Vivo is all set to unveil its first book-style foldable smartphone, the X Fold 3 Pro, in India. While the device is already available in its home market, it seems like Vivo is making several changes before it arrives on the Indian shores. For example, the company has stitched the word ‘AI’ with the device’s name, which was not the case earlier. So how will it compete in India against prominent players like the OnePlus Open and the good old Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5? Let’s find out.
Optics on the Foldables
Remember when optics on foldable smartphones were strictly average, thanks to their difficult form factor? Well, this is not the case today. Devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 come with dependable camera sensors, which may not be on par with the Galaxy S24 Ultra but surely deliver a flagship-grade experience.
1 of 2
OnePlus took this game even further with its first foldable smartphone, the OnePlus Open. Many praised it for having the best camera sensors on any foldable smartphone, with its 48MP+64MP+48MP triple camera setup and the Hasselblad partnership.
Now, it seems like Vivo is all set to raise the bar with its upcoming X Fold 3 Pro smartphone. We recently learned from an industry source that the X Fold 3 Pro will be the first foldable smartphone to boast a ZEISS Imaging System. It will also have the dual flagship chip supporting high-quality imaging, the V3 chip.
Furthermore, the X Fold 3 Pro is said to have a telephoto camera with exceptional zooming capabilities and ZEISS Multifocal Portrait support. We have seen these features in the X100 Pro, so we can expect five golden focal lengths for portraits, combining each with the ZEISS Style Portrait. It will also allow professional-grade portrait shots with up to 100 mm focal lengths.
But one might wonder, how will this enhance the photography experience on the forthcoming X Fold 3 Pro? Let’s take night photography as an example. Many phones struggle to capture lights at night, creating unwanted halos or distortions. The ZEISS optics in the X Fold 3 Pro might address this by delivering more accurate representations of lights, like a street lamp appearing as a clear light source in your photo.
Moreover, amazing camera capabilities are not new for Vivo. We have seen how they provide some of the best smartphone camera experiences with the ZEISS partnership with its X100 Series. So, we are expecting some similar results with its first foldable, too.
Who Will Win the Design Battle?
Design and durability are among the most challenging aspects of a book-style foldable as there are lots of moving parts, dual screens, and more. Early entrants like Samsung have cracked the code of durability, as the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is quite robust and comes with the IPX8 water resistance rating. This might not be the best protection against water and dust but at least there’s some protection.
1 of 2
OnePlus, on the flip side, focused more on the device aesthetics. The OnePlus Open comes with a vegan leather finish at the back, which looks super cool, has abig camera island, and is a tad bit lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
However, the problem with both existing foldables is that they still feel chunky to hold, giving the impression that you are carrying two smartphones clubbed into one. But it seems like Vivo might change that perception about foldable smartphones.
The upcoming X Fold 3 Pro is said to be the lightest foldable smartphone, weighing just 236 grams. It will also be the slimmest foldable smartphone, at least in the Indian market, with just 11.2mm thickness when folded. Yup, you read that right! For comparison, the average smartphone is 8-9mm, making the X Fold 3 Pro even more remarkable.
However, it’s not like Vivo is not going to focus on durability at all. The company has already revealed that the upcoming X Fold 3 Pro uses the carbon fibre hinge, which promises featherlight portability and boosts sustainability and robustness. It has been claimed to last for 12 years with 100 folds/day!
The Hardware Part
Vivo’s X Fold 3 Pro will fall in the high-end segment and we can expect top-of-the-line specs like the current flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, 100W fast charging, 120Hz refresh rates for the inner and outer displays, and so much more. All this will be topped with AI features, which is safely an important ‘requirement’ for smartphones these days, so, we can expect something powerful.
What About the Crease?
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Crease. Having that visible line while running a finger across the display spoils the experience.While brands are working towards achieving that completely crease-free experience, no one has succeeded until now.
1 of 2
Yes, OnePlus has reduced the visibility of the crease to some extent. But, we have to admit that it’s still there and quite noticeable when we cross our fingers over it.
So, will Vivo overcome this byproduct of current hardware and engineering limitations? This remains to be seen and we will answer once we get our hands on the device. So, until then, fingers are crossed!
Now, the question we posed earlier: can the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro compete with the big names like Samsung and OnePlus? The answer is a resounding YES!
Considering all the details we know so far, it looks like Vivo is all set to unveil a banger on June 6. If you’re considering a new foldable phone, stay tuned to see what the X Fold 3 Pro has in store for us.
