Vivo X300 Pro Photographer Kit Hands-On: A Serious Step Forward for Mobile Photography
Vivo has never been shy about pushing boundaries in smartphone photography, and the newly unveiled Vivo X300 Pro Photographer Kit is yet another proof of that ambition. Presented alongside the X300 series launch, the kit promises to transform the X300 Pro into a more tactile, professional-grade tool for enthusiasts who crave manual control and optical versatility – and this time, Vivo’s partnership with PGYTECH delivers a more refined and complete experience than its predecessors.
The first thing you’ll notice is that the new case feels sturdier and more thoughtfully designed than the X200 Ultra’s version. The material is grippier, and the lens mount is engineered with tighter tolerances, ensuring the telephoto extender locks securely in place. It feels more like camera gear and less like a phone accessory, which is exactly what serious users wanted.
Inside the box, the PGYTECH-made kit comes with seven components: the detachable case, a 62mm filter adapter ring, the 2.35x Vivo Zeiss telephoto extender, a grip with a built-in 2300mAh battery and Bluetooth connection, a long neck strap, and a few extras for attachment and cleaning. It’s designed for the X300 Pro specifically – the standard X300 apparently has its own version, but it lacks the telephoto extender feature.
The grip is arguably the heart of the system. Sliding neatly into the case and connecting via the USB-C port, it powers up both itself and the phone while providing a genuine camera-like experience. There’s a two-stage shutter button with half-press focus, a zoom lever, a video record button, and even a control dial. The Bluetooth connection ensures smooth communication for instant shutter response and exposure adjustments. It’s an intuitive bridge between smartphone convenience and DSLR ergonomics.
Once the telephoto extender is screwed into place via the adapter ring – which, by the way, can stay attached permanently without interfering with the cameras – the phone automatically detects and activates the extender mode through the camera interface. This differs from the X200 Ultra’s approach, where users had to switch manually into a separate mode. The integration feels natural this time around, almost seamless.
Optically, the extender transforms the X300 Pro’s 85mm periscope lens into a true 200mm optical equivalent. It’s not digital magic – it’s real glass. Vivo also allows digital zoom options at 400mm, 800mm, and even 1600mm within the viewfinder, but only the 200mm remains fully optical. The resulting shots carry a tighter field of view and pleasing background compression, though some users may notice a small dip in sharpness – a common trade-off for optical extenders.
Vivo’s software helps compensate for that, and in practice, the images look surprisingly detailed, even handheld. The included video sample, shot entirely without a tripod, demonstrates impressive stabilization and clarity, reinforcing how far mobile imaging has evolved. Compared to the X200 Ultra, where oversharpening and color processing were often criticized, the X300 Pro appears to strike a better balance between realism and pop. Colors feel more accurate, and textures are preserved instead of artificially enhanced.
In everyday use, the camera feels versatile. The grip’s control dial can switch between shooting modes, and users can customize whether half-pressing the shutter locks exposure or enables continuous autofocus. The zoom lever works smoothly across the focal range instead of jumping abruptly between preset levels, giving much finer control over composition. It’s this tactile, DSLR-like feeling that makes the Photographer Kit so satisfying for anyone who prefers physical feedback over touchscreen gestures.
Pricing for the accessories remains relatively reasonable. The telephoto lens alone costs CNY 999 (€120, INR 12,400), while the case and grip set you back CNY 699 (€85, INR 8,700). Buying the complete Photographer Kit as a bundle saves you a bit, priced at CNY 1,499 (€182, INR 18,700). If you opt for the X300 Pro itself with the kit, the package comes to CNY 8,299 (€1,000, INR 103,600). For now, the entire lineup remains exclusive to China, but global availability is expected soon.
As an added touch, PGYTECH offers new color variants beyond the classic black and gray – including a lighter silver option, which matches beautifully with the silver-finished extender lens. It’s a small but welcome detail for those who care about aesthetics as much as optics.
Overall, the Vivo X300 Pro Photographer Kit doesn’t just extend your focal range – it extends your creative control. It’s an ambitious attempt to merge smartphone convenience with the tactile joy of photography, and while not flawless, it’s a meaningful evolution for those who take shooting seriously. Whether you’re a travel photographer or just love experimenting with framing, the X300 Pro with its dedicated kit feels like a genuine step closer to replacing compact cameras altogether.