First of all, I would like to say that I have been following vivo’s journey with foldable phones since the X Fold 3 Pro and the arrival of the X Fold 5 in India at a price tag of 1,49,999 ₹ is a statement. The phone, which will be launched on July 14 and go on sale on July 30, is about more than just being amazing. It is vivo’s challenge to Samsung’s Z Fold 7, which is £2,500 less than the Samsung Z Fold 7, and also comes with powerful hardware. As someone who has used Samsung and Google foldable phones, I was really curious. could vivo uncompromisingly deliver a flagship caliber foldable phone at this price point?
What really caught my eye was this: it weighs in at around 217 grams, one of the lightest in its class, yet still boasts dual AMOLED displays, a flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and durability that goes beyond the basics. vivo’s message is clear: we’ve done our homework, and it’s not a compromise. In this review, I’ll take you through its design, performance, cameras, battery life, and what makes it unique.
Design and Display
At first glance, the X Fold 5 is a great example of minimalism. It’s lighter than my Galaxy Z Fold 3 Pro at 217 grams. When open, it’s just 4.3 millimeters thick. Efficient design, not bulky. Digging deeper: Both displays are AMOLED, 120 Hz. The outer screen is 6.53 inches, with a resolution of 2,748 x 1,172, and the inner screen is 8.03 inches, with a resolution of 2,480 x 2,200. I found it to be 4,500 nits brighter, with Dolby Vision and TÜV Rheinland eye protection. This means it’s legible even in the harsh Indian sunlight.
It’s not just the screen, it’s the hinge too. Made from aerospace-grade materials, it can be folded 600,000 times, making it stronger than your average book-style folding machine. It also features second-generation armored glass on both screens and has IPX8 and IPX9 waterproof ratings as well as an IP5X dustproof rating, a rarity among foldable phones. The titanium gray finish exudes an air of introspection. I honestly didn’t expect such a confident design at this price point. The side fingerprint scanner is tactile and better suited for quick unlocking than the display, and the overall feel is sophisticated without being luxurious.
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Performance and Software
It’s powered by last year’s top chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a UFS 4.1 storage system. Of course, Samsung’s Z Fold 7 uses Snapdragon 8 Elite, the state-of-the-art 3nm chip, but the third-generation chip is still no slouch when it comes to multitasking and cooling. In my use, all operations, from heavy browsing to split-screen editing, felt smooth without any throttling. vivo’s FuntouchOS 15, based on Android 15, comes with a new smart AI productivity suite with office shortcuts, pop-ups, and captioning tools, which certainly enhances the collapsible canvas.
Gaming? The Adreno 750 GPU can handle it well, though the ultra-fast graphics processing may heat up the center frame. However, thanks to the LTPO panel, the refresh rate intelligently adjusts to your usage. In terms of connectivity, you have access to Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, infrared, dual SIM cards and stereo hi-fi audio. All of these features are impeccable. What blew me away: standby temperatures stayed amazingly low, even under load, so it’s not just peak power that counts, but sustained performance. Of course, audiophiles looking for per-second performance may favor the Snapdragon Elite, but for everyday folding use such as media, note-taking, and browsing, the Gen 3 is a balanced, sensible choice.
Camera and Photography
This is where Vivo enters flagship territory: three 50-megapixel Zeiss-engineered rear cameras. The Sony IMX921 primary sensor with OIS, the Samsung JN1 ultra wide-angle, and the Sony IMX882 telephoto with 3x optical zoom and up to 100x ultra zoom. In test shots, vibrant colors and rich details were captured even in harsh backlight conditions. Wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle shots offer true consistency, which is often a problem with folding cameras. What about portrait shots? Bokeh edge detection feels sharp, probably thanks to Zeiss tuning.
Selfies are handled by dual 20-megapixel front-facing cameras, one on each display, so portrait shots and video calls look crisp and presentable whether you’re folded or not. Daytime shots are bright and punchy, and while the telephoto lens shows some noise in low-light situations, it’s within the expected range. A clever AI trick is ultra-fine zoom compositing, which is surprisingly useful. I captured the license plate across the courtyard without any blurring at all. vivo promises the best camera ever on a foldable phone, and while it’s a marketing ploy, it’s not unfounded. I believe this is one of the most powerful foldable camera systems to date.
Battery and Charging
The 6,000 mAh dual battery is one of the biggest surprises. The batteries are huge, but they fit perfectly in the case. Despite the dual panels, I was able to comfortably get through a full day of heavy multitasking, including split-screen browsing, 30 minutes of calls, and 45 minutes of gaming. Even after a full day of folding, I only had about 20% power left. There’s an 80-watt wired charger included in the package, and it charged the battery from 0 to 100% in about 45 to 50 minutes, which is pretty fast for a battery this size.
By the way, there’s also 40 watts of wireless charging, a feature that most competitors don’t include or minimize, and the earbuds also have reverse wireless charging. For those who like convenience, it’s great to be able to put it on a mat and still have it charge quickly. If you’re wondering how much heat remains under control during charging, Vivo’s heat-resistant hinges certainly help. In short, battery life and fast charging are real advantages, not gimmicks.
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Unique Features and Final Judgment
What really makes the X Fold 5 stand out is not just that it’s a foldable phone for less than ₹1.5 million. It’s the features it brings to the table. 600,000 folds on an aero hinge, IPX8 and IPX9 water resistance, a 4,500 nit dual display, Zeiss Triple 50 MP camera, and dual fast charging make it a no-brainer for a flagship product. the AI productivity tools also make it timely for students, creatives, and on-the-go users.
Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, you’ll lose some of the cutting-edge chipset and maybe some of the ultra-high-quality polish. But you’ll save a ton of rupees and get a reliable, high-quality, performance-rich portfolio. To be fair, if Samsung’s ecosystem lock-in and camera system were a must-have, they’d still have a leg up on Vivo. But the Indian foldable market now has a credible, compelling alternative.
Ideal for travelers, multitaskers and design-conscious professionals who want foldable productivity but don’t want to blow their money. It’s not flawless – some edges could be smoother and the software may need touching up – but it’s bold, purposeful and impressively balanced.
Final Take
The Vivo X Fold 5 is a symbol that foldable technology doesn’t have to be limited by a high price tag. It excels in almost every aspect of design, durability, display, camera, battery, and practicality, all at a price of ₹1,499,999. Vivo clearly wants to be highly visible in the premium segment, and this device provides them with a solid foundation to build upon. For those who are hesitant due to the cost, this phone may tip the scales in their favor. This is a phone that doesn’t just fold. It folds expectations.
Quick Specs at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Vivo X Fold 5 |
| Price (India) | ₹1,49,999 |
| Availability | Pre-orders from July 14, Sale starts July 30 |
| Folded Dimensions | 9.2 mm thick |
| Unfolded Dimensions | 4.3 mm thin |
| Weight | Approx. 217 grams |
| Outer Display | 6.53″ AMOLED, 2,748 × 1,172, 120 Hz, 4,500 nits |
| Inner Display | 8.03″ AMOLED, 2,480 × 2,200, 120 Hz, 4,500 nits |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 512 GB UFS 4.1 |
| Operating System | Android 15 with FuntouchOS 15 |
| Rear Cameras | – 50 MP (IMX921, OIS, Zeiss optics) – 50 MP Ultra-Wide (Samsung JN1) – 50 MP Telephoto (3x optical, 100x digital) |
| Front Cameras | – 20 MP (Outer screen) – 20 MP (Inner screen) |
| Battery | 6,000 mAh (Dual-cell) |
| Charging | 80 W Wired 40 W Wireless Reverse Wireless Charging |
| Build | Aerospace-grade hinge rated for 600,000 folds IPX8/IPX9 water resistance IP5X dust protection 2nd Gen Armor Glass Titanium Grey finish |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, Infrared, Dual SIM |
| Audio | Stereo Speakers, Hi-Res Audio certified |
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