Vivo X300 FE (S50 Pro Mini) Review: The Ultimate Compact Flagship Gets a Major Upgrade

 

Introduction: The Return of the “Compact King”

In 2025, the Vivo X200 FE earned widespread recognition as one of the best compact smartphones on the market, often praised for delivering flagship performance in a small and ergonomic form factor.

Now, Vivo is back with its successor: the Vivo X300 FE, which has officially entered the testing phase.

The unit currently appearing in Chinese reviews is branded as the Vivo S50 Pro Mini, but this is the exact same device that will be launched globally under the name Vivo X300 FE. Hardware specifications remain identical, with only software and camera processing differences between regions.

 

Design and Ergonomics: A Bold New Direction

Vivo introduces a significant design overhaul with the X300 FE, moving away from the vertical pill-shaped camera module seen on its predecessor.

Key Design Highlights:

• Horizontal camera layout, offering a cleaner and more modern appearance
• Premium materials:
• Glass back with light-reactive patterns
• Metal frame and fully metal camera housing for better heat dissipation
• Compact dimensions maintained:
• Thickness: 8 mm
• Weight: 195 g
• In-hand feel: Minimalist, balanced, and extremely comfortable for one-handed use

While some fans may miss the iconic design of the X200 FE, the new look feels more refined and premium.

 

Display: One of the Best Compact Screens in 2026

The display remains one of the strongest selling points of the Vivo X300 FE.

Display Specifications:

• 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED panel
• 1.5K resolution for sharp visuals with improved power efficiency
• Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate
• Peak brightness of 5,000 nits, ensuring excellent outdoor visibility
• Symmetrical ultra-thin bezels
• Screen-to-body ratio: 90.2%

Thanks to LTPO technology, the display dynamically adjusts refresh rates, delivering smooth performance without compromising battery life.

Performance: Snapdragon Power Takes Over

One of the biggest upgrades comes in the form of a new flagship processor.

Performance Hardware:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 (3nm architecture)
• Next-generation Adreno GPU
• 12GB LPDDR5X RAM
• UFS 4.1 storage, a major improvement over UFS 3.1 in the X200 FE

Benchmark Results:

• Over 3 million points on AnTuTu
• Improved thermal management
• Excellent gaming stability and AI processing

The Vivo X300 FE now delivers true flagship-level performance, even rivaling larger and more expensive smartphones.

 

Camera System: Familiar Hardware, Smarter Processing

The camera setup remains largely unchanged on paper, but Vivo focuses on software optimization and image tuning.

Rear Cameras:

• 50MP main camera (Sony IMX 921) with OIS
• 50MP periscope telephoto (Sony IMX 882) with 3× optical zoom
• 8MP ultra-wide camera

Front Camera:

• 50MP selfie camera

ZEISS Advantage:

The global Vivo X300 FE will benefit from ZEISS optics and color science, offering:

• More natural colors
• Enhanced portrait modes
• Improved low-light performance

 

Battery, Charging, and Connectivity: Exceptional for a Compact Phone

Battery Life:

• Massive 6,500mAh battery, a rare achievement in this size category
• Excellent optimization thanks to Android 16

Charging Options:

• 90W wired fast charging
• 40W wireless charging
• Reverse wireless charging support

Additional Features:

• Origin OS 6 (based on Android 16)
• Powerful stereo speakers
• Enhanced haptic feedback
• Full connectivity suite: 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

 

Vivo X300 FE Specifications Overview

Final Verdict: The New Benchmark for Compact Flagships

The Vivo X300 FE doesn’t reinvent the compact smartphone concept—it perfects it.
With a refined design, Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 performance, ultra-fast storage, and a record-breaking battery for its size, it positions itself as the best compact flagship smartphone of 2026.

For users who want top-tier performance, long battery life, and true one-hand usability, the Vivo X300 FE stands out as an unbeatable choice.