Vivo is quietly getting ready to launch a new flagship phone group in 2026, and the newest member of this group is called the vivo X500e. Leaks and official records show that Vivo will skip the X400 series and jump straight from the X300 line to the X500 line.
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| Photo Credit: Gsmarena |
The X500e will sit as a smaller or slightly simpler option next to the normal X500 and the X500 Pro. Trusted sources say the X500 series will launch in China in September or October 2026, and it will reach other countries later in the year.
The X500e will use MediaTek’s new Dimensity 9600 family of chips, not the older Dimensity 9500 that some earlier rumors mentioned. The normal X500 will likely use the Dimensity 9600 built on a 3nm process, while the X500 Pro will use the Dimensity 9600 Pro on a more advanced 2nm process.
The X500e will probably use the same basic chipset as the normal X500, tuned for good performance and low power use. This makes the X500 series the first phones in the world to run on MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 chip, giving Vivo a special first-mover advantage.
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The X500e is expected to have a 6.59-inch screen, which is between the smaller normal model and the larger Pro model in size. Every phone in the X500 family, including the X500e, will likely have a 144Hz screen and 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensors.
This means the screen will scroll smoothly and the phone will unlock quickly and safely. The bigger Pro models will likely get LTPO OLED panels with 2K resolution, while the X500e will probably have a slightly simpler but still good screen to keep the phone smaller and more affordable.
Camera upgrades are a big part of the X500e story. Leaks say it will have a 50MP main camera using a large 1/1.28-inch type sensor, which should help with low-light photos and better color detail. Digital Chat Station, who has been right on many Vivo leaks, also says the X500e will have a periscope telephoto camera on the back, which is still rare in this segment.
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| Photo Credit: MyMobilesIndia |
Some Weibo comments even hint that this periscope camera could be the same 64MP unit used in the X500 Pro, which would mean the X500e gets strong zoom power without needing the full Ultra-level camera system [query]. There are also rumors that the whole series will test new LOFIC sensor tech to reduce overexposure in bright scenes, which could improve HDR photos.
Battery life is where the X500e should truly stand out. The entire X500 family is being built around a new standard of at least 7,000mAh, instead of treating such big batteries as something only for the largest models.
Some rumors suggest the X500e could carry around 7,500mAh, but the most trusted reports say it will have at least 7,000mAh, thanks to new silicon-carbon battery cells that pack more power into the same size. Paired with the power-efficient Dimensity 9600 chip, this battery should let users go two to three days on a single charge with normal use, which is a major benefit for travelers, power users, and anyone who dislikes charging their phone every night.
There is also talk that the X500e could be sold as the vivo S60 Pro in some markets, with similar or even the same specs for processor, screen, cameras, and battery. This fits Vivo’s usual way of using the same core hardware across different product lines for different countries and customers.
If this happens, buyers in some countries might see either the X500e or the S60 Pro on shelves, but the main technology and performance will be almost the same, so the choice will be based on branding and local price rather than big feature differences.
The X500 lineup is expected to have at least three models: the normal X500, the X500 Pro, and the X500e, with a possible bigger Pro Max or Ultra version for markets that want the top camera and battery specs.
Official listings in the GSMA and IMEI databases have already confirmed the X500, X500 Pro, and X500e, which proves this series is real and not just a rumor. Vivo is skipping the X400 generation entirely, so the X500 family will be the direct successor to the X300 series that launched in China in October 2025.