Vivo X Fold 5 First Impressions: Style Meets Power

Vivo made a strong statement in the foldable smartphone arena with the launch of the X Fold 3 in 2023. It impressed users and critics alike with its elegant design, high screen-to-body ratio, and reliable camera performance—carving out its own space against rivals like Samsung. Now, the brand is back with its latest innovation, the Vivo X Fold 5, priced at ₹1,49,999 for the sole variant offering 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage. But with the price remaining the same, the question arises: does it offer enough upgrades to justify the switch? After spending significant time with the device, here’s a breakdown of what it brings to the table.

Vivo X Fold 5: Sleeker Build and Improved Portability

The Vivo X Fold 5 sports a more polished and compact form factor. When unfolded, the device measures just 4.3mm thick, and 9.2mm when closed—an improvement over the X Fold 3’s 5.2mm and 11.2mm dimensions. It also trims down the weight to just 217 grams, making it noticeably lighter and easier to carry around, enhancing day-to-day usability.

The moment you pick it up, the sleek profile and feather-light feel scream premium. Vivo has gone with a dual-layer back panel finish, which not only adds grip but also feels luxurious in the hand. It’s available in an elegant Titanium Grey, though the single color choice might feel restrictive to those who crave variety. A broader color palette would’ve been a welcome addition.

New Smart Shortcut Key

A standout addition to the Vivo X Fold 5 is a smartly positioned customizable shortcut button located just above the volume controls. This multifunctional key gives users instant access to handy features like the flashlight, camera, voice recording, AI-based captions, or note-taking applications—making everyday tasks faster and more accessible. It’s a small but impactful feature that enhances the overall usability of the device.

Despite its slimmer and more refined design, the Vivo X Fold 5 maintains impressive durability. The device incorporates an upgraded hinge system strengthened with carbon fiber for better flexibility and structural integrity. The outer screen is shielded by next-gen Armor Glass, while the rear is crafted from a robust glass fiber composite that balances strength with a sophisticated look. Adding to its toughness, the foldable phone boasts IP58 and IP59 water resistance, along with IP5X dust protection—an uncommon and impressive combination in the world of foldables.

Vivo X Fold 5: Immersive Dual Display Experience

Open the Vivo X Fold 5 and you’re greeted with a massive 8.03-inch LTPO flexible AMOLED display, perfect for multitasking and immersive content consumption. It delivers a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, 412ppi pixel density, and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and a 120Hz refresh rate, with a resolution of 2200 x 2480 pixels. On the outside, you’ll find a 6.53-inch secondary display with 1172 x 2748 resolution, 457ppi pixel density, and the same brightness and HDR capabilities. Both panels offer rich, punchy visuals with incredible clarity—making this device a powerhouse for both productivity and entertainment.

While we’ll be doing an in-depth display test in our full review, early impressions show that Vivo hasn’t cut corners here. The visuals are bright, fluid, and vibrant, whether you’re browsing the web, watching HDR content, or multitasking with split-screen apps.

Vivo X Fold 5: Performance & Software

At the heart of the Vivo X Fold 5 lies the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, a high-end processor also seen in the previous X Fold 3 model. This advanced chip is paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage, delivering lightning-fast speed for multitasking and performance-heavy apps. 

Running on Funtouch OS 15, which is built over Android 15, the device offers a modern, foldable-friendly interface packed with the latest features and improvements.

The X Fold 5 elevates smartphone photography with its advanced triple-camera setup, developed in collaboration with Zeiss. At its core is a 50MP Sony IMX921 primary sensor, featuring a wide f/1.57 aperture and optical image stabilization to ensure crisp and vibrant images, even in low-light conditions. Complementing the main lens is a 50MP telephoto camera with a 70mm focal length, delivering 3x optical zoom, up to 100x digital zoom, and the ability to take detailed macro shots from a close range of 15cm. Rounding out the system is a 50MP ultra-wide lens with a broad 120° field of view, ideal for capturing wide landscapes or group moments in a single frame.

For selfies and video calls, the Vivo X Fold 5 includes not one but two 20MP front cameras—one on the cover display and another on the inner foldable screen. 

Vivo has once again integrated Zeiss cinematic effects and portrait modes, with some new enhancements that promise a richer mobile photography experience. A detailed review of the camera performance will follow soon.

Vivo X Fold 5: Massive Battery, Super Fast Charging

Another standout feature is the 6000mAh battery—a class-leading capacity for foldables in India. Despite the phone’s ultra-slim body, Vivo has managed to include this large battery without compromising design. It also supports blazing-fast 80W wired charging and 40W wireless fast charging, giving users both convenience and longevity in a sleek package.

Final Thoughts: Premium Feel with Flagship Muscle

From its lightweight, ultra-thin build to its immersive and sharp dual displays, the Vivo X Fold 5 feels like a thoughtfully engineered device. The overall user experience is refined, and during my initial hands-on time, performance felt smooth, with no lag or heating issues. The camera system looks like a big leap from the last-gen model, and the battery life could easily be a game-changer.

In India’s foldable space, the Vivo X Fold 5 goes up against the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Whether it’s worth your money compared to these rivals will depend on real-world performance—our full review is coming soon, so stay tuned!