Disclosure: Little Big Red Dot was invited to the vivo X300 FE launch event at Swee Lee, Clarke Quay.
Hamimah and I were invited by vivo to the Singapore launch of their new X300 FE. The event was held at Swee Lee in Clarke Quay.
For those who do not know, Swee Lee has been around since 1946. One of Singapore’s most iconic brands. I remember them being at Plaza Singapura back in the day. Now they are at Clarke Quay and the space is really something.
Swee Lee mainly sells guitars and audio equipment. Proper instruments. Walk in and there are guitars hanging everywhere, vinyl records on the shelves, headphones to try. Alongside that they have a cafe-bar setup. Great vibes and honestly a perfect venue for a product launch.
Anyway. On to the phone.
The vivo X300 FE is a compact flagship. 191g and 7.99mm thin. When you pick it up you feel how light it is immediately. I was genuinely surprised. Most phones at this spec level tend to be heavier.
Build quality feels solid. I use a Moment case on my iPhone and honestly the build of this vivo reminded me of how that feels — tight tolerances, premium construction. That is high praise from me for a phone at this price point.
It comes in two colours — Mist Purple and Luxe Black. I prefer the Luxe Black. Looks cleaner.
I have always maintained that Chinese brands have figured out the hardware. Cameras, processors, battery life — they are genuinely competitive with Samsung and Apple, sometimes ahead. Where they sometimes slip up is the software experience. User interface, bloatware, that sort of thing.
vivo’s OS on the X300 FE is called OriginOS 6. I was pleasantly surprised. It felt clean. Not a lot of junk running in the background. The interface was smooth and fairly intuitive. Better than I expected going in.
Oh and the FE in the name? I asked the organisers at the event what it stands for. They could not tell me. You know how Samsung calls their version the Fan Edition? Nobody at the event could clarify what vivo’s FE stands for. A bit of a mystery honestly.
The camera system is the headline feature here. 50 megapixel ZEISS Super Telephoto Camera, 50 megapixel ZEISS main camera, and a 110-degree ultra-wide lens. Co-engineered with ZEISS — which is a legitimate pedigree in optics.
There is also a Telephoto Extender accessory. A cylindrical lens module that attaches onto the back of the phone and extends your reach to a 200mm equivalent focal length. It has been redesigned from the previous generation — lighter at 153g now.
Honestly? I think the extender is a bit of a gimmick for most people. Unless you regularly shoot concerts or sporting events and genuinely need 200mm reach, the average person will not use it enough to justify the extra S$299. And if you really need that kind of reach, just get a proper camera. That said — if you are a content creator always at events, I can see it being useful.
One gripe though. The speakers. The sound was hollow and broke down at higher volume. For a phone at this price point that is a bit disappointing. Audio quality is clearly not the priority for this device. If speaker quality matters to you, take note.
Everything else though reads like a flagship. Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, 6500mAh battery, 90W FlashCharge, 40W wireless charging, IP68 and IP69 rated. All in a 191g body. Compare that against other flagship smartphones launching in Singapore right now and the pricing is very competitive.
At S$1,099 for all of that? I think vivo has come a very long way. This is a really enticing proposition. In my last tech review I said the same thing — Chinese brands are closing the gap across the board, and the X300 FE is further proof of that.
If you buy the phone together with the Telephoto Extender Kit before 14 June 2026, you get S$100 off — S$1,298 for the bundle instead of S$1,398 separately. Every purchase comes with a pair of vivo Buds Air3 worth S$99, two years local warranty, and three months screen care included.
Pre-orders run from 25 May to 5 June 2026 on Shopee, Lazada, TikTok and at authorised retailers including Challenger, Best Denki, Courts, Harvey Norman, Gain City and Popular. On sale from 6 June 2026.
vivo X300 FE
On sale: 6 June 2026
Pre-order: 25 May – 5 June 2026 via Shopee, Lazada, TikTok and authorised retailers
Price: S$1,099 (12GB + 256GB) | Telephoto Extender Kit from S$299
Bundle promo price: S$1,298 — purchase before 14 June 2026 to enjoy this offer
vivo Experience and Service Store | 313@somerset, 313 Orchard Road, #B2-44/45, Singapore 238895
Website: www.vivo.com/sg
