Vivo X300 FE
| Photo Credit:
Ashwin Rajagopalan
A compact form, a sharp shooter, flagship level hardware and a massive battery. If this was your wish list even two-three years ago, you might have struggled to find a smartphone that ticked all these boxes. It’s 2026, smartphones like the Vivo X300 FE are a clear indicator that the compact smartphone has levelled up. Advances in battery tech are allowing more brands to pack more powerful batteries without adding bulk. Vivo has leveraged its partnership with Zeiss to up its camera game, the X300 FE becomes the newest Vivo flagship-level smartphone to benefit from this strong imaging partnership. Does the X300 FE pack enough value to be a serious contender for camera buffs looking for a diminutive, yet capable smart shooter?DesignVivo already impressed me with the compact form of the X300 that debuted at the end of 2025. I believe that the X300 FE refines this even further. The big change is the rear camera module that is a welcome break from Vivo’s now familiar circular, camera island. The X300 FE opts for a pill-shaped camera module with horizontally aligned rear lenses. This module stands out in a crowd and also allows you to clamp on Vivo’s telephoto extender. Vivo’s choice of colour options — we checked out the Lilac Purple, also set it apart in this segment. The device feels light in your hand and is designed for one-handed navigation thanks to its surprisingly compact form. Vivo adds IP68 and IP69 protection to ensure that this device can keep up with your outdoor adventures.DisplayThe 6.31-inch AMOLED display (1216 x 2640 pixels) is one of the talking points of the X300 FE. Vivo keeps it smooth with a 120Hz refresh rate, the display hits an impressive peak brightness of 5,000 nits that offers great visibility even under sunlight. The device comes with Vivo’s ‘Wet-Hand Touch’ feature that allows you to use the display even when your hands or the display are wet. This is a handy feature that is increasingly making its appearance across a number of smartphones. I watched the highlights from India’s shocking defeats in Belfast against the spirited Irish in the two-match T20I series on Sony LIV, the Vivo X300 FE impressed with its punchy colours. You can stream Netflix in High Definition on this device thanks to its Widevine L1 certification.PerformanceVivo opts to power the X300 FE with the same zippy Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset as it’s bigger sibling — the top-of-the-line X300 Ultra. The device blazed through our tests, consistently hitting scores just above 9,000 in our Geekbench (multi-core) benchmark tests. I didn’t game much while testing the device, however it clearly has the firepower to support heavy duty gaming and intense multi-tasking. We checked out the 12GB/512GB version; the X300 FE also comes in an 8GB/256GB storage variant.CameraIf there’s one reason you should consider the X300 FE, it’s the rear camera. The smartphone also creates a conundrum of sorts for Vivo with the X300 in the mix. On paper the X300 clearly looks like the better option with a 200MP primary lens and a 50MP ultra-wide lens. In comparison the X300 FE offers a 50MP primary cam and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. The X300 is also marginally cheaper than the X300 FE right now. It’s the optional telephoto extender that tilts things in the X300 FE’s favour, especially if zoom photography is your thing.I put the telephoto extender through multiple zoom tests from airline cabins to chasing birds and it didn’t disappoint. It’s surprisingly compact and slipped into my jeans while boarding a flight. It weighs just 153 gm and snaps on without a fuss to a dedicated back cover. The whole extender package (that includes the lens and the back cover) will set you back by about ₹20,000 taking the total cost to about a lakh. I’d only recommend this if you’re likely to shoot a lot images and videos on zoom mode. The 8MP ultra-wide lens is certainly not the best in class, the X300 is the better bet if ultra-wide images matter to you. The X300 FE does a great job in lowlight and the extender (given its compact form factor) is easy to cart around, making the X300 FE a versatile camera package. The question is will you keep carrying this extender every time you intend to go into photo or video mode?VerdictThe Vivo X300 FE offers an all-round flagship experience in a compact form. It’s the form factor that is the FE’s calling card. This lightweight device doesn’t compromise on battery performance and comes with an immersive display. The ultra-wide rear cam is one of the only compromises in this device that signals a clear consumer shift towards compact smartphones that don’t weigh you down. Cheers to that!SnapshotPrice: ₹79,999 onwardsPros: Compact form, camera smarts, Dependable batteryCons: Ultra-wide cameraPublished on July 1, 2026
