Vivo X300 camera review

We rolled up to Sassoon Dock at an unreasonable 5.30 am in the morning. The plan was simple. Take the Vivo X300 and throw it at one of Mumbai’s most chaotic, yet photogenic locations.

That meant catching the pre-dawn darkness, the transitional golden hour stuff, and eventually proper daylight by around 9.30 am. That also meant capturing all those boats, fishermen, and fish themselves under at least three different lightning conditions. Additionally, Sassoon also has famous painted murals on the buildings, so we figured we could get some architecture in there too. So read on for a slightly different and unique Vivo X300 camera review.

Let’s start with the specs. The X300 features a triple camera setup, co-engineered with Zeiss. The system is headlined by a 200MP Samsung HPB main sensor that sits behind an f/1.57 lens. This is the same unit that lives in the X300 Pro’s telephoto. Alongside that, you get a 50MP ultrawide, and a 50MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom.

As we started during those dark early hours, what struck us immediately was how well the main camera handled low light. The shots we grabbed of fishing boats bobbing in the harbour came out clean, with details that held up even when we cropped in later. Colours were punchy but not offensively so. Saturation does run a touch hot, but can be tuned down with the Zeiss Natural filter.

As the sun started creeping over the water around 6.45 am, we found ourselves switching between the main and telephoto lenses constantly. Little egrets were poking around the dock edges, and the gulls were doing their usual chaotic thing overhead.

That 3x optical zoom proved genuinely useful here because getting close to birds without spooking them is basically impossible otherwise. The periscope lens uses a Sony LYT-602 sensor with improved noise sensitivity compared to its predecessor, and the results showed. Even at 6x digital zoom, the shots held enough detail to be usable.

Beyond birds—and of course, fish—these markets are fundamentally about people, and the X300 handled portraits with great sophistication. The Portrait mode offers five focal lengths that simulate traditional camera perspectives, ranging from 23mm all the way to 100mm.

Even the skin tones rendered accurately, even in the mixed lighting conditions you get at a dock. The dynamic range kept faces properly exposed without blowing out the highlights from the sunrise behind them.

The sun started growing harsher as we neared 9.30 am. That’s when we decided to move on to Sassoon’s colourful murals. These demanded the 119.4-degree ultrawide, and it delivered. Those colourful painted walls came out with minimal edge distortion, which is something cheaper ultrawide lenses often mess up. Detail remained consistent from centre to edges, and the colours matched what we were seeing in person—and with the other lenses.

Unboxed Take: Who should buy the Vivo X300 for its cameras?

The Vivo X300 punches well above what you’d expect from a non-Pro device. That 200MP main sensor delivers genuinely flagship-quality results, and the telephoto is far more capable than the usual token zoom lens you find at this tier.

ALSO READ: Vivo X300 Pro camera review

For these reasons, we rate the Vivo X300’s cameras 4.5/5. If you’re someone who actually uses their phone camera for real photography rather than just quick snaps, this deserves serious consideration. Stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for more such reviews, and everything tech.