Vivo X Fold launched - Samsung gets a powerful rival in the foldable segment

• Vivo has announced the Vivo X Fold foldable smartphone in China.
• The device takes on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Oppo Find N.
• Here’s everything you need to know about the latest foldable smartphone.

Chinese smartphone maker Vivo has introduced its first foldable smartphone, dubbed as the Vivo X Fold in China. The company has gone all-in for the flagship smartphone, delivering a feature-packed foldable device.

Vivo has borrowed the waterdrop-shaped hinge from the Oppo Find N. Vivo isn’t the only company in the BBK Electronics umbrella that is borrowing the waterdrop-shaped hinge. OnePlus is also reportedly working on a foldable smartphone and is expected to use similar technology.

Vivo X Fold specifications and features

Coming back to the Vivo X Fold, the foldable smartphone comes with a book-like foldable design with a rigid outer display and a foldable inner screen that can be opened to get a bigger screen. The design is similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Oppo Find X.

The device runs on Android 12 with the company’s recently announced OriginOS Ocean on top. While the interface has been optimized to work with foldable smartphones, we expect it to improve once Google’s Android 12L update is released.

Design and display

The waterdrop hinge being used by Vivo and Oppo is reportedly more durable than the flex mode hinge being used by Samsung and the crease on the new device is less visible compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 3. However, the Vivo X Fold can only be opened at 60-degree and 120-degree angles, unlike the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 which can be opened at any angle.

The Vivo X Fold features an 8.03-inch inner display and comes with Samsung’s E5 AMOLED LTPO display, offering a 120Hz refresh rate and is protected by SCHOTT’s flexible ultra-thin glass. The device features a bigger display when compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Oppo Find N. While the foldable smartphones from Vivo and Samsung feature a 2K display, the Oppo Find N features a Full HD+ display.

Coming to the external display, the Vivo X Fold features a 6.53-inch Full HD+ E5 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and SCHOTT’s Xensation Alpha glass protection. While Samsung offers a slightly smaller 6.2-inch outer display with a 120Hz refresh rate, the Oppo foldable smartphone comes with a much smaller 5.49-inch display with a 60Hz refresh rate.

Performance

In terms of performance, the Vivo X Fold is equipped with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, while its rivals offer the last-gen Snapdragon 888 chipset. The device is expected to offer significantly better performance compared to the other foldable devices.

Camera

The cameras are another area where Vivo has packed the device to the brim. It comes with a 50MP primary camera with OIS and Zeiss T* coating and V1 chip, a 48MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 12MP portrait camera and an 8MP periscope camera with OIS and 5x optical zoom. Coming to the selfie camera, the device comes with a 16MP selfie camera.

Fingerprint sensor

The Vivo X Fold comes with two in-display display fingerprint sensors – one on the inner display and one on the external display. Samsung and Oppo have offered a better solution – a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that is faster and more reliable.

Battery and charging

The Vivo X Fold is equipped with a 4,600mAh battery with 66W fast charge support and 50W wireless charge support. Samsung on the other hand offers a smaller 4,400mAh battery with slower 25W charging and 10W wireless charging. Oppo offers a 4,500mAh battery with slower 33W charging and 15W wireless charging.

The Vivo smartphone is equipped with a slightly bigger battery and offers significantly faster charging, both wired and wireless.

SEE ALSO:
OnePlus is reportedly working on its first foldable phone, expected to be based on the Oppo Find N

Apple could enter the foldable segment, reports suggest it is testing a 9-inch foldable device

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: Creasing through the folds