I experienced an excellent compact phone, and I hope Samsung and Apple take notice.
Since I acquired my first smartphone and eventually ventured into tech journalism, I've developed a fondness for compact devices. However, finding one that is genuinely rewarding has been quite difficult due to technical limitations or poor choices.
The OnePlus 13s came close, but its absence of an ultrawide sensor and subpar thermal performance were significant drawbacks. The Samsung Galaxy S25 was fairly well-rounded but suffered from disappointing battery life, inadequate thermals, and unsatisfactory camera quality for its price. Consequently, I've often reverted to the standard iPhone or its Pro counterpart as my primary device.
The combination of portability, battery life, camera quality, and performance is nearly ideal, despite the hefty Apple Tax. However, as 2025 draws to a close, the Vivo X300 has emerged as the most satisfying compact phone I've used in a while, successfully challenging the iPhone in several key aspects.
Compact yet powerful
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
The Vivo X300 excels in numerous areas. Starting with its design, it features an attractive glass and metal construction, slim bezels, and a lovely matte finish on the back. Its dimensions are nearly identical to the iPhone 17 Pro, but it's notably slimmer and lighter.
The difference in how it feels in hand is quite apparent. What really distinguishes this phone is its ingress protection, surpassing its Apple competitor with an IP69 rating, the highest in the industry currently. Additionally, it includes a vapor chamber cooling system.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
What surprised me most about this phone is its battery life. It houses a 6,040 mAh battery in its compact form, whereas the much larger Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 5,000mAh unit. Moreover, it outperforms Apple and Samsung in terms of charging capabilities.
In my daily use, its performance was almost on par with the OnePlus 15 and can easily last a full day. My average screen time reached around seven and a half hours, which is impressive. On a day-to-day basis, it outperformed both the Google Pixel 10 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro.
iPhone inspiration is evident
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
Another notable feature is the charging convenience. It supports 90W wired charging and 40W wireless charging, which adds significant practicality. The phone charges from empty to 66% in about half an hour and reaches 100% in exactly 49 minutes. These statistics surpass those of any other mainstream flagship available in the US.
Now, regarding the display. Although it is smaller than the new iPhone's standard (6.3 inches), measuring 6.1 inches, it boasts a high-quality panel with peak brightness exceeding Apple’s best at 4,500 nits. The display also offers a 120Hz refresh rate and 2160Hz PWM dimming, making it exceptionally sharp, vibrant, and comfortable for the eyes thanks to flicker-free technology.
Camera performance is a highlight
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
In 2025, Apple finally embraced the trend of larger camera systems, following the lead of Google and others. For its primary, ultrawide, and zoom cameras, it features either a 48-megapixel or 50-megapixel sensor.
In contrast, the Vivo X300 offers a 200-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, and another 50-megapixel sensor with periscope zoom optics providing up to 3x optical zoom. The camera performance is quite impressive overall.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
It captures sharp images with vibrant colors and good dynamic range. What amazed me most was the character in the photos, particularly from the main and telephoto lenses. It tends to utilize a higher ISO output, yet the color reproduction stands out.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Another strength is the bokeh effect. It effectively separates the subject and provides a natural depth effect. Outdoors, it captured portraits that even depicted fine hair strands with minimal blurring. Its performance with human subjects is particularly good, and even in zoomed-in shots, they reveal abundant surface details.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Vivo has historically prioritized the imaging capabilities of its devices, and the X300 showcases that well. The camera app offers a highly customizable experience, replete with attractive filters, portrait lighting options, and detailed controls.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
For those who enjoy the creative aspects of mobile photography, the Vivo X300 provides ample opportunities to experiment. The ultrawide and telephoto cameras are solid, though I would prefer if the algorithmic processing were toned down a bit, especially for objects near the edges. It competes well with the OnePlus 15, iPhone 17, and Galaxy S25, in case you’re curious.
A remarkably balanced offering
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I experienced an excellent compact phone, and I hope Samsung and Apple take notice.
Since I acquired my first smartphone and later ventured into tech journalism, I've developed a fondness for compact devices. However, discovering one that offers practical advantages has proven to be quite difficult, either because of technical limitations or poor decisions. The OnePlus 13s almost met my expectations, but its absence of an ultrawide sensor [...]