When foldable phones first burst onto the scene, they felt more like flashy prototypes than everyday devices — fragile, bulky, and meant for people who loved the idea of owning “the future” rather than using it. But with every iteration, Vivo’s foldables have quietly polished the rough edges. Over the years, the Vivo X series foldables have made me genuinely appreciate this category. Fast forward to the Vivo X Fold5, and it feels like the company has finally found its sweet spot between innovation and everyday usability.

Design

Vivo seems to have cracked the code for foldable design language. The X Fold5 looks and feels premium without trying too hard to impress. The aerospace-grade aluminium frame and matte finish rear panel lend it a subtle appeal. At 217 grams, it’s even lighter than its predecessor — no small feat for a device that folds open into a mini-tablet of sorts. Available in Titanium Grey, the phone resists smudges and fingerprints effectively.

The hinge mechanism feels solid and well-engineered, with no creaks or soft give when you open or close it. Vivo said it’s tested to last over 500,000 folds, but what stands out more is how confidently it shuts — flat and gap-free. Folded, it’s slim enough to slip into my pocket without feeling like a brick. Unfolded, it makes for a fun, productive playground.

Displays

Let’s talk screens — because with a foldable, you get to play around with two.

The outer display measures 6.53 inches with a 120 Hz AMOLED panel and HDR10+ support. It’s bright, crisp, and perfectly usable on its own — which means you’re not forced to open the phone every time a notification pings. The aspect ratio is closer to a regular smartphone now, which makes typing and scrolling through websites or YouTube Shorts feel natural.

Unfolded, the main display measures about 8.03 inches across. It’s a gorgeous AMOLED panel with 2K resolution and a refresh rate that dynamically scales from 1 Hz to 120 Hz. The crease? Practically invisible when viewed head-on, and only faintly perceptible to the touch. Whether I was editing photos, or reading …And Now Miguel by Joseph Krumgold, or toggling across multiple tabs on Chrome, the visuals looked immersive, vibrant, and smooth.

Camera

Foldables aren’t usually known for their cameras — but Vivo refuses to compromise here. The X Fold5 carries forward its ZEISS partnership, and the results are stunning. The triple-camera setup includes a 50 MP VCS True Color main sensor with OIS, a 50 MP telephoto lens, and a 50 MP ultra-wide lens. The photos come out crisp, true-to-life, and balanced across light conditions. Even photos taken in daylight at 10x zoom turned out to be sharper than the ones I took of the same subject on the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, which I reviewed last week. The telephoto lens nails details — whether you’re snapping temple spires from afar or candid shots across the dinner table.   

The new ZEISS Natural Color 2.0 mode delivers beautifully authentic tones, especially in portraits. Low-light shots remain impressive, too. Vivo’s V4 imaging chip works overtime here, reducing noise and preserving details without overly brightening the scene. In fact, photos at dusk retained just the right amount of shadow and atmosphere.

The front camera on both displays is 20 MP each and delivers some sharp selfies as well. 

Tech Specs

Under the hood, the Vivo X Fold5 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor paired with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage. Whether it’s switching between split-screen apps, rendering high-res videos, or juggling multiple browser tabs, the phone breezes through every task without heating up.

The device runs on Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15, and Vivo has clearly been listening to feedback. There’s less bloatware, cleaner animations, and smarter multitasking tools. The AI Note Assistant and Transcript Assistant are especially handy for journalists and professionals — automatically summarising notes and meetings with surprising accuracy. Circle to Search, Gemini integration, and on-screen translation add thoughtful layers to the everyday experience.

Battery

Foldables can sometimes tend to be low on endurance — thankfully, this one isn’t. The 6,000 mAh battery keeps me company through a day and a half of mixed use: photography, streaming music and videos, a few calls, and the usual social media carousel.

Charging is equally impressive, usually takes less than an hour to power fully from zero. The charging animations, synced across both displays, are a small but satisfying touch.

Verdict

The Vivo X Fold5 refines nearly every aspect of what a foldable should be — sleek, sturdy, capable, and surprisingly power-efficient. Its cameras are flagship-grade, the hinge feels reassuringly solid, and the software has finally matured to make multitasking genuinely useful rather than a gimmick.

Of course, it still costs a small fortune — ₹1,59,999, to be precise — and the question of how many of us need a foldable remains open. You’d know best! But if you’ve been on the fence, this might be the one to nudge you across.

Price: ₹1,59,999

Pros: Excellent build and hinge design, stunning dual displays, flagship cameras, long-lasting battery

Cons: Pricey, limited colour options, still bulky if you’re switching from a non-foldable flagship

Published on October 15, 2025