Hands-on with Vivo X Fold5: No room for foldable phone innovation

After two generations of improvements in thinness and weight, Vivo's new folding phone does not create many breakthroughs. The line now only has additional functions and configurations.

When it was launched in 2019, the Galaxy Fold was twice as thick as a normal smartphone at that time. Now, with the push of Chinese companies, foldable phones have almost completely solved the problem of weight and size.

The Vivo X Fold5, which has just been released in China, is 4.3mm thick when opened and 9.2mm thick when closed. Its 217g weight is even lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. In hand or pocket, Vivo's foldable smartphone is no different from a flagship like the Galaxy S25 Ultra or Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

Compared to the previous generation, Vivo phones have improved the size of the edges by about 10%. But compared to the upgrade steps throughout the generation, the X Fold5 model has changed little compared to its predecessor. Placed next to a series of folding phones such as Magic V5, Find N5 or Mix Fold 4, the difference between the devices is insignificant.

The thinnest limit of foldable smartphones is the USB-C port. The thickness of the device is almost exactly the same as this connection. The X Fold5 model also has a beveled frame on the back edge to add more space for the port.

Same goes for the fold and hinge. It’s unclear if there’s a tech-sharing agreement, but the Chinese companies all have nearly identical foldables, screen sizes, and dent solutions. They all use a “teardrop” hinge that spreads the impact points, minimizing the depth of the dent.

With no competition on the folding front, companies are back to square one, tackling the same issues on their phones. Vivo’s key selling point on the X Fold5 is its upgraded camera, while also boasting that it’s the best iPhone-compatible product yet.

This phone can connect to Apple Watch, AirPods, control and sync files with MacBook. In addition, it can send files and photos via AirDrop like a product in the Apple ecosystem.

Looking at the changes of the X Fold5, comparing it with its competitors, it can be seen that foldable phones are gradually approaching saturation point. Manufacturers improve their products to the limit, there is no more room to create breakthroughs. Big changes can come from "unique" versions like the Mate XT 3-fold or special designs like the Pura X model. However, the application and supporting software are still big problems.

The remaining trend is small changes, slight upgrades every year. Companies can improve the display, configuration, camera or fast charging, similar to the trend in bar phones. On the other hand, not only positioning in flagships, companies can gradually bring foldable designs to lower segments in the future.

Source: https://znews.vn/tren-tay-vivo-x-fold5-het-cho-de-cai-tien-dien-thoai-gap-post1566549.html