Vivo and Oppo are launching similar phones with different priorities.

Mat Smith for Engadget

Vivo is one of several Chinese phone manufacturers rapidly iterating on high-spec camera smartphones. However, it remains less well-known than rivals like Xiaomi and Oppo. The X500 Pro Max features attachable telephoto lenses, cage grips and a partnership with lens maker Zeiss. Surprise, it's all about the cameras (again), but with a videography twist!

As we saw with Oppo's Find X10 Pro Max , Vivo faces the challenge of being compared to its existing, more premium smartphone, the X300 Ultra , at a time when phone prices are soaring. The X500 Pro Max is a major upgrade over the X300 Pro, and it even bests the X300 Ultra in some areas.

Vivo's camera obsession continues

Mat Smith for Engadget

The biggest camera upgrade is a new 50-megapixel Sony Lytia 1/1.28-inch sensor with an f/1.6 aperture, which offers 17 stops of dynamic range (sound familiar?), due to the sensor's LOFIC technology.…