Foldable smartphones are no longer a futuristic concept—they’re here, real, and rapidly evolving. Over the past few years, we’ve seen several brands take their shot at bending glass into portable magic. In 2025, Vivo has thrown down the gauntlet with its latest creation: the Vivo X Fold 5.
This isn’t just another folding phone; it’s an ambitious attempt to merge durability, elegance, and top-tier performance into a device that feels as natural to use as a regular smartphone. And in many ways, it succeeds brilliantly.
A Design That Feels Effortless, Not Experimental
One of the biggest barriers to foldable adoption has been bulk. Many models feel like carrying two phones welded together. Vivo seems to have listened to that feedback. The X Fold 5 weighs in at just 217 grams—noticeably lighter than most of its competitors—and measures a slim 9.2 mm when folded. When opened, it’s even more impressive at only 4.3 mm, making it feel sleek in the hand rather than chunky.
The hinge mechanism is smooth yet firm, avoiding the awkward wobble some foldables suffer from. It opens flat without a visible gap, and the crease in the inner screen is subtle enough that you forget it’s there after a few minutes of use.
Durability That Goes Beyond Marketing Claims
Foldables have often been criticized for fragility, especially in real-world conditions. Vivo addresses that head-on. The X Fold 5 is rated IPX8, IPX9, and IPX9+, which means it can withstand dust exposure, heavy splashes, and even high-pressure water jets.
It’s also designed to operate in extreme temperatures down to -20°C—a feature that will appeal to travelers, photographers, and outdoor professionals. This is the first foldable on the market to offer such broad environmental resistance, setting a new benchmark for the category.
Two Screens, One Gorgeous Experience
Foldables live or die by their displays, and Vivo delivers here with confidence. The inner display is a massive 8.03-inch AMOLED LTPO panel with a 2K+ resolution, perfect for reading, gaming, or split-screen multitasking. The outer screen is a 6.53-inch AMOLED—big enough for daily tasks without having to open the phone every time.
Both displays support:
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120 Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth visuals.
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Dolby Vision for enhanced contrast and color richness.
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Peak brightness up to 4,500 nits, making outdoor use effortless, even in direct sunlight.
The touch response is snappy, animations are fluid, and switching between the two screens feels seamless.
Performance That Keeps Up With Your Day
Under the hood, the X Fold 5 packs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, Qualcomm’s flagship processor. Coupled with up to 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage, it’s built to handle everything from heavy multitasking to demanding games without breaking a sweat.
Whether you’re editing 4K video, running multiple apps in split-screen mode, or simply browsing the web, the performance feels instantaneous. Vivo’s software optimizations also make good use of the foldable form factor, with multi-window modes that actually feel useful instead of gimmicky.
Battery Life That Breaks the Foldable Curse
Battery life has been another weak spot for foldables, but Vivo seems determined to break that trend. The X Fold 5 comes with a 6,000 mAh battery—one of the largest ever in a folding device.
Charging options are equally impressive:
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80 W wired fast charging: zero to 100% in about 35 minutes.
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40 W wireless charging: competitive with wired speeds on many flagship phones.
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Reverse wireless charging for topping up earbuds, wearables, or another phone.
In real-world use, you can easily get through a heavy day and still have juice left for the evening.
Photography That Rivals Traditional Flagships
Vivo has partnered with ZEISS to bring professional-grade optics to the X Fold 5. The triple rear camera setup includes:
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50 MP main sensor (Sony IMX921) with optical image stabilization.
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50 MP ultra-wide (Samsung JN1) for expansive landscapes and group shots.
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50 MP periscope telephoto (Sony IMX822) with 3x optical zoom.
On the front, you’ll find dual 20 MP selfie cameras—one on the cover display and one on the inner display—making it easy to shoot high-quality selfies or join video calls from any orientation.
Colors are vivid but natural, detail is sharp, and low-light performance is excellent. The ZEISS coating reduces glare and ghosting, which is especially noticeable when shooting at night.
The Ecosystem Advantage
Here’s where Vivo surprises: the X Fold 5 isn’t just a great Android phone—it’s also the first foldable designed to integrate deeply with Apple’s ecosystem. You can pair it with an iPhone, sync to iCloud, use AirPods, and even connect to an Apple Watch.
For users who straddle both worlds—say, a MacBook at work and an Android phone at home—this opens up new possibilities without forcing a platform switch.
Software That Feels Mature
Vivo’s OriginOS for Fold is tailored to the form factor. Features like app continuity (where an app seamlessly transitions from the outer to the inner display), split-screen multitasking, and floating windows work smoothly and intuitively.
You can, for example:
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Watch a YouTube video on one half of the screen while browsing comments on the other.
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Run two social media apps side by side.
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Open a document on the inner screen, then close the phone and keep reading on the outer display without interruption.
These may sound like small touches, but they make the foldable experience genuinely productive.
Pricing and Value
Vivo has managed to keep the X Fold 5’s price below some competing foldables without compromising on features. Given its premium build, top-end hardware, and ecosystem versatility, it offers strong value in the high-end segment.
For anyone debating between a traditional flagship and a foldable, this pricing strategy could tip the scales toward giving the folding form factor a try.
The Pros at a Glance
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Ultra-slim, lightweight design for a foldable.
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Market-leading durability (IPX9+ and -20°C resistance).
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Stunning AMOLED displays with Dolby Vision and 120 Hz refresh rate.
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Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance.
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Massive 6,000 mAh battery with fast wired and wireless charging.
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ZEISS-powered triple camera system.
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Seamless Android–Apple ecosystem integration.
Any Downsides?
While the X Fold 5 is impressive, no device is perfect:
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Foldables still carry a higher price tag than most slab smartphones.
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Durability is improved but moving parts will always require careful handling.
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App optimization for foldable screens is still a work in progress, especially for niche or older apps.
Final Verdict
The Vivo X Fold 5 isn’t just a folding phone—it’s a sign that foldables are maturing into everyday devices. It takes the best lessons from earlier models—like portability, durability, and software refinement—and combines them with features we expect from premium flagships.
If you’ve been curious about foldables but hesitant to take the plunge, this might be the model that changes your mind. Vivo has created something that feels less like a tech demo and more like a phone you could rely on daily.
In a market that sometimes prioritizes flash over function, the X Fold 5 proves you can have both.
