Overview
- GSMArena’s year-end roundups put vivo at the forefront, praising the China-only X200 Ultra’s hardware and the globally sold X300 and X300 Pro for balanced imaging, performance, and battery life.
- Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra remained a reviewer favorite for versatile focal lengths and daily use despite quirks in processing and a modest selfie camera.
- Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra went on sale in China on December 27 with Leica tuning, a 1‑inch LightHunter 1050L main sensor, a 200MP telephoto with variable aperture and 3.2x–4.3x continuous optical zoom, and up to 8K/30fps video, with no global release announced.
- Availability continued to shape impact as vivo’s top models and iQOO 15 were limited in reach and the X300 series saw reduced battery capacity in the EU, while iQOO 15 drew criticism for slower charging and underwhelming zoom.
- For markets with fewer Chinese options, the iPhone 17 Pro/Max, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Pixel 10 Pro series remained dependable picks, with Apple retaining an edge in video quality.