vivo X500 Pro vs Xiaomi 18 Pro

Build and design

The vivo is 151.8 x 71.9 x 8.1mm and 192–197g, with a 6.36-inch display, IP68/IP69 rating and a ZEISS-tuned camera system. The Xiaomi is a compact 6.4-inch phone too, with IP69 rating, Dragon Crystal Glass 3 and a unique hardware privacy display that can switch on for a single app or notification. Both phones are compact flagships, but only the Xiaomi offers a rear screen for selfies, at 2.7 inches, and a privacy display that no other phone in this comparison offers in the same way.

If you want a phone that is easy to hold and already available in Europe, the vivo wins. If you want Xiaomi's privacy and rear-screen features and can wait for a global launch, the Xiaomi wins on novelty. Neither phone is officially sold in the US, so US buyers would need to import, with warranty and band caveats.

Display and benchmarks

The vivo offers a 6.36-inch LTPO AMOLED display at 2660 x 1216 with adaptive 1–144Hz, while the Xiaomi offers a 6.4-inch LTPO AMOLED display at 2K with 1–120Hz, up to 4,000 nits peak and Dragon Crystal Glass 3. Both displays are sharp and smooth, so the difference is not resolution, but features — the Xiaomi adds a privacy display and a rear screen, while the vivo adds a higher 144Hz ceiling. For reading and gaming, both are excellent on paper, with size almost identical.

On benchmarks, the vivo uses Dimensity 9600 Pro on 2nm and the Xiaomi uses Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 on 2nm, so no speed winner is claimed between them — a controlled side-by-side benchmark between these two phones was not reviewed. Both chips are flagship 2nm designs, and any real-world difference would come from software and cooling, not from a generational gap. For gaming, both should be fast, with the Xiaomi offering 120Hz and the vivo offering up to 144Hz.

Cameras and video

The vivo offers a 50MP main (LYTIA L910, 1/1.28-inch, f/1.57, ZEISS T* coating), a 64MP APO telephoto at 85mm and 3.5x, a 50MP ultrawide and a 50MP front camera, with 4K up to 240fps, 4K120 AF tracking and 8K30 video. The Xiaomi offers a 200MP main (Light Fusion 960, 1/1.28-inch), a 200MP periscope telephoto at 1/1.56-inch, 75mm and 3.2x with 12cm macro, a 50MP ultrawide and a 50MP front camera, with 8K30 video and Leica colour.

No controlled side-by-side camera test between these two phones was reviewed, so no photo winner is claimed beyond the hardware gap. On paper, the Xiaomi wins on megapixels and telephoto resolution, while the vivo wins on compact handling and its optional ZEISS Telephoto Extender for 400mm reach. If you want the most detailed zoom, the Xiaomi is stronger on paper. If you want a compact ZEISS phone with strong video, the vivo is stronger on handling.

Battery, software and price

Battery is regional, so check the Europe figure when Xiaomi launches globally. The vivo offers 6,510mAh typical in Europe with 90W wired and 40W wireless charging, while the Xiaomi offers 7,000mAh in China with 100W wired, 50W wireless and 27W reverse charging, though Europe is reported at 6,000mAh. On paper, the Xiaomi wins on charging speed, while battery capacity in Europe is still unconfirmed for Xiaomi and should not be compared to its China figure.

Software is OriginOS 7 on Android 17 for the vivo, and HyperOS 4 for the Xiaomi, with ZEISS tuning on the vivo and Leica tuning on the Xiaomi. Neither phone is officially sold in the US, so US buyers would need to import, with warranty, network bands and software differences to check first. In Europe, the vivo is the only one you can buy today, at €1,399, while the Xiaomi's Europe price is unconfirmed until its global launch.

Verdict

Buy the vivo X500 Pro if you want a compact ZEISS phone in Europe today from €1,399. Wait for the Xiaomi 18 Pro if you want a Leica flagship with a privacy display and rear screen, with a global launch later in 2026. For most European buyers today, the vivo is the only choice — the Xiaomi is a wait-and-see.