Foldable phones have emerged as a technological marvel in recent years, yet their journey to mainstream adoption has been hindered by several challenges beyond their high price tags.
Issues such as bulkiness, compromised battery life, and inferior camera quality have often plagued these devices, making them less attractive compared to traditional smartphones. The quest for a foldable that delivers across all fronts has been elusive, with most offerings falling short.
The vivo X Fold 3 Pro aims to change this narrative by presenting itself as the first foldable smartphone to offer a truly uncompromised experience. Priced similarly to its competitors, this device introduces several world-first features that promise not only to match but surpass conventional flagship smartphones in significant ways.
Key to its appeal is the X Fold 3 Pro’s design refinements. Unlike its predecessors, it features a wider front display, measuring 6.51 inches with a 21:9 aspect ratio, offering a more comfortable user experience for everyday tasks like messaging and email. This enhancement extends to its 8.03-inch inner display, which supports enhanced productivity through its expansive real estate.
Display quality has been a pivotal area of improvement. The X Fold 3 Pro boasts a vibrant screen with a remarkable 4500 nits of brightness, effectively combating glare and making it suitable for multimedia consumption even in bright sunlight. The display also minimizes the foldable crease, enhancing the viewing experience further.
In terms of physical attributes, the X Fold 3 Pro stands out for its slim and lightweight build, weighing just 236g and measuring 11.2mm thick (excluding the camera module). This design choice not only contributes to its portability but also makes it comparable to traditional flagship smartphones in terms of ergonomics.
Under the hood, the X Fold 3 Pro is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and 16GB of RAM, ensuring robust performance suitable for demanding tasks. While its software, based on Funtouch OS 14 and Android 14, offers notable optimizations for foldable use, it falls slightly short compared to competitors like Samsung in terms of feature depth and ecosystem integration.
A standout feature of the X Fold 3 Pro is its hinge mechanism, crafted from carbon fiber and rated for 500,000 fold and unfold cycles over twelve years. This hinge not only enhances durability but also supports various viewing angles, akin to a mini-laptop experience, complemented by specific software optimizations.
In terms of photography, the X Fold 3 Pro shines with its camera configuration: a 50MP primary sensor, a 64MP telephoto lens offering 3x zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide sensor. Although it doesn’t quite match the capabilities of dedicated camera-centric smartphones, its imaging performance represents a significant improvement over earlier foldable models, benefiting from advancements in both hardware and software.
Battery life is another area where the X Fold 3 Pro shines, featuring a substantial 5,700mAh battery that supports 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. This combination ensures extended usability on a single charge, outperforming competitors like Samsung’s Z Fold series in battery capacity and charging speed.
Despite its technological prowess, the X Fold 3 Pro faces challenges such as limited availability and potentially shorter software update support compared to industry leaders like Samsung. Priced competitively in markets like India and Indonesia, it aims to set a benchmark for future foldable innovations while signaling the need for broader availability and enhanced software support to reach a wider audience.
The vivo X Fold 3 Pro represents a significant step forward in the evolution of foldable smartphones, addressing many of the longstanding issues while setting new standards in performance, design, and usability. As the market continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how competitors like Samsung will respond to the bar set by vivo’s latest offering in the foldable segment.