Vivo X500 Pro vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro
Verdict
Vivo X500 Pro scores higher on the OH Rank (80 vs 79), winning 1 of 10 categories including Screen. Vivo X500 Pro is the more recent release, from Sep 29, 2026.
Score Breakdown
Performance /15
Battery /15
Screen /15
IP Protection /15
Main Camera /15
Selfie /5
Video /5
SD Memory /5
Software /5
Desktop Replacement /5
TOTAL
80
79
Vivo X500 Pro
71.9mm (2.83in) · Sep 29, 2026 · Rank #10
15+11+13+12+15+4+5+0+5+0 = 80
SUPERIOR* TOP Performance* TOP Camera* TOP Video Recording* TOP Software* TOP Compact
EDITORIAL: (this is a pre-test listing based on reasonable expectation of battery, charging, imaging and desktop replacement functionality performance) On Sep 21 Vivo came with first of the next-gen Android flagships: X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max. The Pro model is actually an upgrade of excellent X300 (X400 series never happened, probably out of superstition) and it is a very good incremental upgrade: 2nm chip, 500mAh bigger battery, 144Hz Dolby Vision screen and upgraded periscope telephoto lens. Main camera got a downgrade from 200MP to 50MP and charging speeds remain the same making it one of the best compacts in the world.
PROs
compact design, excellent Dimensity 9600 Pro (2nm) with UFS 4.1 performance, 36hr endurance from a 6500mAh Si-C battery with sub-60min 90W (40W wireless) charging, ~2000nits bright 460ppi 144Gz LTPO AMOLED screen with Dolby Vision, IP69 protection, excellent 50MP 24mm 64MP 85mm periscope telephoto (both OIS PDAF) + 50MP 15mm AF ultrawide setup, very good 50MP 20mm selfie with AF, excellent video recording, upgraded OriginOS 7 with a promise of 6 years of updates, basic desktop replacement functionality, 200mm external zoom lens kit option
CONs
flat sides boxy design feels outdated and bigger then it is, no expandable memory, OriginOS remains behind competition in AI and other software features and the gap may be growing, limited market availability
Apple iPhone 18 Pro
71.9mm (2.83in) · Sep 18, 2026 · Rank #15
15+11+11+12+15+5+5+0+5+0 = 79
SUPERIOR* TOP Performance* TOP Selfie* TOP PHOTO/VIDEO* TOP Compact
EDITORIAL: After last year's major design re-shuffle Apple is back to minimal upgrades. 18 Pro gets an obligatory new chip, faster (but overall on a slow side) charging, smaller selfie camera island and a variable exposure main camera... but the redemption lies in endurance gains brought by A20 Pro, Apple's first 2nm chip. It makes 18 Pro finish a day of us with 10-20% battery life - and that makes out a TOP Compact contender.
PROs
excellent build with great feel, good A20 Pro (2nm) chip with NVMe performance, 30+hr endurance, a <1000nits 460ppi 120Hz LTPO OLED screen with Dolby Vision, IP68 protection, very good 48MP 24mm OIS f/1.5-4.0 main + 48MP 100mm OIS periscope telephoto + 48MP 13mm ultrawide (all 3 with PDAF) setup, good "center stage" 18MP 20mm selfie, great video recording, rich OS with improved (Google) AI integration and 6+ years of updates, fast USB-C 3.2 port with Display Port, globally available
CONs
A20 Pro throttles under heavy load, small 4000mAh (4200mAh on eSIM-only version) old-tech lithium battery with 60min (from 0-100%) ~45W (25W wireless) charging, no expandable memory, no desktop replacement functionality despite having Display Port tech, speaker sound could be louder, $1400 for a minimal investment in innovation
Both phones here were scored by me, using the same ten categories, with no ads, sponsorships, or manufacturer relationships — this comparison is as objective and honest as it gets.
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