The Vivo X Fold 5 has officially launched in China, setting a new benchmark as the world’s lightest book-style foldable phone at just 217 grams. This groundbreaking device represents a significant leap forward in foldable smartphone technology, combining cutting-edge hardware with innovative design elements that push the boundaries of what’s possible in the foldable segment.
The latest addition to Vivo’s foldable lineup brings substantial improvements over its predecessor while maintaining the sleek, premium aesthetic that has become synonymous with the X Fold series. The device launched in China on June 25, 2025, with three elegant color variants: Pine Green, White, and Titanium, each offering a distinctive look that caters to different style preferences.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: Powering the Future of Foldables
At the heart of the Vivo X Fold 5 lies the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, making it one of the most powerful foldable devices currently available. This strategic choice by Vivo, while not utilizing the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, serves a dual purpose: delivering flagship-level performance while maintaining competitive pricing for consumers.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor ensures smooth multitasking capabilities essential for foldable devices, where users frequently run multiple applications simultaneously across different screen configurations. Geekbench testing revealed impressive performance scores of 2,270 in single-core and 6,913 in multi-core tests, demonstrating the device’s ability to handle demanding applications, gaming, and productivity tasks with ease.
The device comes equipped with generous RAM options, with 16GB of RAM confirmed for the top-end variants, ensuring seamless performance even when running resource-intensive applications or switching between multiple apps in the foldable interface. Storage options are equally impressive, with configurations ranging from 256GB to an expansive 1TB, providing ample space for multimedia content, applications, and documents.
Display Excellence: Dual OLED Screens with Advanced Technology
The Vivo X Fold 5 features a sophisticated dual-display setup that maximizes the foldable form factor’s potential. The device incorporates an 8.03-inch OLED folding screen with 2,480 x 2,200 resolution and LTPO technology, complemented by a 6.53-inch OLED cover screen with 2,748 × 1,172 resolution. This configuration provides users with versatility in how they interact with their device, whether using it as a traditional smartphone or expanding to tablet-like functionality.
Both displays support 120Hz refresh rates, ensuring smooth scrolling and responsive touch interactions across all applications. The screens are capable of reaching peak brightness levels of 4,500 nits, making them easily readable even in direct sunlight conditions. Additionally, the displays incorporate advanced eye protection features, including TÜV Rheinland Eye Protection 3.0 certification, which helps reduce eye strain during extended usage sessions.
The implementation of LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) technology in both displays allows for dynamic refresh rate adjustment, optimizing battery consumption based on the content being viewed. This intelligent display management contributes significantly to the device’s overall power efficiency.
Camera System: Triple 50MP Professional Photography
Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the Vivo X Fold 5’s comprehensive camera system, which doesn’t compromise on imaging quality despite the foldable form factor. The device features a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera with IMX921 sensor, a 50MP ultrawide lens, and a 50MP 3x telephoto camera with IMX882 sensor and macro support.
The main camera benefits from optical image stabilization (OIS), ensuring sharp images even in challenging conditions or when shooting video content. The inclusion of a dedicated telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom capability addresses one of the common limitations found in foldable devices, where space constraints often limit camera versatility.
For selfie photography, the device incorporates dual front-facing cameras to accommodate both folded and unfolded usage scenarios. The X Fold 5 includes two 20MP selfie cameras, one positioned on the inner screen and another on the outer display, ensuring consistent image quality regardless of how users prefer to take their self-portraits.
The camera system is enhanced by Vivo’s computational photography algorithms and potentially includes the company’s V3 imaging chip, which enables advanced features like 4K Cinematic Portrait video recording and improved low-light performance.
Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Power Solution
One of the most impressive aspects of the Vivo X Fold 5 is its battery capacity, which sets new standards for foldable devices. The device packs a substantial 6,000mAh battery, with Vivo claiming this is the first foldable phone to achieve this capacity. This large battery addresses one of the primary concerns users have with foldable devices: battery life.
The substantial battery capacity is complemented by fast charging capabilities designed to minimize downtime. The device supports 80W wired charging and 40W wireless charging, allowing users to quickly top up their device when needed. The wireless charging capability is particularly noteworthy, as many foldable devices in the market lack this convenience feature.
The combination of the large battery and efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, along with the LTPO display technology, should provide users with all-day battery life even with intensive usage patterns typical of foldable device users who tend to be power users.
Design and Durability: Built to Last
The Vivo X Fold 5’s design philosophy emphasizes both aesthetics and durability, crucial factors for foldable devices that face unique structural challenges. The device features a Carbon Fiber Support Hinge that has been tested to withstand 600,000 folds, demonstrating Vivo’s commitment to long-term reliability.
Despite being the world’s lightest book-style foldable, the device doesn’t compromise on protection. It offers IPX8 and IPX9 water resistance, IP5X dust resistance, and even -20°C freeze resistance, making it one of the most rugged foldable devices available. This comprehensive protection suite ensures the device can withstand various environmental conditions and everyday usage scenarios.
The device maintains a sleek profile with a thickness of just 9.2mm when folded, making it surprisingly portable for a device with such impressive specifications. This achievement in engineering demonstrates Vivo’s expertise in optimizing internal component layout while maintaining structural integrity.
Apple Ecosystem Integration: Breaking Down Barriers
Perhaps one of the most innovative features of the Vivo X Fold 5 is its unprecedented integration with Apple’s ecosystem. The company claims it’s the first Android phone that can connect to the Apple Watch, supporting phone calls, texts, notification mirroring, and synchronization of health/fitness data.
This integration extends beyond just the Apple Watch, encompassing various Apple devices and services. The device supports seamless connectivity with AirPods and offers deep integration with Mac computers, including the ability to use the foldable as an extended screen. Users can also pair the device with their iPhone, allowing access to calls, texts, and notifications from their iPhone through the foldable device.
While some of these features require initial setup and app downloads, and the Apple Watch integration requires the watch to be paired with an iPhone first, this cross-platform compatibility represents a significant step forward in breaking down traditional ecosystem barriers.
Software Experience: Android 15 with Enhanced Features
The Vivo X Fold 5 runs on Android 15, providing users with the latest Android features optimized for foldable devices. The software experience is enhanced by Vivo’s custom interface, which includes specific optimizations for the foldable form factor.
Key software features include support for all-day Always-On Display (AOD) functionality, which takes advantage of the LTPO display technology to provide information at a glance without significantly impacting battery life. The device also includes productivity-focused features that leverage the large internal display and multitasking capabilities.
Market Position and Availability
The Vivo X Fold 5 launched in China with pricing starting at 6,999 yuan (~$976) for the 12GB/256GB model, ranging up to 9,499 yuan (~$1,325) for the 16GB/1TB variant. This competitive pricing strategy positions the device as an attractive option in the premium foldable market segment.
For Indian consumers, the device is confirmed to launch in India on July 14, 2025, with availability through Flipkart and Vivo’s official retail channels. The Indian launch is expected to be accompanied by the Vivo X200 FE, suggesting a strong premium device push in the Indian market.
Setting New Standards
The Vivo X Fold 5 represents a significant achievement in foldable smartphone technology, successfully combining cutting-edge hardware with innovative features that address real user needs. Its position as the world’s lightest book-style foldable, combined with the substantial 6,000mAh battery and comprehensive Apple ecosystem integration, sets it apart from competitors.
While the choice of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 over the newer Snapdragon 8 Elite might seem conservative, it allows Vivo to offer flagship-level performance at a more accessible price point. The device’s emphasis on durability, with its rigorously tested hinge and comprehensive protection ratings, addresses long-standing concerns about foldable device reliability.
As the foldable smartphone market continues to evolve, the Vivo X Fold 5 stands as a testament to how manufacturers can push boundaries while maintaining practical usability. Its combination of performance, design, and innovative features makes it a compelling choice for users ready to embrace the future of mobile technology.
