Vivo has just launched its latest foldable device, the X Fold 5, in China, and it’s packed with impressive features that make it stand out. This new model offers Apple users the chance to experience Android without completely abandoning their Apple ecosystem.
The X Fold 5 is a lightweight and premium device with a significant battery upgrade and some solid durability enhancements.
Vivo’s X Fold 5 weighs in at 217g, which is even lighter than its predecessor, the X Fold 3, by 2g. It is thinner than before, with the Titanium version folding down to just 9.2mm, although the Clear and Green Pine models are slightly thicker at 9.7mm. Despite being slim, it’s not the absolute thinnest foldable available, with Oppo’s Find N5 still holding that crown at 8.9mm.
The phone comes in three color options: Clear, Green Pine, and Titanium. Vivo has also improved the X Fold 5’s durability, claiming that it’s waterproof (IPX8), dustproof (IP5X), and freezeproof, with better puncture resistance on the outer screen glass.
The X Fold 5 features an 8.03-inch inner display and a 6.53-inch outer screen, both running at 120Hz refresh rates and boasting up to 4,500 nits of brightness. The hinge, which is made of steel and carbon fiber, weighs just 14.24g, and the device folds down to a width of 16.6mm.
Battery life is a big highlight for the X Fold 5, as it packs a massive 6,000mAh battery, making it the first foldable to do so. This puts it on par with flagship devices like the OnePlus 13. The device also supports fast charging, with 80W wired and 40W wireless charging, ensuring you won’t be stuck waiting too long to power up.
Vivo’s cameras are supplied by Zeiss, with a 50 MP main camera, a 50 MP telephoto camera, a 50 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 20 MP front camera. The main and telephoto cameras feature OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), and both front and rear cameras support video stabilization. The telephoto lens offers 3x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom. The X Fold 5 also supports digital zoom on both the front and rear cameras, in case you need that extra reach.
On the software side, the X Fold 5 runs on OriginOS 5 over Android 15. But what’s most exciting is its ability to seamlessly connect with Apple devices. The X Fold 5 can pair with iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods, and even MacBooks. It supports features like syncing health data, taking calls, checking notifications, and accessing Mac files through a native file manager. Users can also control their Mac remotely and project the Mac UI to a TV. If these features work as promised, it could be a game-changer for Apple users considering a foldable device.
The X Fold 5 offers impressive multitasking capabilities, supporting up to five apps running at once. It also allows for drag-and-drop between apps, offering a desktop-like experience.
However, one area where the X Fold 5 may fall short is its use of last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. While it’s still a powerful chip, the absence of the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 may be a disappointment for some users, especially for a new foldable device. There are also AI-powered features, but we’ll have to wait for more details to see which ones make it outside of China.
As of now, the X Fold 5 is only available in China, with no official word on when or if it will make its way to other regions, especially the US. The price starts at ¥6,999 (around $975) for the 12GB + 256GB model and goes up to ¥9,499 ($1,324) for the 16GB + 1TB configuration. If it does go global, expect the price to rise.
For now, Vivo’s new foldable is still behind Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is coming out on July 9, mainly due to Samsung’s superior availability and brand familiarity in global markets. Vivo’s X Fold 5 is undoubtedly exciting, but we’ll need to wait for its global rollout to see if it can match up to the competition in other markets.
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