Vivo X Fold 5: Folding Luxury, Unmatched Cameras

The global Vivo X Fold 5 is a unique entry into the foldable market, bearing a striking resemblance to the Oppo Find N5 while offering its own distinct features.

While both have the modern foldable design you’d expect, the Oppo’s unfolded display is slightly larger at 8.12 inches, with a subtle curve that sets it apart from the Vivo’s 8.03-inch screen.

A closer look reveals the most notable differences. The Vivo X Fold 5 is equipped with Zeiss-branded camera lenses, while the Find N5 sports Hasselblad lenses. Their rear camera bumps also differ in design, though they share the large, circular shape seen on other phones like the Honor Magic V5.

On the side, the Find N5 includes a handy Alert Slider for easy toggling between sound modes, a feature not found on the X Fold 5, which uses a tap-and-hold gesture for a similar function.

The Vivo X Fold 5 stands out among its competitors with its impressive battery life and ergonomic design. At 9.2mm thick, it’s on par with other leading foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, making the minimal 0.3mm difference in thickness virtually unnoticeable.

What truly sets the X Fold 5 apart is its massive 6,000mAh battery, the largest among the current generation of foldables.

The Vivo X Fold 5 is a flagship foldable that has set a new benchmark in the market, particularly for its camera system and overall user experience.

It blends a luxurious, ultra-light design with powerful features, making it a strong competitor to traditional smartphones and other foldables.

Design & Display

The Vivo X Fold 5 redefines the foldable form factor with its incredibly thin and light design. When unfolded, it measures a mere 4.3mm thin, and when folded, it is a manageable 9.2mm, making it feel much less bulky than many of its rivals.

It weighs just 217g, which is lighter than some conventional smartphones, and its IP58 and IP59 ratings provide robust dust and water resistance.

Both the inner 8.03-inch and outer 6.53-inch displays are vibrant LTPO AMOLED panels with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering a smooth and immersive viewing experience.

This gives it a significant advantage over the Oppo Find N5 (5,600mAh), the Honor Magic V5 (5,820mAh), and especially the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (4,400mAh).

The Vivo X Fold 5 is packed with premium features, including a class-leading IP58/IP59 dust and water resistance, the highest dust resistance rating on a foldable phone to date.

Its camera system, powered by Zeiss optics, includes a versatile trio of 50MP lenses: a wide, a periscope, and an ultrawide.

The periscope lens offers an impressive 100x digital zoom, with 10x shots maintaining excellent quality. For videographers, the phone can record in up to 8K at 30fps, though it lacks HDR10+ support.

Multitasking on the Vivo X Fold 5 is a breeze thanks to its Origin Workbench feature, which enables you to open up to five apps at once in a layout similar to the iPad’s Stage Manager.

However, this power has its limits. Attempting to run five games simultaneously quickly reveals the phone’s weaknesses, as apps begin to pause in the background and the device struggles with overheating.

This performance bottleneck can be attributed to the device’s last-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. On a positive note, switching between open apps remains fluid and exceptionally fast.

The international Vivo X Fold 5 arrives with one major omission: its celebrated Apple device integration. Unlike the Chinese version, the global model cannot connect to Apple Watch, support AirPods, or be used as a monitor with macOS via features like SideCar.

Vivo has confirmed the absence of this feature and has not announced any plans to bring it to international markets.

This is a notable setback, as a feature like this could have set the Vivo X Fold 5 apart from its competitors. Its exclusion is likely a casualty of Apple’s restrictive “walled garden” policy.

Price & How to Buy

Get the top-tier Vivo X Fold 5 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for ₹1,49,999. The Titanium Gray variant is widely available for purchase, so you can pick it up from your preferred retailer, including Flipkart, Amazon, the Vivo India e-store, and other authorized stores.

Unmatched Camera

The Vivo X Fold 5’s camera system is a testament to cutting-edge mobile photography, a result of its deep collaboration with ZEISS.

This partnership has equipped the device with a suite of features that not only promise, but deliver, a superior photographic experience.

At the heart of the system is a high-resolution triple-camera array: a 50MP primary sensor with OIS for stable, sharp shots; a dedicated 64MP ZEISS telephoto lens; and a 50MP ultrawide sensor.

The telephoto lens is a major highlight, offering a 3x optical zoom and an incredible 10x hybrid zoom, which ensures distant subjects remain crisp and detailed.

A significant technical benefit of this lens is its unique ability to capture high-quality macro-style images without needing to be physically close to the subject, providing new creative freedom.

A key technical differentiator is the application of the ZEISS T (T-star) coating* on all lenses. This multi-layer anti-reflective treatment is engineered to significantly increase light transmission while drastically reducing common optical flaws like lens flare and ghosting.

The benefit to you is brighter, more vibrant photos with superior contrast, even in backlit or complex lighting conditions.

This advanced hardware is complemented by intelligent software. The large sensors, combined with AI-powered night modes, allow the Vivo X Fold 5 to excel in low-light photography.

The result is photos that are not only bright but also rich in detail, effectively positioning this foldable as a genuine contender against the best traditional smartphone cameras on the market.

Airplane Wing and Clouds

• Vibrant Colors and Dynamic Range: The camera accurately captures the different shades of blue in the sky and the bright red on the airplane wing. The contrast between the bright, sunlit clouds and the darker, shadowed areas is handled well, showing good dynamic range.
• Clarity and Detail: The clouds in the distance have a soft, natural look, while the closer part of the wing is sharp and in focus. The image appears clean, with no noticeable noise.
• Overall Impression: This photo demonstrates the phone’s ability to take vibrant, clear, and well-exposed shots in a bright, outdoor setting. The colors look natural without being oversaturated, which is a hallmark of the ZEISS color tuning.

Building with River

• Sharpness and Detail: This is a very sharp photo, especially when looking at the architectural details of the large building and the surrounding palm trees. You can clearly see the textures and patterns on the dome and columns.
• Color Accuracy: The colors are realistic and pleasing. The green of the grass and trees is vibrant but not over-the-top, and the hazy, distant cityscape and river in the background are captured with accurate atmospheric perspective.
• Handling of Light and Shadow: The camera manages the mixed lighting well, from the sunlit parts of the building to the subtle shadows under the arches. The image shows no signs of overexposure or crushed shadows, indicating strong dynamic range.
• Compression: The image appears to have been taken from a distance, likely using the telephoto lens, and it holds up remarkably well with excellent detail preservation.

Moon and Clouds

The photo appears to be a close-up or a macro-style shot of an object with intricate details, likely a decorative statue or a relief on a wall.

Here is a breakdown of the camera’s performance:

• Exceptional Detail and Texture: The image is incredibly sharp, capturing the fine details and textures of the subject with remarkable clarity. You can see the individual ridges, cracks, and the overall worn texture of the surface. This level of detail suggests a high-resolution sensor and a high-quality lens.
• Color and Contrast: The colors are well-balanced and appear natural, without being oversaturated. The shadows and highlights are handled expertly, giving the image a sense of depth and dimension. The contrast is rich, which makes the details of the subject stand out.
• Focus and Depth of Field: The focus is precise, centered on the subject’s face. The background is softly blurred, creating a pleasing “bokeh” effect that effectively separates the subject from its surroundings. This indicates the camera is capable of creating a professional, artistic look with a shallow depth of field.
• Clarity: The image is clean and free of digital noise, even in the shadowed areas. The quality of the image suggests that the phone’s lens and processing work together to produce a very sharp, clear final picture.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue

• Sharpness and Detail: This photo, likely taken with the main or telephoto lens, is incredibly sharp. You can see the intricate details on the statue’s armor, the horse’s tack, and the flags. The texture of the stone pedestal and the water streaks are also very clear.
• Color and Contrast: The colors are natural and well-balanced, despite the overcast conditions. The contrast is strong, allowing the details of the statue to stand out against the gray sky.
• Dynamic Range: The camera handles the bright, cloudy sky and the darker statue without losing detail in either area. The image appears well-exposed throughout.

Sunset over Landscape

• Stunning Color Reproduction: This photo is a perfect example of the camera’s ability to capture dramatic and rich colors. The oranges, yellows, and purples of the sunset are vivid and beautifully rendered.
• Rich Tones and Contrast: The contrast between the bright, fiery sky and the darker silhouettes of the trees and hills is handled expertly. The image maintains detail in both the brightest and darkest parts of the scene.
• Naturalistic Processing: Even with such a vibrant scene, the image appears well-balanced and not overly processed. The ZEISS color science helps to deliver a visually pleasing and realistic representation of the moment.

Here’s a breakdown of the camera’s performance in this specific scene:

• Excellent Handling of Light Sources: The image does a remarkable job of managing the bright light sources. The streetlights and neon signs are well-controlled, and there’s minimal lens flare or blooming. The light from the large sign is bright but not overexposed, allowing you to still discern the details of the building around it.
• Good Detail in Shadows: Despite being a night photo, the camera manages to pull a good amount of detail from the shadowed areas of the building. You can still see the architectural elements and textures without the image becoming a muddy mess. This indicates strong dynamic range even in low light.
• Natural Colors: The colors in the photo appear accurate and true to the scene. The warm glow from the streetlights and the cooler tones of the building’s stonework are well-represented, and the overall color temperature feels authentic.
• Overall Clarity: The image is impressively clean for a low-light shot. There is very little digital noise, which is a common problem for cameras in these conditions. This is likely a result of the phone’s large sensors and advanced low-light processing.

Final Verdict

The Vivo X Fold 5 strikes a masterful balance between luxury and raw power. It’s a top-tier foldable that delivers a flagship experience with minimal compromise, making it an excellent choice for everyone from mobile photography enthusiasts to power multitaskers.

While it may not feature the very latest processor, in nearly every other respect, the X Fold 5 stands as a compelling and more accessible alternative to its pricier foldable competitors.

The Enthusiast’s Guide

Welcome to the cutting-edge of foldable technology with the Vivo X Fold 5. You’re holding a device that perfectly blends luxury design with top-tier performance.

From its stunning, crease-free display to the powerful ZEISS-co-engineered cameras, this phone is built to impress.

You have the most versatile camera system on a foldable, featuring a 3x optical zoom for incredible detail on distant shots and the ability to capture macro photos from a distance. Please share your user experience in comment box.

The ZEISS T coating* ensures your photos are free of glare, giving you clear, professional-quality images every time.

Whether you’re multitasking with up to five apps using the Origin Workbench, or enjoying the peace of mind that comes with its IP58 dust resistance, the X Fold 5 is a true flagship.

You’ve chosen a device that’s not just a phone—it’s a statement.