New Vivo X Fold premium foldable smartphone, starting at ₹1,49,999

Vivo X Fold

Vivo X Fold Launch: The foldable smartphone market experienced a seismic shift when Vivo unveiled its groundbreaking X Fold series, marking the Chinese technology giant’s ambitious entry into the rapidly evolving world of flexible display devices. With the smartphone industry increasingly focused on innovation beyond traditional form factors, Vivo’s foldable offerings have consistently pushed boundaries, establishing new benchmarks for design elegance, technological sophistication, and user experience in the premium mobile segment.

Genesis of Innovation: The Original X Fold

The journey began with the original Vivo X Fold, which made its debut on April 11, 2022, representing a watershed moment for the company’s transition from conventional smartphones to next-generation foldable technology. This inaugural device established Vivo’s design philosophy for foldable devices: combining cutting-edge hardware with practical functionality while maintaining the aesthetic refinement that has become synonymous with the brand.

Launched initially in China at a starting price of RMB 8,999 (approximately $1,410) for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, the original X Fold immediately positioned itself as a formidable competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series. The device featured an 8.03-inch AMOLED LTPO inner display with 2K resolution and a 6.53-inch AMOLED FHD+ cover display, both supporting 120Hz refresh rates and HDR10+ content for an immersive viewing experience.

The original model’s engineering excellence was evident in its “aerospace-grade floating wing hinge” design, which allowed the display to fold completely flat without visible gaps while claiming durability for up to 300,000 folds – equivalent to approximately 80 folds per day over a decade. This level of engineering precision demonstrated Vivo’s commitment to creating devices that could withstand real-world usage patterns.

Evolution Through Generations: X Fold3 Pro Excellence

The evolution of the X Fold series reached new heights with the X Fold3 Pro, launched in March 2024, which addressed many of the limitations found in early foldable devices. This iteration represented a significant leap forward in both hardware capabilities and software optimization, establishing Vivo as a serious contender in the global foldable market.

The X Fold3 Pro featured dual ultrasonic fingerprint sensors – one beneath each display panel – providing users with unprecedented flexibility and security. This innovation eliminated the need for side-mounted sensors common in competing devices, creating a more seamless and intuitive unlocking experience regardless of which display was being used.

Performance-wise, the X Fold3 Pro leveraged Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor paired with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, ensuring flagship-level performance across all applications and use cases. The device’s camera system, developed in partnership with Zeiss, delivered professional-grade photography capabilities that rivaled dedicated camera equipment.

Current Generation: X Fold5 Refinement

The latest iteration, the X Fold5, launched in June 2025, represents the culmination of Vivo’s foldable expertise. At just 4.3mm thick when unfolded and weighing only 217g, it achieves the distinction of being one of the thinnest and lightest book-style foldable devices ever created. This remarkable achievement required extensive engineering innovation, including the use of aerospace-grade materials and a completely redesigned hinge mechanism.

The X Fold5’s most impressive feature is undoubtedly its 6,000mAh semi-solid silicon-carbon battery – the largest ever implemented in a foldable smartphone. This technological breakthrough addresses one of the most common criticisms of foldable devices: battery life. The larger capacity ensures all-day usage even with the power-hungry dual display configuration.

Pricing for the X Fold5 starts at INR 149,999 (approximately $1,735) for the 16GB RAM and 512GB storage model, positioning it competitively against Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7 while offering superior battery life and display brightness capabilities.

Design Philosophy and Engineering Excellence

Throughout its evolution, the X Fold series has consistently prioritized practical innovation over superficial design changes. Each generation has focused on addressing real-world user pain points while advancing the fundamental capabilities of foldable technology. The series’ design language emphasizes clean lines, premium materials, and functional elegance that appeals to both technology enthusiasts and mainstream consumers.

The engineering approach has been particularly noteworthy in areas such as hinge durability, display protection, and thermal management. The X Fold5 achieves IP58 and IP59 ingress protection ratings, surpassing Samsung’s IP48 rating and allowing the device to function underwater at depths up to one meter. This level of environmental protection represents a significant advancement in foldable device durability.

Software Innovation and User Experience

Vivo’s software development for the X Fold series has evolved significantly across generations. The original device shipped with OriginOS, providing a foundation for foldable-specific features and optimizations. Global variants utilize FunTouch OS, offering comprehensive multitasking capabilities including split-screen functionality, floating windows, and enhanced app continuity between displays.

One of the most innovative software features is the Origin Workbench functionality, which provides a revolutionary approach to multitasking by allowing users to manage up to five active applications simultaneously across the expansive inner display. This feature exemplifies Vivo’s understanding that foldable devices require purpose-built software solutions rather than simply scaled-up smartphone interfaces.

Market Impact and Global Expansion

The X Fold series has significantly influenced the competitive landscape of foldable smartphones. While initially limited to the Chinese market, recent generations have expanded to select Asian markets including India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Taiwan. This strategic expansion reflects Vivo’s growing confidence in its foldable technology and its readiness to compete on a global scale.

The series has particularly excelled in markets where battery life and camera performance are prioritized. Independent testing has shown that the X Fold5 can achieve nearly eight hours of screen-on time while retaining 33% battery capacity, demonstrating real-world performance that significantly exceeds competing devices.

Photography and Multimedia Excellence

Camera capabilities have remained a cornerstone of the X Fold series throughout its evolution. The original device featured a quad-camera system including a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, 48MP ultra-wide camera, 12MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom, and 8MP periscope camera with 5x zoom. This comprehensive camera array, developed in partnership with Zeiss, delivered professional-grade photography capabilities rarely seen in foldable devices.

The large inner display has proven particularly advantageous for photography workflows, enabling users to review and edit images with unprecedented detail and precision. The foldable form factor also facilitates unique shooting angles and perspectives impossible with traditional smartphones.

Future Prospects and Industry Influence

The Vivo X Fold series has established several industry benchmarks that competitors continue to pursue. The achievement of sub-5mm thickness while maintaining large battery capacity has forced other manufacturers to reconsider their engineering priorities. Similarly, the implementation of dual ultrasonic fingerprint sensors has influenced biometric authentication approaches across the industry.

Looking forward, Vivo’s commitment to foldable innovation appears unwavering. The company has demonstrated that foldable devices can achieve the durability, performance, and user experience necessary for mainstream adoption. As 5G networks continue expanding globally and applications become increasingly optimized for foldable form factors, the X Fold series positions Vivo at the forefront of mobile technology evolution.

Conclusion: Redefining Possibility

The Vivo X Fold series represents more than technological achievement; it embodies a vision of mobile computing that transcends traditional limitations. Through meticulous engineering, innovative software development, and user-focused design, Vivo has created devices that genuinely enhance productivity and creativity while maintaining the portability and convenience users expect from premium smartphones.

As the foldable market continues maturing, the X Fold series stands as testament to the transformative potential of thoughtful innovation combined with engineering excellence. For users seeking devices that offer genuine utility beyond conventional smartphones, the X Fold series provides compelling evidence that the future of mobile technology is already here.

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