Vivo's global X500 phones are coming with noticeably smaller batteries than their Chinese counterparts
Vivo is preparing to launch the X500 series globally, but buyers outside China will get significantly smaller batteries — and for now, US and UK customers may not get the phones at all. European product registrations filed with the EU's EPREL database reveal the exact capacity cuts across all three models, putting a precise number on what the international market is giving up.
The numbers
The flagship Vivo X500 Pro Max (model V2610) shrinks from 8,000 mAh in China to around 6,800 mAh globally — a 1,200 mAh drop that represents roughly a full day of moderate use on paper. The X500 Pro (V2621) fares best: its 6,510 mAh capacity matches the Chinese version almost exactly, a genuine improvement over last year's X200 Pro at 6,000 mAh.
The base X500 (V2622) takes the hardest hit. Its global battery sits at around 5,300 mAh, compared to 7,500 mAh in China — a reduction of over 2,200 mAh. Vivo has not explained whether thermal engineering, cost considerations, or other factors drove the decision.
Vivo X500 Pro — the global version retains Chinese battery capacity at 6,510 mAh.
Endurance on paper
EPREL certification tests put real-world-ish endurance figures on the global models:
- X500 Pro Max (V2610): 72 hours, 5 minutes - X500 Pro (V2621): 64 hours, 31 minutes - X500 (V2622): 53 hours, 40 minutes
All three carry an A energy-efficiency rating and IP68 water resistance. The phones run on MediaTek's Dimensity 9600 Pro — a 2nm chip — paired with Zeiss optics and gimbal-grade stabilization. Those specs carry over unchanged from the Chinese versions; only the batteries differ.
The base Vivo X500 loses more than 2,200 mAh compared to its Chinese counterpart.
Availability
A European launch event is set for October 27, with a broader global rollout expected in November or December. No US or UK launch date has been confirmed — and given Vivo's limited Western presence, it remains unclear whether either market will see the X500 series at all. If a European price is announced on October 27, it will be the clearest signal yet of how Vivo intends to position these phones against Samsung and Google in the West.