The vivo X500 E May Be a Rebranded Version of the vivo V80

New details have emerged regarding vivo's latest smartphone, the X500 E. Reports suggest the device may not be an independent model, but rather a slightly modified version of the existing vivo V80. While such practices are not uncommon for the company, this year's trends point toward a different strategy.

Matching Technical Specifications

Information appearing in the Google Play Console database has cast doubt on expectations that the X500 E would feature a more powerful processor. According to the documents, the smartphone will utilise the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset—the same hardware found in the vivo V70 and the recently released V80. This marks a significant departure from last year's X300 E, which featured an upgraded Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor compared to the V70.

Furthermore, protective cases released by accessory manufacturers confirm that both smartphones will share identical dimensions. Listings on Amazon Italy already feature cases compatible with both the V80 and the X500 E. In previous years, X-series models were thicker due to different battery capacities, which made case compatibility impossible; however, no such differences are apparent this time.

What This Means for Consumers

Although Bluetooth SIG certification lists different model numbers for the X500 E (V2648 and V2656), this does not rule out identical internal architecture. The vivo V80, which was announced for the Indian market in early October, retails for the equivalent of approximately 590 euros, representing a significant price increase over the previous year's V70.

For users who choose vivo smartphones, this news is significant as the expectation of the X-series serving as a "premium" alternative may not be met. If the X500 E is indeed a reincarnation of the V80, buyers will only have to choose based on design and branding details. It is expected that vivo will officially confirm the device's technical specifications and release date in the near future.