The vivo X300 Ultra is a phone that wants you to leave your DSLR at home — and after testing it, you just might.

Rappler's Chau Morales took the device on a photo walk around the University of the Philippines Diliman Academic Oval, comparing it side-by-side with a friend's mirrorless camera. The results? They're stunningly close.

The phone packs three ZEISS lenses: a 200MP 85mm Gimbal-Grade APO Telephoto, a 200MP 35mm Documentary camera, and a 50MP 14mm Ultra Wide-Angle lens. But the real game-changer is the optional Photographer Kit, which includes 400mm and 200mm equivalent ZEISS Telephoto Extenders and an imaging grip with a shutter button, exposure control dial, video button, and zoom lever.

Morales and her friend Justine Isidro shot the same scenes — wide landscapes, close-ups, and silhouettes against the golden hour sky. The vivo X300 Ultra's images held crisp detail and contrast, even at max zoom with the 400mm extender. "I like taking shots that tell stories, and although we've taken photos from the same angles, our photos tell different narratives and look similarly beautiful," Morales wrote.

Under the hood, the Pro Imaging Chip VS1+ and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor work together to turn raw sensor data into high-quality photos or cinema-grade video. The 6500mAh BlueVolt battery can handle mixed phone use and heavy shooting, and the Imaging Grip doubles as a 2,300mAh power bank. With 100W FlashCharge, you can juice up in minutes.

But the vivo X300 Ultra isn't just about specs. Morales noted how the phone's lightweight design — easily fitting into a sling bag alongside other essentials — rekindled her love for photography. "I used to have a DSLR, but its heaviness kept me from bringing it around, and I eventually lost my sense of wonder when it came to taking photos," she said.

The photo walk ended in rain, but even that added texture — glistening surfaces and muted colors that the phone captured beautifully. Morales also tested the phone at night, shooting a performance in low light, and found it handled challenging conditions well.

"The vivo X300 Ultra positioned itself as a visual creation beast," Morales wrote. "And it couldn't get as close to pro gear as this."

For Filipino creatives who want professional-grade photos without lugging around heavy equipment, this phone offers a compelling alternative. At an estimated price of around ₱80,000 to ₱90,000 (based on previous vivo flagship launches), it's a significant investment — but it's one that replaces both a phone and a camera kit.

The vivo X300 Ultra is available now through vivo's official channels. The Photographer Kit is sold separately.

  • 200MP 85mm ZEISS Gimbal-Grade APO Telephoto lens
  • 200MP 35mm ZEISS Documentary camera
  • 50MP 14mm ZEISS Ultra Wide-Angle lens
  • 400mm and 200mm equivalent ZEISS Telephoto Extenders in Photographer Kit
  • Pro Imaging Chip VS1+ and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor
  • 6500mAh BlueVolt battery; Imaging Grip adds 2,300mAh
  • 100W FlashCharge with Bypass Charging for tripod shooting