Vivo X200 Ultra Debuts VS1 Chip for Advanced Image Processing

Vivo has long taken a unique approach to image signal processing, diverging from the standard practices of most Android manufacturers. The brands usually depend on the image signal processors (ISPs) that come with MediaTek and Qualcomm chipsets, as shown in models like the Galaxy S25 Ultra ($1,084.99 at Amazon), which packs the base trifecta of 18-bit ISP for the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Vivo X200 Ultra to Feature New VS1 Chip Alongside V3+ for Enhanced Image Processing

Instead, Vivo adds its own ISP on top of the regular processors featured in its flagship devices. As a case in point, the X100 Ultra and X200 Pro now feature a Vivo V3+ that pairs with the ISPs of the Dimensity 9400 and Snapdragon 8 Elite in turn. Theoretically, this means that Vivo’s smartphones can produce better photos and videos, although how they perform in practice may differ.

Before the launch of the X200 Ultra, which arrives next month, Vivo’s product manager, Han Bo Xiao has announced a slightly different approach from the company. The new flagship would typically introduce the next-gen Vivo ISP, so if we were going by tradition, we’d expect the announcement of the Vivo V4. Instead, Vivo has combined the existing V3+ with a new chip called the VS1, and each of these chips handles different tasks.

Han Bo Xiao says that the V3+ will continue to post-process photos and videos, while the VS1 will be a ‘pre-ISP,’ processing image data before it goes to the V3+. Both chips are manufactured using a 6 nm process and are intended to work in tandem to improve image quality, especially for computational photography features like portrait shots. Now, Vivo wants to challenge traditional ISP options through this setup by enhancing image processing capabilities. We could see the X200 Ultra launch at the same event as the X200s, making it clear that Vivo is serious about pushing the boundaries of smartphone camera technology.

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