DxOMark has published its review of the Vivo X300 Ultra, and the result is surprising: the cheaper X300 Pro scored higher overall.
The X300 Ultra, Vivo's most expensive camera flagship, earned 170 points. That is one point less than the X300 Pro's 171 points.
Huawei's Pura 80 Ultra leads both with 175 points.
On paper, a one-point difference is negligible. No one will notice it in real-world photos.
However, the Ultra costs significantly more and packs more advanced camera hardware.
The gap appears to come down to video performance. DxOMark gave the X300 Ultra a noticeably lower video score than the Pro.
Low-light video showed more visible noise and less consistent handling of difficult scenes. The Pro balanced exposure, dynamic range, and noise reduction better under challenging conditions.
Specialized strengths
The X300 Ultra was built around pushing hardware, especially for zoom photography. It scored extremely high in telephoto, ultra-wide, portrait, and zoom testing.
For users who frequently shoot portraits, wildlife, distant subjects, or travel photos, the Ultra may be the better choice despite the lower overall score.
A single ranking number does not always capture those differences.
DxOMark also noted occasional image artifacts and moments where processing looked unnatural. That criticism is not unique to Vivo.
Many smartphone brands rely heavily on computational photography and AI processing, sometimes resulting in over-enthusiastic software.
The result highlights a long-standing debate: the best camera phone depends on what you actually photograph. The X300 Pro appears more balanced according to DxOMark's methodology.
The X300 Ultra feels more specialized, excelling in areas photography enthusiasts care about, even with some trade-offs.
