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vivo X300 Ultra wants to beat the iPhone 17 Pro Max in pro video

Unleashed alongside the subtly-improved vivo X300s

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vivo X300 Ultra
Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Almost six months after the launch of the vivo X300 and X300 Pro, the Chinese smartphone giant finally unleashes the much-awaited X300 Ultra.

Ultra-impressive camera system

First and foremost, its improved cameras.

Unlike its Pro sibling, the X300 Ultra follows the same configuration as last year’s X200 Ultra. It uses 35mm as its standard focal length instead of the usual 24mm found on most (if not all) smartphones.

vivo X300 Ultra

This means the main sensor is locked in at a minimum of 1.5x. Still, it’s been upgraded from 50MP to a whopping 200MP f/1.85 based on a large 1/1.12-inch Sony LYT-901 image sensor.

Meanwhile, shooting at “1x” relies on its 50MP f/2.0 ultra-wide lens based on the 1/1.28-inch Sony LYT-818. While it’s the same as last year’s X200 Ultra, it’s still considerably bigger and better among newer phones in its league.

Definitively, the X300 Ultra also boasts a newer 200MP f/2.67 periscope telephoto shooter using Samsung’s 1/1.4-inch ISOCELL HP0. Optical zoom distance still starts at 3.5x (85mm equivalent) which is similar to the X300 Pro and X200 Ultra.

If that isn’t enough, vivo announces not one, but two new teleconverter lenses.

vivo ZEISS Teleconverter G2

The all-new 400mm G2 Ultra ZEISS Telephoto Extender lens is the longest one in a smartphone so far. Still, vivo has achieved to make it as compact as possible — a tad longer than the former 200mm add-on lens in the X200 Ultra and X300 Pro.

There’s also the upgraded G2 ZEISS Telephoto Extender. It’s shorter and smaller compared to previous generation and comparable to a size of a lipstick (around 96mm in length).

This means better portability while trying to shoot subjects from afar with the same 200mm focal length.

Additionally, the vivo X300 Ultra also has a 5MP f/2.45 multi-spectral sensor that other X300 phones lack. This is basically responsible for making colors more accurate by capturing a wider range of light beyond the usual RGB color spectrum.

Ultra-grade video shooter

One of the highlights of the vivo X300 Ultra focuses on its video shooting prowess that targets Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max.

For one, its ultra-wide camera has OIS built-in — a feature often overlooked by other phone makers.

OIS is also enabled when using the said teleconverter lenses.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Other than that, the X300 Ultra is capable of shooting in both 4K/120fps Dolby Vision and 4K/120fps 10-bit LOG support.

This means prospective users can finally apply LUTs in post (or 3D LUTs in the phone) — much like how videographers and cinematographers do when shooting with their expensive mirrorless cameras.

Even though 10-bit LOG has been around in the recent vivo flagships, only the X300 Ultra can seamlessly switch between all focal lengths while LOG recording is enabled.

vivo X300 Ultra

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

In line with these, the vivo X300 Ultra also features a new Professional Video Mode in its native camera app.

Ultra-powerful flagship

The vivo X300 Ultra brings some subtle improvements over the former X200 Ultra flagship.

While they both share the same 6.82-inch 8T LTPO AMOLED 2K display, the X300 Ultra has a faster 144Hz refresh rate support versus 120Hz. It’s also now an Ultra XDR screen, thanks to the improved BOE Q10 Plus panel.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Most of all, the X300 Ultra runs the latest 3nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC. Despite the shortage of components, the X300 Ultra relies on a speedy UFS 4.1 storage standard while memory is even faster with LPDDR5X Ultra (and Ultra Pro) protocol.

Shockingly though, battery hasn’t been bumped by a lot as the X300 Ultra is only equipped with a 6600mAh battery. While that’s 600mAh more than its predecessor, it’s merely a 90mAh gap versus its Pro sibling.

That slight boost is the same with its wired charging speeds from 90W to 100W FlashCharge.

The Ultra s-idekick

Other than the X300 Ultra, the vivo X300s is also present in the scene. This is a follow-up to last year’s X200s.

It runs MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 SoC like the vanilla X300 but with a bigger 7100mAh battery (versus 6040mAh). That’s a lot bigger than what the X300 Ultra possesses.

However, the vivo X300s borrows that same 6.78-inch display size as the X300 Pro. This also marks as a departure from that 6.67-inch sweet-spot screen size of the X200s and the “smaller” 6.31-incher X300.

vivo X300s

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Cameras are quite indifferent as of the X300. A 200MP main camera based on Samsung ISOCELL HPB with Sony’s LYT-602 sensor for its telephoto module. The improvement though can be seen when using the camera app.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

vivo’s new Blueprint Palette lets you choose a color in a swatch board and save it as a recipe. The user can also adjust settings in real-time — letting you see the look of the image during preview even before hitting the shutter release. The same feat is also found on the X300 Ultra.

And, much like the base X300, the vivo X300s is capable of attaching that 200mm teleconverter lens with its own camera kit — something the X200s cannot achieve at all.

Pricing and Availability

The vivo X300 Ultra and X300s are currently available for pre-orders in China along these colorways and configurations:

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

X300 Ultra (Film Green, Silver Tune, Black Ka)

  • 12+256GB = CNY 6999 (US$ 980 / EUR 835 / GBP 730 / SG$ 1260 / MYR 4130 / PhP 56,440 / INR 87,110)
  • 12+512GB = CNY 7499 (US$ 1100 / EUR 900 / GBP 780 / SG$ 1345 / MYR 4355 / PhP 59,590 / INR 90,980)
  • 16+512GB = CNY 7999 (US$ 1115 / EUR 960 / GBP 820 / SG$ 1430 / MYR 4645 / PhP 63,685 / INR 95,930)
  • 16+1TB = CNY 8999 (US$ 1260 / EUR 1070 / GBP 920 / SG$ 600 / MYR 5225 / PhP 70,905 / INR 107,700)

X300s (Film Green, Dream Core Purple, Silvery White, Titanium Black)

  • 12+256GB = CNY 4999 (US$ 700 / EUR 610 / GBP 530 / SG$ 910 / MYR 2970 / PhP 40,900 / INR 62,260)
  • 16+256GB = CNY 5499 (US$ 770 / EUR 660 / GBP 570 / SG$ 985 / MYR 3190 / PhP 43,700 / INR 66,720)
  • 16+512GB = CNY 5999 (US$ 845 / EUR 730 / GBP 635 / SG$ 1095 / MYR 3560 / PhP 49,085 / INR 74,715)
  • 16+1TB = CNY 6999 (US$ 980 / EUR 835 / GBP 730 / SG$ 1260 / MYR 4130 / PhP 56,440 / INR 87,110)

For the camera enthusiasts…

vivo X300 Ultra

You can buy the vivo X300 Ultra and X300s in their special Photographer Kit Edition with all the accessories bundled:

  • X300 Ultra Photographer Kit = CNY 11,999 (US$ 1260 / EUR 1070 / GBP 920 / SG$ 2235 / MYR 6965 / PhP 105,110 / INR 164,550)
  • X300s Photographer Kit = CNY 7999 (US$ 1115 / EUR 960 / GBP 820 / SG$ 1430 / MYR 4645 / PhP 63,685 / INR 95,930)

Additionally, separate parts of the kit can also be bought separately:

  • Camera Grip = CNY 699 (US$ 101 / EUR 88 / GBP 77 / SG$ 130 / MYR 405 / PhP 6130 / INR 9585)
  • SmallRig Case = CNY 1699 (US$ 245 / EUR 215 / GBP 185 / SG$ 320 / MYR 990 / PhP 14,890 / INR 23,300)
  • G2 Teleconverter Lens = CNY 1499 (US$ 220 / EUR 190 / GBP 165 / SG$ 280 / MYR 870 / PhP 13,140 / INR 20,560)
  • G2 Ultra Teleconverter Lens = CNY 2499 (US$ 360 / EUR 315 / GBP 270 / SG$ 465 / MYR 1450 / PhP 21,900 / INR 34,270)

* These are only rough conversion estimates

As teased way back in MWC 2026, the X300 Ultra is vivo’s first Ultra smartphone to be sold globally. We’ll just have to wait and see which regions will have it.

Cameras

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P launches with dual lenses and a 1-inch sensor

The biggest upgrade yet to DJI’s compact gimbal camera

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The original Osmo Pocket launched in 2018 as a pocket-sized gimbal camera for people who wanted smooth footage without carrying a full rig. DJI has been building on that idea ever since, and today, with the Osmo Pocket 4P, they made the biggest jump yet.

A significant change

The most significant change in the Osmo Pocket 4P is the introduction of a dual-lens system. While previous Osmo Pocket models limited creators to a single, fixed field of view, the 4P provides two distinct options.

The camera features a wide-angle lens backed by a new 1-inch CMOS sensor alongside a 60mm medium-telephoto portrait lens boasting an f/1.8 aperture and 3x optical zoom. This second lens fundamentally changes how creators shoot on the ground.

At the 60mm focal length, backgrounds compress naturally to separate the subject from the environment without relying on artificial software rendering, offering an invaluable tool for capturing people at events, during travel, or throughout daily life.

The wide lens captures 17 stops of dynamic range through what DJI calls LOFIC technology, which handles high-contrast scenes like backlit windows or golden hour without blowing out the sky or burying the shadows.

Advanced sensor tech, color latitude

For high-contrast environments, the wide-angle lens captures an impressive 17 stops of dynamic range utilizing DJI’s new LOFIC technology.

This hardware addition allows the camera to effortlessly manage difficult lighting scenarios, like backlit windows or golden hour horizons, keeping the sky intact while preventing shadows from turning muddy.

On the color processing side, DJI has introduced a 10-bit D-Log 2 profile capable of recording over a billion colors. This shift provides editors with significantly more latitude to grade footage in post-production, avoiding the limitations of a baked-in, in-camera look.

High-speed motion, smart framing

In terms of capturing motion, the 4P supports 4K slow motion at 240fps, making it ideal for fast-moving subjects that benefit from a stylized, slowed-down perspective.

A slow shutter video mode is also included, allowing users to organically capture light trails in low-light environments. Physical stabilization continues to rely on a mechanical 3-axis gimbal, drawing directly from the heritage of DJI’s professional Ronin systems.

Weighing just 230 grams, the compact unit incorporates ActiveTrack 8.0 to handle automated subject tracking, maintaining precise focus through the entire 12x digital zoom range — a feature that proves essential for solo creators who need the hardware to handle framing duties.

Practical updates for daily use

DJI has also focused heavily on the realities of on-the-go shooting. The 4P introduces gesture controls, letting users trigger subject tracking or start recording without physically touching the device.

A new 4K Live Photo mode automatically captures a 1.5-second clip alongside every still image, while the main sensor allows for high-resolution 37-megapixel photos that offer plenty of room for cropping in post-production.

The battery charges from zero to 80 percent in just 18 minutes and delivers up to 210 minutes of runtime on a full charge.

Furthermore, files transfer via USB 3.1 at speeds up to 800 MB/s, ensuring that offloading a full day of content is a near-instant process.

Price, availability

The camera launches in both classic black and pearl white, accompanied by a modular accessory ecosystem and DJI Care Refresh protection plans.

It retails for PhP 37,790 for the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Standard. Meanwhile, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Vlog Combo retails for PhP 42,290.

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Automotive

Vespa celebrates 80 years with the Edizione Ottantesimo

A limited-edition release that honors eighty years of iconic Italian design.

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The Foro Italico looks different when it’s ringed by Vespas, as seen when the iconic landmark hosted the four-day festivities of Vespa Roma 2026 — 80 Years of an Icon.

Mayor Roberto Gualtieri led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and for four days, the Vespa Village makes the loudest argument anyone has ever made for scooters as cultural objects.

Opening day did not ease into things gently. First, the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato unveiled an official commemorative coin.

Soon after, Poste Italiane marked the occasion with a first-day cancellation ceremony for a special anniversary stamp.

Meanwhile, at the Stadio dei Marmi, curator Giacomo Bretzel opened 80 Years of an Icon – The Exhibition. This photographic account traces the remarkable journey of the vehicle.

Specifically, it shows how a basic scooter graduated from the factory floor to global cultural shorthand. It evolved from simple personal transport into a cinematic protagonist that people now ride across entire continents.

Only 1,946 of them

The number is deliberate. The Vespa Edizione Ottantesimo is limited to exactly 1,946 individually numbered units, one for each year the original rolled out of the Pontedera factory.

Vespa built it on the GTS 310 platform, which puts 25 horsepower through a single-cylinder 310 hpe engine, making it the most powerful Vespa in current production.

That mechanical upgrade sits inside a design that is genuinely doing something. The finish mimics raw, unprocessed steel. It’s textured and rough in a way that references the original load-bearing body before decades of refinement and lacquer softened everything.

A specific shade of green — pulled from the earliest single-color production models — accents the saddle and wheel rims. The rear seat comes with a removable hard cover that matches the bodywork. A direct callback to vintage racing fairings.

The wheels reinterpret the pressed sheet metal of the 1946 Vespa 98 with a diamond-cut channel finish.

On the side panels, a three-dimensional green numeral 80 sits inside a hexagonal bolt contour. The bolt shape itself highlights how artisans originally built these machines by hand.

A numbered plaque rests inside the under-seat compartment, and a matte grey helmet ships with every unit. None of these design choices are purely decorative. Instead, they each trace a straight line directly back to 1946.

Modern enough to use every day

The Edizione Ottantesimo features electronic traction control and ABS to handle unpredictable city roads. These safety systems adjust your grip before you even have time to react.

Meanwhile, full LED lighting keeps the road perfectly sharp after sunset. Up front, a 5-inch color TFT display runs the intuitive VESPA MIA connectivity system. Consequently, your route and incoming calls surface on the dash without you reaching for your pocket.

Beyond the display, a keyless ignition system allows you to simply unlock the scooter and go. Vespa even considered the smaller details to maximize daily utility. For example, courtesy lights illuminate both the rear shield and the under-seat compartment. This layout ensures you stop fumbling in the dark for your helmet and gear.

Crucially, none of these additions change what a Vespa fundamentally is. The chassis remains narrow enough to split lanes and light enough to park anywhere. Ultimately, these premium updates close the gap between a 1946 icon and a machine you want to ride every morning.

Beyond the Handlebars

To complement the vehicle, each Edizione Ottantesimo ships with an exclusive coffee table book from Assouline. The volume draws from the Piaggio archive to document eight decades of design, film, and travel.

Furthermore, owners can extend the package with premium accessories. Available add-ons include a color-matched 36-liter top box, luggage racks, side bars, and an anti-theft system.

Vespa Roma 2026

Currently, allocations are open online at edizioneottantesimo.vespa.com. Vespa strictly capped the total count at 1,946 units, and that number will not go up.

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News

Android is finally getting a foldable gaming mode

It’s coming in the next few months.

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On today’s episode of “We Can’t Believe It Took Them This Long to Add This,” Android is finally introducing a native foldable gaming mode for smartphone with two screens.

Foldable smartphones have been around for a while now. Despite the popularity of the form factor today, they are, ironically, not the best ways to play games. Though they usually have the performance, their designs are hardly conducive to long play sessions. They don’t feel like handheld consoles; they are more like thick slabs without built-in buttons.

Over the weekend, Mishaal Rahman, now working with Google, has unveiled a new foldable gaming mode, which natively turns one of a foldable’s screens into a gamepad.

It’s a complete gamepad, too. The feature adds a D-pad, two thumbsticks, A-B-X-Y action buttons, L1-L3, R1-R3, and Start. Users can manually adjust the layout, the size of the buttons, haptics, and dark mode. The only drawbacks are that the gamepad is currently locked to 50 percent of the screen (or one of the displays) and that you can’t adjust the transparency.

This is a much needed feature. Most mobile games today offer only single-screen gamepads overlapping the whole screen. Some, of course, can utilize the second screen but not natively. Though developers will still need to adapt to the feature, having a native gamepad is a huge boon for regular mobile gamers.

The foldable gaming mode is expected to roll out starting with Android 17 in the coming months.

SEE ALSO: These are the best Android 17 features (if you hate AI)

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