The foldable smartphone market is heating up, and vivo’s X Fold 5, launched in India on July 14, 2025, is a strong contender in this innovative space. As the successor to the X Fold 3 Pro, the X Fold 5 brings significant improvements in design, performance, and features, positioning it as a direct competitor to devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. With its sleek build, vibrant displays, and a massive battery, the X Fold 5 aims to redefine what a foldable phone can offer. In this detailed review, we explore its design, display, performance, camera, battery, pricing, and how it stacks up against its main rival, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.
vivo X Fold 5 Design and Build
The vivo X Fold 5 is one of the slimmest and lightest foldable phones available, weighing just 217g and measuring 9.2mm when folded and 4.3mm when unfolded. This is a notable improvement over its predecessor, the X Fold 3, which was 11.2mm thick when folded and weighed 279g. The phone’s design incorporates a curved frame for better ergonomics and a carbon fiber hinge rated for 600,000 folds, ensuring long-term durability. A new shortcut button above the volume controls adds convenience, allowing users to customize quick access to features like the torch, camera, notes, or AI captions.
Durability is a key focus, with the X Fold 5 featuring IP5X dust resistance and IPX8+IPX9+ water resistance, making it capable of withstanding high-pressure water jets and submersion up to 1m for 30 minutes. The second-generation Armor Glass offers 30% improved puncture resistance, and the glass fiber rear panel adds strength without adding weight. The phone is also designed to function in extreme conditions, down to -20°C, making it versatile for various environments.
| Design Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Weight | 217g (Titanium Gray, excludes protective films) |
| Thickness | 9.2mm (folded), 4.3mm (unfolded) |
| Durability | IP5X dust resistance, IPX8+IPX9+ water resistance, -20°C freeze resistance |
| Hinge | Carbon fiber, rated for 600,000 folds |
| Materials | Second-generation Armor Glass, glass fiber rear panel |
| Shortcut Button | Customizable for quick access to torch, camera, notes, AI captions |
vivo X Fold 5 Display
The X Fold 5 boasts two stunning AMOLED displays, both supporting a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision for vibrant and smooth visuals. The main display is an 8.03-inch flexible LTPO AMOLED panel with a 2200×2480 resolution, 412ppi pixel density, and a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. This makes it ideal for watching videos, gaming, or multitasking, even in bright sunlight. The 6.53-inch cover display has a 1172×2748 resolution, 457ppi, and matches the main screen’s 4,500 nits peak brightness, ensuring a consistent experience whether the phone is folded or unfolded.
Both displays are certified by TÜV Rheinland for Full Care Display 3.0, emphasizing eye comfort and color accuracy with Zeiss Master Color Calibration. The LTPO 8T adaptive technology optimizes power efficiency by adjusting the refresh rate dynamically.
| Display Feature | Main Display | Cover Display |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 8.03 inches | 6.53 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision |
| Resolution | 2200×2480 (~412ppi) | 1172×2748 (~457ppi) |
| Peak Brightness | 4,500 nits | 4,500 nits |
vivo X Fold 5 Performance
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, built on a 4nm TSMC process, the X Fold 5 delivers flagship-level performance. It features a Kryo CPU with an Arm Cortex-X4 core at 3.3GHz and an Adreno 750 GPU, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. The phone scored over 2,200,000 on the AnTuTu Benchmark V10.5, indicating its capability to handle demanding tasks like gaming and video editing with ease.
Running Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15, the X Fold 5 offers a smooth and intuitive user experience. It includes a suite of AI features, such as:
- AI Image Studio: Tools like AI Magic Move, AI Image Expander, AI Erase, and AI Photo Enhance for advanced photo editing.
- AI Smart Office: Features like AI Captions, Smart Call Assistant, vivo DocMaster, and Origin Workbench for productivity.
- Chat with Google Gemini: Supports overlay, connected apps, Gemini Live, and image generation for enhanced AI interactions.
Security features include a Secure Processing Unit, harassment prevention, leakage prevention, and screen-sharing protection, ensuring user data remains safe.
| Performance Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 4nm TSMC, Kryo CPU (1+5+2), Adreno 750 GPU |
| RAM/Storage | 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, up to 1TB UFS 4.1 storage |
| Operating System | Funtouch OS 15 (Android 15) |
| AnTuTu Score | 2,200,000+ (V10.5, 16GB/512GB variant) |
| AI Features | AI Image Studio, AI Smart Office, Chat with Google Gemini |
vivo X Fold 5 Camera
The X Fold 5’s camera system, co-engineered with Zeiss, is designed for versatility and high-quality imaging. It features three 50MP rear sensors:
- Main Camera: Sony IMX921, f/1.57, 23mm, OIS, vivo Camera-Bionic Spectrum 2.0 for enhanced low-light performance.
- Telephoto Camera: IMX882, f/2.55, 70mm, 3x optical zoom, 100x HyperZoom, 15cm macro, dual PD autofocus.
- Ultra-Wide Camera: JN1, f/2.05, 15mm, 120° field of view, autofocus.
For selfies, the phone includes 20MP cameras on both the cover and inner screens. The camera system supports advanced modes like multifocal portraits (23mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm), telephoto nightscape, telephoto macro, and stage portrait studio. Early impressions from Gadgets 360 suggest the cameras are a significant upgrade, though full reviews are still pending for detailed performance analysis.
| Camera Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Rear Cameras | 50MP main (f/1.57, OIS), 50MP telephoto (3x zoom), 50MP ultra-wide (120°) |
| Front Cameras | 20MP (cover screen), 20MP (inner screen) |
| Special Features | Zeiss tuning, multifocal portraits, telephoto nightscape, telephoto macro |
vivo X Fold 5 Battery and Charging
The X Fold 5 houses a 6,000mAh battery, one of the largest in a foldable phone, achieved through a dual-battery parallel design (3275mAh + 2725mAh typical capacity). This ensures long-lasting power for heavy usage. It supports 80W wired fast charging and 40W wireless charging, with the included vivo 50W Vertical Wireless Charger 2 enabling rapid wireless top-ups. The fourth-generation silicon-carbon anode battery technology enhances efficiency and performance, even in extreme conditions like -20°C.
| Battery Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 6,000mAh (typical: 3275mAh + 2725mAh, rated: 3175mAh + 2640mAh) |
| Charging | 80W wired, 40W wireless |
| Technology | Fourth-generation silicon-carbon anode, semi-solid-state design |
vivo X Fold 5 Pricing and Availability
In India, the vivo X Fold 5 is priced at ₹1,49,999 for the 16GB RAM + 512GB storage variant, available in Titanium Gray. Sales began on July 30, 2025, through Flipkart, the Vivo India e-store, and leading retail outlets across India. While only one color option is available, its premium aesthetic appeals to users seeking a sleek, professional look.
| Pricing and Availability | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | ₹1,49,999 (16GB/512GB) |
| Color | Titanium Gray |
| Availability | Flipkart, Vivo India e-store, retail outlets (from July 30, 2025) |
Comparison with Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
The vivo X Fold 5 faces stiff competition from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, launched on July 9, 2025. Here’s a detailed comparison based on key aspects:
| Feature | vivo X Fold 5 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Design | 217g, 9.2mm (folded), 4.3mm (unfolded) | 215g, 8.9mm (folded), 4.2mm (unfolded) |
| Main Display | 8.03-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, 4,500 nits | 8.0-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 2,600 nits |
| Cover Display | 6.53-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 4,500 nits | 6.5-inch AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM/Storage | 16GB/512GB or 1TB | 16GB/up to 1TB |
| Rear Cameras | 50MP main, 50MP telephoto, 50MP ultra-wide | 200MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto |
| Front Cameras | 20MP (cover), 20MP (inner) | 10MP (cover), 10MP (under-display) |
| Battery | 6,000mAh, 80W wired, 40W wireless | 4,400mAh, 25W wired, 15W wireless |
| Price (India) | ₹1,49,999 | ₹1,76,999 |
- Design and Display: The X Fold 5 is slightly thicker and heavier but offers a larger, brighter main display (4,500 nits vs. 2,600 nits). Its cover screen is also marginally larger.
- Performance: The Z Fold 7’s Snapdragon 8 Elite may offer a slight edge over the X Fold 5’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but both deliver flagship performance.
- Camera: The X Fold 5’s Zeiss-tuned triple 50MP setup provides versatility, while the Z Fold 7’s 200MP main sensor may excel in resolution.
- Battery: The X Fold 5’s 6,000mAh battery and faster charging (80W vs. 25W) give it a clear advantage for power users.
- Price: At ₹1,49,999, the X Fold 5 is more affordable than the Z Fold 7’s ₹1,76,999, offering better value for similar features.
The X Fold 5 shines with its battery life and charging speed, while the Z Fold 7 may appeal to users prioritizing camera resolution and Samsung’s long-term software support with One UI 8.
First Impressions and User Feedback
Early impressions from Gadgets 360 highlight the X Fold 5’s premium design, lightweight build, and vibrant displays, making it comfortable for daily use. The large battery and fast charging are noted as standout features, especially compared to other foldables in India. However, the single color option (Titanium Gray) is seen as a limitation. User comments on platforms like Reddit praise its slim profile and battery capacity, though some note the lack of eSIM support as a drawback. Full reviews are still forthcoming, particularly for camera and display performance in real-world scenarios.
Conclusion
The vivo X Fold 5 is a formidable player in the foldable smartphone market, offering a compelling mix of design, performance, and features at a competitive price. Its slim and light build, vibrant displays, powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and massive 6,000mAh battery make it an excellent choice for users seeking a versatile foldable device. The Zeiss-tuned camera system and AI features further enhance its appeal for photography enthusiasts and productivity-focused users.
Compared to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, the X Fold 5 offers better value with its lower price, larger battery, and faster charging. However, users who prioritize camera resolution or prefer Samsung’s ecosystem may lean toward the Z Fold 7. For those looking for a premium foldable that balances portability, power, and affordability, the vivo X Fold 5 is a top contender in 2025.
