The Vivo X300 FE is coming, and I've got my hands on the Chinese variant—the Vivo S50 Pro Mini. After spending time with last year's X200 FE (which we crowned Best Compact Phone of 2025), the big question everyone's asking is: what's actually different this time?
Spoiler alert: it's not what you'd expect.
Design Overhaul: Love It or Hate It?
Let's address the elephant in the room. Vivo completely redesigned the X300 FE, and honestly, I'm conflicted about it.
The X200 FE featured a vertical pill-shaped camera module that looked distinctive and premium. The X300 FE switches to a horizontal camera layout with a subtle textured pattern on the back panel that catches light beautifully.
The build quality remains excellent—glass back, metal frame, metal camera module. The in-hand feel is undeniably premium. At 195 grams and 8mm thickness, it maintains that compact, pocketable vibe that made the X200 FE so popular.
But here's my honest confession: I preferred the X200 FE's design. The new look feels cleaner and more minimalist, sure, but the previous generation had more personality. What do you think? Am I the only one who misses the old design?
Display: If It Ain't Broke...
Vivo wisely didn't mess with success here. The X300 FE keeps the same gorgeous 6.31-inch 1.5K LTPO AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate.
The bezels are perfectly symmetrical, the screen-to-body ratio hits 90.2%, and that 10-bit panel delivers vibrant, colorful content that makes multimedia consumption genuinely enjoyable. Peak brightness reaches 5000 nits, making outdoor visibility excellent even in direct sunlight.
Testing video playback confirmed what the specs promised—this display is HDR10+ certified and delivers flagship-level quality. Smoothness is buttery, colors pop without looking oversaturated, and brightness never feels inadequate.
People say "bigger is better," but sometimes smaller just feels right. This compact screen size hits the sweet spot for one-handed use without sacrificing visual impact.
The Performance Upgrade That Actually Matters
Here's the biggest change: Vivo ditched MediaTek for Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 (3nm process).
This matters more than you'd think. The X200 FE launched globally with MediaTek's Dimensity 9300+, which was powerful but ran hot during extended gaming. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 delivers more stable, consistent performance with better thermal management.
AnTuTu scores exceed 3 million, which is flagship territory. Real-world multitasking feels smooth and responsive—apps open instantly, switching between tasks happens without hiccups.
Gaming Performance: Room for Improvement
Testing BGMI (PUBG Mobile) revealed mixed results. The game runs smoothly at 60fps on HDR Ultra settings, but 90fps and 120fps options aren't available yet on this Chinese variant.
This should improve when the global version launches with proper optimization. Slight warmth develops during extended gaming sessions, but nothing concerning. The phone throttles a bit under sustained load, which is normal for thin, compact devices.
Base configuration includes 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 4.1 storage. That storage upgrade from UFS 3.1 (which the X200 FE used) makes a noticeable difference in app load times and file transfers. Thumbs up to Vivo for this improvement.
Camera: Same Hardware, Different Tuning
The camera setup remains identical to the X200 FE:
- 50MP main camera (Sony IMX921 with OIS)
- 50MP periscope telephoto 3x (Sony IMX882)
- 8MP ultra-wide
- 50MP selfie camera
Testing revealed something interesting: the Chinese variant lacks Zeiss collaboration. Photos look slightly duller and less vibrant compared to Vivo's typical output. Colors lean natural but feel a bit flat.
This isn't necessarily bad—detail levels are good, dynamic range performs well, and shutter speed is fast. But that signature Zeiss tuning that made the X200 FE's photos pop is missing here.
Portrait Mode Performance
Portrait mode offers five focal lengths: 23mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 100mm. Edge detection works sharply, accurately separating subjects from backgrounds.
However, there's noticeable skin smoothing happening—more than I'd like. The processing seems tuned for Chinese skin tones, applying slight beautification even with enhancements disabled.
Selfies show similar characteristics. The 50MP front camera captures good detail at 1x, but that softness in skin texture reveals aggressive processing. At 0.6x, you get a wider field of view, perfect for group shots.
Video Recording Capabilities
Both front and rear cameras support 4K 60fps video recording. Quality is solid with good stabilization and dynamic range. You also get various creative modes:
- Film camera mode
- Micro movie mode with templates
- Night mode
- Super macro mode
The global version launching with Zeiss collaboration should deliver improved color science and that characteristic Zeiss look. We'll need to retest when the India variant arrives.
Battery and Charging: Familiar Territory
The 6500mAh battery capacity carries over unchanged from the X200 FE. That's excellent news—this battery easily lasted full days of heavy use in our previous testing.
90W wired charging remains impressively fast, and 40W wireless charging support is a nice premium touch. No complaints here—Vivo got the battery equation right the first time.
Software: Origin OS 6 Based on Android 16
The Chinese variant runs Origin OS 6 built on Android 16. The global version will also ship with Origin OS rather than Funtouch OS.
The interface feels smooth and responsive with thoughtful features like game acceleration mode and extensive customization options. Whether you prefer Origin OS to other Android skins comes down to personal taste.
Audio and Connectivity: Premium Extras
Stereo speakers deliver loud, clear audio with good separation. Testing with music revealed balanced sound that doesn't distort at high volume.
The phone includes an IR blaster for controlling appliances, dual SIM support (no microSD expansion), USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and NFC. All the connectivity bases are covered.
Pricing Expectations: The Reality Check
In China, the S50 Pro Mini launched at approximately ¥3,699 (around ₹48,000). Here's the uncomfortable truth: the X300 FE will likely cost more in India than the X200 FE did.
I'm estimating ₹60,000-65,000 for the base variant. Why the increase? Chipset costs have risen, RAM and storage prices are up, and Qualcomm chips typically command premium pricing over MediaTek alternatives.
Should You Wait for the X300 FE or Buy the X200 FE Now?
This is the million-dollar question. Based on hands-on experience, here's my honest take:
The X300 FE offers two meaningful upgrades:
- Design refresh - Cleaner, more modern look (though subjectively not better than X200 FE)
- Performance improvement - Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 delivers more stable, reliable performance than MediaTek Dimensity 9300+
Everything else remains virtually identical:
- Same display quality and size
- Same camera hardware and sensors
- Same battery capacity and charging speeds
- Similar overall user experience
If you already own the X200 FE, this isn't a compelling upgrade. The performance bump and design change don't justify the higher price.
If you're buying your first compact flagship, the choice depends on availability and pricing. If the X200 FE gets significant discounts, it remains an excellent value. If pricing stays close between generations, the X300 FE's better chipset makes it the smarter choice.
The Compact Phone Dilemma
The X300 FE represents Vivo's commitment to compact flagships when most brands chase bigger screens. That deserves recognition. The 6.31-inch display, premium build, and flagship specs in this form factor appeal to people tired of unwieldy giants.
But Vivo played it safe with this update. Rather than pushing boundaries with camera improvements or battery innovations, they swapped processors and redesigned the exterior. That's not bad—it's just not exciting.
Final Verdict: Solid Evolution, Not Revolution
The Vivo X300 FE delivers exactly what you'd expect from an iterative update. It's better than its predecessor in specific areas (performance, storage speed) while maintaining everything that made the original great.
The design will polarize opinions. The Chinese variant's camera tuning needs work, but the global Zeiss collaboration should address this. Pricing will ultimately determine whether this phone succeeds or struggles against competitors.
For compact phone enthusiasts, the X300 FE continues Vivo's strong tradition. Just don't expect groundbreaking changes—this is refined evolution, not revolution.
Worth waiting for? If you need a compact flagship and can wait 1-2 months for the global launch, yes. If you want a deal on the still-excellent X200 FE, that's equally valid.
The best phone isn't always the newest one. Sometimes it's simply the one that fits your hands, your budget, and your needs perfectly.
What do you think about the X300 FE's design changes? Would you choose this over the X200 FE? Share your thoughts below—your opinions matter most in deciding which compact flagship deserves your money.
