Vivo X500 Pro Leak: 85mm Periscope and Dimensity 9600

A fresh whisper from Weibo just made Vivo's next camera phone feel more real than rumor. Digital Chat Station, a reliably chatty tipster, has sketched out what could be a compact flagship: a 6.37-inch handset driven by MediaTek’s 2nm Dimensity 9600 Pro.

That chip alone turns heads, but the optics are stealing the show. The leak describes a 50MP primary sensor sized at 1/1.28 inches with LOFIC support — a sensor that promises better light gathering than most in this class. Alongside it sits a second 50MP ultra-wide camera with a smaller sensor, and then the curveball: a 64MP module tuned for portraits at an 85mm focal length. Yes, an 85mm periscope in a compact frame. And if you like quirky combos, the periscope is said to double as a macro performer.

All of this points to a device shoehorned with big-camera ambitions into a smaller footprint. Will Vivo call it the X500 Pro or the X500 Pro Mini? The tipster implies the 85mm periscope is a hallmark of the entire Pro line, which suggests this phone will sit unmistakably on the premium side of the family tree.

Zooming out: the broader X500 range looks deliberately tiered. The base X500 is rumored to keep things affordable with a 6.59-inch display and the 3nm Dimensity 9500 — essentially preserving a clear gulf between entry and premium hardware. The X500 Pro Max, on the other hand, reportedly jumps to a 6.85-inch OLED 2K LTPO panel paired with the same 9600 Pro silicon that anchors the Pro model.

This is a shift from the previous X300 generation, where Vivo packed the same flagship processor into both base and Pro variants. Now the company appears to be sharpening its lineup: a more accessible X500 to lure mainstream buyers, while the Pro and Pro Max chase enthusiasts who prize sensors and higher-end displays.

If the leak holds up, Vivo could be delivering flagship-level imaging and performance inside a surprisingly compact package.

Timing remains conventional but tight. The X500 family is expected to debut before the end of October 2026, with the top-tier X500 Ultra slated for an early 2027 reveal. So the next few months should answer whether Vivo can squeeze an 85mm periscope and a 2nm powerhouse into a phone you'll actually want to slip into your pocket.