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The Hindu
19 hours ago
- The Hindu
Vivo X Fold 5 Review: A new benchmark for foldables
Vivo's approach to foldable phones has been nothing short of phenomenal as it presents the new X Fold 5 as its most refined phone yet. Launched alongside the Vivo X200 FE, the new X Fold 5 challenges the newly launched Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a more affordable price. However, it retains the same processor which was introduced in its predecessor, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, launched in 2024. Priced at ₹1,49,999 for the 16 GB/512 GB variant, the Vivo X Fold 5 isn't that cheap either but, promises an ultra premium experience with a futuristic design, marathon battery life and impressive cameras. So, does the Vivo X Fold 5 deliver on those promises? Let's unfold this review and find out. Design Gone are the days when foldable used to be bulky. The Vivo X Fold 5 breaks that stereotype, effortlessly with just 217 grams of weight which is evenly distributed. I reviewed the Black variant of the phone which has a sleek aesthetic with a frosted matte glass back that repels fingerprints and a circular camera module that adds character without too much protrusion. In the hand, the device feels impressively slim and balanced. When unfolded, the X Fold 5 measures just 4.3mm thin, unfolded, and 9.2mm when folded. Vivo has kept the edges rounded in X Fold 5 which is good and there's no gap when the two screens meet. Vivo used an advanced Armor aluminium frame and improved hinge mechanism in X Fold 5, which claims 6 lakhs opening/closing. The hinge operates smoothly and can hold the display at various angles, useful for flex-mode viewing or hands-free video calls. It gets IP5X, IPX8, and even IPX9 ratings for durability and protection against dust, full water immersion, and high-pressure water jets. In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 only features the IP48 standards which makes it only water resistant. (For top technology news of the day, subscribe to our tech newsletter Today's Cache) All buttons sit on the right edge, the volume rocker and power button, which doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which I don't like personally. Vivo has ditched the in-display ultrasonic sensor for a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Interestingly, there's a Smart Key on the left panel, which is a programmable button, like the Plus Key on the OnePlus 13s, that can be assigned to actions like torch, notifications, launching camera or any app or toggling specific features. Display Vivo equipped the X Fold 5 with two AMOLED displays. The outer screen is a 6.53-inch AMOLED with a good bar like 21:9 aspect ratio. I found typing on this outer display quite comfortable. It is wide enough that UI elements don't feel cramped. The outer panel is sharp with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz for silky smooth scrolling. It's also incredibly bright, peaking up to 4,500 nits for HDR content or even under the sun. I had no trouble reading text or viewing photos. Open the device, and you're treated to an expansive 8.03-inch inner display that turns the phone into a mini tablet. This foldable OLED panel offers a 120 Hz LTPO refresh rate and a crisp resolution. Colours on the inner display are vibrant and punchy, matching the outer screen's calibration closely so you get a consistent look. Both panels support Dolby Vision and HDR10+, making media consumption a delight. It has up to 4,500 nits peak brightness on the inner screen as well which is more than sufficient. The screen crease where the inner display folds is present, but it's relatively subtle. When viewing content head on, I barely noticed it; only at off-angles or when swiping exactly across the middle I did feel the crease. The hinge's new droplet design helps keep that crease shallow and also allowed the device to fold flat without a gap. The ultra thin glass layer on top of the inner display gives it a smooth feel. The inner display has an anti-reflective coating, cutting down on glare and supports a split screen and multitasking interface. OS and AI Vivo X Fold 5 operates on Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15 out of box. It is clean, intuitive and packed with useful features. The UI feels polished with smooth animations and the interface is better optimised for the foldable form factor. You get a persistent taskbar at the bottom when using the big inner screen, making it easy to switch apps or drag them into split-screen. Vivo has also integrated some smart AI-driven features to enhance productivity. One standout is the Origin Workbench mode. When you swipe in from the bottom right corner, the current app shrinks into a floating window, revealing a sidebar where you can open up to four more apps in mini windows. Vivo promises four years of Android updates and five years of security patches in X Fold 5 while Samsung's offers 7+7 policy. I was a bit disappointed that it ships with Android 15 and not the new Android 16, especially since Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 comes with Android 16 out of the box. Performance Under the hood, the Vivo X Fold 5 packs last year's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM. It was surprising to see Vivo not using the Snapdragon 8 Elite, commonly found in most flagships launched this year. But, this has certainly helped Vivo contain X Fold 5 under ₹1.50 lakh. I honestly did not feel any lack of power during day-to-day use,. The X Fold 5 zips through everything. The apps launch quickly, the UI transitions are buttery, and even the multitasking didn't slow it down. It has got a 512 GB UFS 4.1 storage for quick file transfers. The Adreno 740 GPU handled intense games without any difficulty. Graphics stayed smooth and the phone only warmed up moderately after continuous gameplay but the vapour chamber cooling system helps here. Overall, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 isn't the newest silicon available but, it has proven its worth in X Fold 3 Pro. The new Vivo X Fold 5 goes through productivity tasks and holds its own in gaming, making it a reliable powerhouse for both work and play. Camera The Vivo X Fold 5 boasts a triple 50 MP rear camera setup co-engineered with Zeiss. The primary shooter is a 50 MP Sony IMX921 sensor with OIS. This is the same sensor used in Vivo's X200, and it shows. Daylight photos are excellent, rich in detail, with a wide dynamic range and natural colours. In most scenarios, the main camera delivered images that could rival slab flagships. The images retain a more realistic look without overdoing things. Low light performance is particularly impressive. The combination of OIS and a large sensor means the X Fold 5 can afford longer exposures in Night Mode without blur. In near-dark scenes, it pulled in a surprising amount of light, street lamps and neon signs were well-controlled with minimal flare due to Zeiss T* lens coatings. It's on par with the likes of Vivo X200 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra. There's a 50 MP ultrawide lens that captures a 114° field of view. During daytime, ultrawide shots exhibit the same general colour tuning as the main camera, which is great, no jarring shifts in colour or exposure. The 50 MP periscope telephoto camera does its job perfectly. Vivo has fitted the X Fold 5 with a 3x optical zoom lens using a Sony IMX882 sensor with OIS. This lens is fantastic for portraits and distant subjects alike. The 3x zoom shots come out sharp. The telephoto rendered facial details and textures brilliantly with a pleasing natural bokeh separating the subject. The high resolution also means you can push beyond 3x. I got surprisingly good results in 5x and even 10x shots in daylight. At 10x, quality starts to dip with a bit of noise and some blown highlights in challenging lighting, but it's definitely usable for casual sharing. For context, Samsung's Fold 7 sticks with a 10 MP 3x telephoto. All rear cameras benefit from Zeiss colour tuning. There's even a Zeiss mode in the viewfinder for more colour accurate and natural shots. Skin tones especially looked excellent with Zeiss mode, making the X Fold 5 a capable device for portrait photography. Upfront, the X Fold 5 actually has two 20 MP selfie cameras, one on the outer display and one embedded under the inner display. The cover screen's 20 MP selfie camera performs well. Selfies came out sharp and well-exposed, with a fairly wide field of view fitting in groups easily. Portrait selfie mode does a decent job with edge detection. The under-display camera on main screen is also 20 MP, but don't let the number fool you. Its quality is more limited and fragile. For selfies, I recommend using the rear cameras with the cover screen as a preview. Battery The Vivo X Fold 5 holds a massive 6,000 mAh battery, the largest ever in any foldable phone. It translates into fantastic battery life because foldables have historically struggled to last a full day due to their power-hungry big screens, but the X Fold 5 flips the script. In my time with the device, I consistently ended days with around 30-35% charge remaining with heavy usage, including 5-6 hours of screen-on time mixed between the outer and inner displays. This phone's battery life goes unchallenged in the foldable arena. Complimenting it, Vivo's 80 W wired charging support fills the X Fold 5 from 0 to 50% in just around 30 minutes, and a full 0-100% charge took an hour. For added convenience, the X Fold 5 also supports 40 W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging, which is an added advantage. Verdict Vivo has crafted a foldable that doesn't have compromises and it just stands out. The design is brilliantly executed with an ultra thin, lightweight build that is comfortable to use. The displays are gorgeous and spacious, the battery life is amazing for a foldable, and the cameras truly shine among foldables and bar phones, alike. The core experience of using the Vivo X Fold 5 is nothing short of delightful. From binge watching, to shooting emails, to capturing stunning photos, this device handles it all with aplomb. Vivo has emphatically delivered on making the foldable a matured product rather than a novelty. In conclusion, those willing to invest in the Vivo X Fold 5 will find it rewarding. Surely, it's not perfect. The X Fold 5 sticks with last year's processor and launches on Android 15 instead of 16 out of the box. Starting at ₹1,49,999, the Vivo X Fold 5 sits firmly in ultra premium territory yet it manages to feel like a value proposition against its primary rival, the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Digital Trends
3 days ago
- Digital Trends
I love the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but I wish to buy this foldable phone instead
Thin. Thinner. Thinnest. That's been a hot trend in the smartphone industry lately. Is the race to the thinnest phone crown truly meaningful for an average user? I doubt it. But it certainly makes for nice billboard claims and cheeky social media jibes at rival brands. Recommended Videos Ever since Samsung introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the industry has been buzzing about its thinness and how it sets a new standard. Does it set a new record? Honor disagrees. In the context of foldable phones, being thin has its ergonomic benefits. But the situation gets absurd when thinness comes at the cost of utility. By utility, I mean practical features, such as battery life. As the buzz around Galaxy Z Fold 7 was getting hotter, I got my hands on a new phone, the Vivo X Fold 5. And after spending some time with it, I realized that it's a more thoughtful foldable phone than Samsung's sleek new device. Is it all about the waistline? Let's start with the most obvious topic of contention, which is the in-hand feel of the device. Both devices have flat sides, but the Vivo phone has slightly rounded corners, which makes it easier to hold compared to the sharp edges on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. As far as the thinness goes, you won't feel the difference in your hands. Here are the figures for your reference: Unfolded (in mm) Folded (in mm) Vivo X Fold 5 159.68 x 72.60 x 9.2 72.8 x 158.4 x 8.9 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 159.68 x 142.29 x 4.3 143.2 x 158.4 x 4.2 The difference in thickness is just 0.1 millimeters in the unfolded state. When two halves are closed shut while using only the exterior display, the waistlines of the two devices are only off by 0.3mm. That's a negligible gap, and the weight difference between the two phones is also merely two grams, so there's that. But where Vivo marginally lags behind Samsung, it more than makes up for it with a sturdier build. When dealing with an uber pricey foldable phone, every extra layer of protection matters, more so than your average slab-shaped phone. And this is where Vivo races ahead of Samsung. The Galaxy Z Fold only offers an IP48-cleared build, which means it can survive liquid immersion in 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Its Vivo rival, on the other hand, comes with an IPX8, IPX9, IPX9+, and IP5X-certified hardware, which means it is more resilient to dust and water exposure. In a nutshell, the Vivo phone can also handle jets of water, though nothing as adventurous as water parks. The hinge and display assembly of foldable phones is notoriously prone to damage. And as our investigation highlighted, Samsung is no stranger to the fragility woes on foldable phones, which culminate in fittingly pricey repair and replacement services. The meaningful parts One of the biggest problems with foldable phones is their shrinking size, which means they are increasingly getting starved of battery space while driving high-resolution screens. Samsung's latest foldable phone doesn't break any new ground, while its Chinese rival makes a massive leap. The Galaxy Z Fold comes equipped with a 4,400mAh battery, despite being equipped with an 8-inch inner flexible OLED panel and a 6.5-inch display on the outside. If you're someone who is investing in a foldable phone to get the best out of its large screen real estate for content consumption, don't expect the battery to last a full day of heavy usage. On the Vivo X Fold 5, you get a much bigger 6,000mAh battery. This is a dual-cell silicon anode battery that is claimed to last over a week in standby mode and can handle over a dozen hours of online meetings without requiring a top-up. But it's not just the capacity where Samsung remains a laggard. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 only supports 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. That's one of the slowest charging speeds on a phone out there, let alone a device that costs as much as two thousand dollars. The Vivo X Fold 5 brings support for 80W wired charging to the table. During my tests, the battery went from 15% to full capacity in just about 45 minutes. Even the wireless charging pace is speedier than Samsung's wired format, as the Vivo fold supports 40W wireless mode top-up. Another crucial benefit is that the 80W fast charging brick comes bundled in the retail package. Samsung, on the other hand, will have you shell out extra cash because the Galaxy Z Fold 7's box doesn't come bundled with a charger inside. A few other pitfalls The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a massive evolution, but only for Samsung fans. The Vivo X Fold 5 leapfrogs it in a few other crucial areas. For example, Samsung offers a 200-megapixel main primary camera, but the ultrawide and zoom snappers rely on fairly non-remarkable 12-megapixel and 10-megapixel sensors. On the Vivo X Fold 5, you get a trio of 50-megapixel cameras at the back. In fact, Vivo has even managed to fit a periscope-style folded lens zoom system that offers much better results at long-range photo and video capture. Samsung serves two 10-megapixel front cameras on its foldable, while the Vivo device offers a pair of 20-megapixel selfie cameras on its latest offering. Vivo's camera prowess has consistently managed to impress, especially with its fantastic color processing and video capture chops. The X Fold 5 is no different. Talking about the display, the Galaxy Z Fold 7's main OLED display goes up to 2,600 nits of peak brightness with the Vision Booster tech enabled. On the Vivo X Fold 5, the flexible 8-inch screen and the cover display, both reach an astounding 4,500 nits. Also, Vivo has figured out a rather cool multitasking experience that looks quite similar to Apple's Stage Manager. Overall, despite the generation-over-generation progress made by Samsung, the Vivo X Fold 5 emerges as the more meaningfully rewarding device over the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The fact that Vivo's sleek phone also happens to be significantly more affordable than its Samsung rival just happens to be the cherry on top.
India Today
4 days ago
- India Today
Best premium flagship phones in July 2025: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Vivo X Fold 5 and more
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the slimmest Fold yet — just 4.2mm when unfolded The Vivo X Fold 5 gets a 6,000mAh battery with 80W fast wired charging and 40W wireless support Powered by the A18 Pro chip, the iPhone 16 Pro supports AAA gaming titles If you're looking to buy a high-end smartphone this month, there's no shortage of top-tier contenders. Whether you're someone who wants the absolute best performance, top-quality cameras, or sleek designs, the current premium flagships deliver on all fronts. Many of these devices go beyond the basics â€' offering features like gorgeous displays, long-term software support, advanced cooling systems and industry-leading water and dust resistance. Of course, these phones don't come cheap, but for those who want a complete package with no compromises, the price may well be worth it. Here are the best flagship phones you can buy in India this July. The list includes the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and four more devices. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Samsung's latest foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, brings several notable upgrades over last year's Fold 6. It's the slimmest and lightest Fold yet â€' just 4.2mm when unfolded and weighing 215 grams, making it more comfortable to carry and use. The outer display uses Gorilla Glass Armor for better protection, while the inner 8-inch AMOLED screen offers a crisp and bright viewing experience with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, it promises fast performance and gets the same 200-megapixel primary camera as the Galaxy S25 Ultra. You also get up to 1TB storage, dual selfie cameras, and an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance. It runs OneUI 8 on top of Android 16 and comes with a promise of 7 years of software updates. Sure, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 isn't cheap, starting at Rs 1,74,999, but it's still the most complete foldable phone on the market today. Vivo X Fold 5 Vivo's new X Fold 5 goes head-to-head with Samsung's latest, offering similar style and substance. It's almost as slim and light, with a sleek build that's easy to handle. There's only one version to choose from â€' 16GB RAM with 512GB storage â€' priced at Rs 1,49,999, which simplifies things for buyers. The foldable screen stretches to 8.03 inches and gets very bright at 4,500 nits, while the outer display is equally sharp. It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, paired with Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15. Vivo is also offering solid camera hardware, with a trio of 50-megapixel lenses on the back, and 20-megapixel selfie cameras on both screens. You get a 6,000mAh battery with 80W fast wired charging and 40W wireless support. IP59 protection and second-gen Armor Glass add to its durability, making it a premium foldable with superb all-around features. OnePlus 13 The OnePlus 13 builds on the strong foundation of the OnePlus 12 but takes things a step further. It comes with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and offers configurations with up to 24GB of RAM, making it one of the most powerful Android phones you can buy right now. The 6.8-inch AMOLED screen is quad-curved and displays crisp visuals in QHD+ resolution. It packs a large 6,000mAh battery for long-lasting use and includes handy extras like Aqua Touch, Glove Mode, a USB 3.2 port, and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. There's also an IP69 rating for added peace of mind. Starting at Rs 69,999, the OnePlus 13 delivers flagship specs at a more accessible price. iPhone 16 Pro Apple's iPhone 16 Pro is another solid choice for premium phone buyers. Powered by the A18 Pro chip, it offers fast, efficient performance for everything from games to photo editing. It handles heavy apps with ease and supports console-quality titles, thanks to Apple's push into AAA gaming. The 48-megapixel primary rear camera takes detailed, colour-accurate shots, and the flat AMOLED display offers excellent clarity and colour. With iOS 18 onboard (iOS 26, if you wish to try the beta software), users get regular software updates and long-term support. If you prefer a bigger screen and more battery, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is worth considering â€' but for most, the Pro strikes the right balance. Samsung Galaxy S25 Finally, if you're after a more compact flagship, the Galaxy S25 is a great pick. It has a 6.2-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. It's faster and more efficient than the Galaxy S24, which used Samsung's own Exynos chip in India. The 4,000mAh battery might sound small, but it easily lasts a full day thanks to smart power management. The primary 50-megapixel camera handles low light and bright scenes equally well. With IP68 dust and water resistance and features like an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, it offers a reliable and well-rounded experience in a pocket-friendly size. If you're looking to buy a high-end smartphone this month, there's no shortage of top-tier contenders. Whether you're someone who wants the absolute best performance, top-quality cameras, or sleek designs, the current premium flagships deliver on all fronts. Many of these devices go beyond the basics â€' offering features like gorgeous displays, long-term software support, advanced cooling systems and industry-leading water and dust resistance. Of course, these phones don't come cheap, but for those who want a complete package with no compromises, the price may well be worth it. Here are the best flagship phones you can buy in India this July. The list includes the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and four more devices. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Samsung's latest foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, brings several notable upgrades over last year's Fold 6. It's the slimmest and lightest Fold yet â€' just 4.2mm when unfolded and weighing 215 grams, making it more comfortable to carry and use. The outer display uses Gorilla Glass Armor for better protection, while the inner 8-inch AMOLED screen offers a crisp and bright viewing experience with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, it promises fast performance and gets the same 200-megapixel primary camera as the Galaxy S25 Ultra. You also get up to 1TB storage, dual selfie cameras, and an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance. It runs OneUI 8 on top of Android 16 and comes with a promise of 7 years of software updates. Sure, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 isn't cheap, starting at Rs 1,74,999, but it's still the most complete foldable phone on the market today. Vivo X Fold 5 Vivo's new X Fold 5 goes head-to-head with Samsung's latest, offering similar style and substance. It's almost as slim and light, with a sleek build that's easy to handle. There's only one version to choose from â€' 16GB RAM with 512GB storage â€' priced at Rs 1,49,999, which simplifies things for buyers. The foldable screen stretches to 8.03 inches and gets very bright at 4,500 nits, while the outer display is equally sharp. It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, paired with Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15. Vivo is also offering solid camera hardware, with a trio of 50-megapixel lenses on the back, and 20-megapixel selfie cameras on both screens. You get a 6,000mAh battery with 80W fast wired charging and 40W wireless support. IP59 protection and second-gen Armor Glass add to its durability, making it a premium foldable with superb all-around features. OnePlus 13 The OnePlus 13 builds on the strong foundation of the OnePlus 12 but takes things a step further. It comes with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and offers configurations with up to 24GB of RAM, making it one of the most powerful Android phones you can buy right now. The 6.8-inch AMOLED screen is quad-curved and displays crisp visuals in QHD+ resolution. It packs a large 6,000mAh battery for long-lasting use and includes handy extras like Aqua Touch, Glove Mode, a USB 3.2 port, and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. There's also an IP69 rating for added peace of mind. Starting at Rs 69,999, the OnePlus 13 delivers flagship specs at a more accessible price. iPhone 16 Pro Apple's iPhone 16 Pro is another solid choice for premium phone buyers. Powered by the A18 Pro chip, it offers fast, efficient performance for everything from games to photo editing. It handles heavy apps with ease and supports console-quality titles, thanks to Apple's push into AAA gaming. The 48-megapixel primary rear camera takes detailed, colour-accurate shots, and the flat AMOLED display offers excellent clarity and colour. With iOS 18 onboard (iOS 26, if you wish to try the beta software), users get regular software updates and long-term support. If you prefer a bigger screen and more battery, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is worth considering â€' but for most, the Pro strikes the right balance. Samsung Galaxy S25 Finally, if you're after a more compact flagship, the Galaxy S25 is a great pick. It has a 6.2-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. It's faster and more efficient than the Galaxy S24, which used Samsung's own Exynos chip in India. The 4,000mAh battery might sound small, but it easily lasts a full day thanks to smart power management. The primary 50-megapixel camera handles low light and bright scenes equally well. With IP68 dust and water resistance and features like an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, it offers a reliable and well-rounded experience in a pocket-friendly size. Join our WhatsApp Channel
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Are foldable phones the new BlackBerrys? We tested using the Vivo X Fold 5
Hypothesis: Foldable phones are ideal for use as business phones Test device: Vivo X Fold 5 with 16GB RAM + 512GB storage I have been fortunate enough to witness the journey of foldables from the beginning, that too from close quarters. A few years down the line, I am now impressed by how well this form factor has evolved to become more practical, with no learning involved, and plugging gaps that the regular smartphone can't. The vivo X Fold 5, which I believe will be the first of many foldables to make a mark by being as thin as regular smartphones, is a good example of this evolution. The vivo X Fold 5 is a phone that will surprise you from the moment you take it out of the box. There are multiple reasons for this. I would, however, call these all part of a natural evolution, and am certain companies like vivo, OnePlus, and Samsung would have moved the needle even more on these fronts by this time next year. So what really matters is how usable the foldable phone is now. And this is where the thin build makes a huge difference. I have noticed that a lot of people who use a foldable phone prefer to carry a regular smartphone along, maybe because of the better camera or battery life. Now, the X Fold 5 changes this dynamic in two ways. With the Vivo X Fold 5, I also realised something interesting: for most of the time, I was using it like a regular phone. And this is because the 6.5-inch cover screen was as good as any smartphone I have reviewed this year. Yes, it is still a bit narrow compared to a regular phone, but it is no longer the squeezed display we encountered in the first few generations of folds. In the 10-odd days I have been using this device, I never once felt this was a different form factor while using the phone folded. To test my hypothesis, I set up the Vivo X Fold 5 with only my office mail ID, which is on Google Workspace. The idea was that I would not entertain any distractions on this phone. So instead of Instagram, Facebook, and Candy Crush, I loaded the phone with ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Manus, all of which have become important apps for my work profile. And this was a good decision, as every reel that is shared with me by my wife takes me into at least a 30-minute rabbit hole of doom scrolling. It is a great idea to use a focus phone for work, and not just a focus mode on the phone. And this is when I started realising that I was able to handle a lot of work just on the phone, like checking spreadsheets, tagging new comments on the,m and even replying to older comments. With a squarish form factor of the open Vivo X Fold 5, you get space for Google Sheets, as well as real estate below for a lot of the work. Also, vivo has gone on to optimise the interface for a large screen with multi-tasking that is accessible in many ways. For instance, you can tap the dock at the bottom and open apps that are running in the background and get a split view. Or there is the side-loading dock from where apps open as an inset video over the app you already have open. Plus, there is the option to open the app menu directly from the screen to cycle between apps. All this makes working on multiple apps convenient and natural. I was working with up to three screens live at times, though that kind of multitasking usually does not yield positive results. Also, this form factor gives you a lot of business opportunities, so to speak. For instance, while on a Zoom call, you can have a window open for your points or for an app like Granola to take notes for you. Plus, while consuming content on YouTube or a podcast, you can have an AI tool in a small window transcribing and summarising for you. The other aspect is, of course, the camera, which we had not been expecting to be all that great in foldable phones, given their form factor challenges. I found the camera on the X Fold 5 almost as good as the X200, which I think is the best Android camera of the past few months. I could zoom up to 100x, though with some distortion and noise, at which point the AI kicked in to give a decent image. This camera comes with Zeiss settings that really up your photography, especially when it comes to landscapes and street photography. But the more important point here is that you will not need to carry a secondary phone just because it has a better camera. One of my biggest worries in life is that my phone will run out of battery, especially when I am travelling. With the Vivo X Fold 5, you can rest assured that the battery will hold up until the end of the day in all cases. And this is a big hurdle that vivo has crossed when it comes to the adoption of foldables. Plus, the phones charge back to half in less than 30 minutes with the 80W Dual-Cell FlashCharge. And wireless charging, that's too fast at 40W, is always a convenience. At Rs 1,49,999, the vivo X Fold 5 — the phone has a single Titanium Gray variant in India with 16GB RAM + 512GB storage — is one of the best foldable options available at the moment. The foldables are maturing as a segment, and the X Fold 5 shows that now it can be trusted as a business phone that is not cutting any corners to make the form factor viable. For work, this form factor is emerging as the new BlackBerry. Nandagopal Rajan writes on technology, gadgets and everything related. He has worked with the India Today Group and Hindustan Times. He is an alumnus of Calicut University and Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal. ... Read More
Forbes
4 days ago
- Forbes
Vivo's X Fold 5 Isn't As Thin As Others, But It Has The Best Cameras
The Vivo X Fold 5 Ben Sin Samsung and Honor both launched foldable phones recently, with each brand centering their entire marketing campaign around the device's thinness. Well, Vivo has a new foldable phone that recently launched, and while it's not quite as thin as those two, it does pack a larger battery and, in typical Vivo fashion, better cameras. The Vivo X Fold 5, which launched in China last month and just got a global launch in India, measures 9.2mm when folded and weighs 217g. This is a big improvement over last generation's Vivo foldable which measured 11.2mm and weighed 236g, but the numbers aren't quite as eye-catching as Samsung and Honor's foldables, which are even thinner. The X Fold 5 measures 9.2mm thick. Very thin, but Samsung and Honor's newest foldables are a bit thinner. Ben Sin Still, in the hand, the Vivo foldable feels every bit as sleek as the others. And I prefer the X Fold 5's shape, which is in between the blocky Samsung Fold 7 and very rounded Honor Magic V5. The hinge is well-built, and both displays of the X Fold 5 look gorgeous: 120Hz LTPO panels with 4500 nits of brightness and 2K resolution. The 6,000 mAh battery in here is also the largest in any foldable yet. By comparison, Samsung's Fold 7 houses a 4,400 mAh battery. The star of the show, at least for this global version, remains the camera system, which has been a strong point in Vivo's handsets for a few years. Ironically, Vivo didn't even really upgrade the cameras this generation, bringing back mostly the same type of hardware as last year's foldable, but the software processing has taken another step forward, resulting in a phone that can capture beautiful portraits, with excellent film simulation profiles. Snaps by the Vivo X Fold 5's main camera Ben Sin The zoom lens is still the best in business among foldables. Below are 10X zoom shots. 10X zoom shots Ben Sin And a shorter, 70mm 3X zoom. 3X zoom with the X Fold 5 Ben Sin The China version of the X Fold 5, however, has one more headline grabbing trick: it is able to pair with Apple products such as the Apple Watch, AirPods, and MacBooks. Unfortunately, the global version loses this connectivity, which is a shame. The X Fold 5 is on sale in China, and will soon go on sale in India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, with more regions to come later. Prices vary, but this foldable is quite a bit cheaper than Samsung's $1,800 Fold 7. In Hong Kong, the X Fold 5 can be had for roughly $1,300.
