks in.

Both phones arrive in an Indian market where the budget tier is collapsing and the premium tier is the only place left to grow. Vivo’s bet is that creators and enthusiasts will pay Rs 1,59,999, and another Rs 50,000 for the kit, to get the ZEISS Triple Prime system and a 400mm reach. Most won’t take that bait. The ones who do are the buyers Vivo has spent five X-series generations engineering toward.