Purchase the ideal folding smartphone "vivo X Fold". Angle can be fixed without gaps, fatal weakness

　The author has the Galaxy Z Fold series as the main machine, but I felt that " I want a little more width when closed, and if the camera performance improves..." .

I heard rumors that the folding smartphone "vivo X Fold" that 　compensates for those shortcomings is wonderful, so I decided to actually buy it and use it for about a month. In this article, we will deliver a usability review.

Features of the vivo X Fold

• 6.53 inches when closed and 8.03 inches when opened
• Both screens support 120Hz refresh rate
• Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 powered
• 50MP quad camera with ZEISS T* coating
• Supports 66W wired & 50W wireless charging
• Supports in-screen fingerprint authentication

　When I saw the specs for the first time, I felt that I would have no choice but to buy this . It's great that it's a foldable smartphone with a periscope lens.

　Below is the body of the vivo X Fold. The back is covered with leather, which gives it a very luxurious feel. There are concerns about heat build-up and the possibility of peeling after long-term use, but even if you put those aside, I give it a perfect score.

　Basically, I'm a naked smartphone user, so I'm grateful for the leather specifications that make fingerprints and small scratches less noticeable. After all, it must look smart.

　Volume button and power button are mounted on the side. It also has an "alert slider" that allows you to switch the manner mode on and off at once by sliding it up and down . If you have an iPhone, you will be familiar with it. Since I switched from the notification panel, there was no scene to use.

It measures 6.53 inches　when closed and has an aspect ratio of 21:9. Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold series, the width is considerably wider, and it can be used as close as possible to a normal smartphone.

　It's quite thick and heavy, so it doesn't feel exactly the same, but it's easier to use with this width because the display doesn't collapse. The hinge part is also made quite thin, so it does not interfere with ease of holding.

　When opened, it transforms into an 8.03 inch tablet . It seems that it can be folded 300,000 times, so there is no need to worry about durability. The main display supports LTPO and has a variable refresh rate from 10 to 120Hz.

　You can't freely adjust the angle like the Galaxy Z Fold series, but you can change the angle slightly and fix it.　By the way, there is no function like the "flex mode" that splits the screen by folding it during video playback, which is familiar with the Galaxy Z Fold series.　Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold series, it can be folded without gaps . It is attached with a magnet, but it seems to be quite strong, so it seems better to keep credit cards away.

　The Galaxy Z Fold3 and 4 have a gap in consideration of waterproofing and hinge sturdiness, but it doesn't look good. Rather than folding, it would be a “folding smartphone”.

　The vivo X Fold allows you to enjoy content on an overwhelmingly larger screen than a typical smartphone. I use it for Kindle e-books, reading magazines on d magazine, watching YouTube, etc., but it is very useful as an information viewer that fits in my pocket.

　You don't have to worry about overloading it because it has the machine power to move briskly even when developing in Lightroom, playing games with high load, multitasking applications running two apps at the same time, etc.

　Even when closed, the size and operation feel are the same as a typical smartphone. There is nothing to say if you can reduce the thickness and weight a little more with this.

　The main display is equipped with a punch-hole type in-camera , but it is a flaw that it interferes soberly. It's quite noticeable when watching videos in landscape orientation.

　I feel that the single in-camera on the sub-display is enough, so I don't have to worry about it. In fact, some folding smartphones made by other manufacturers have eliminated the in-camera on the main display.

　Both screens of vivo X Fold support "in-screen fingerprint authentication" . Both have fast authentication speeds, which is perfect. 

camera performance

　The camera configuration of vivo X Fold is as follows.

• Main (50 million pixels/F1.7)
• Super wide angle (48MP/F2.2)
• Portrait (12MP/F1.98)
• Telephoto (8MP/Periscope/F3.4)

　Here are some examples taken with the vivo X Fold.　If you apply the "ZEISS Natural Color mode" that shoots in natural colors, you can take photos of food as well. Photos with better saturation certainly look good, but personally, I like the refreshing colors shown below.

　Compared to the previous Galaxy Z Fold3, the vivo X Fold's overwhelming zoom performance stands out. This resolution even at 10x zoom. The texture of the details is well captured, and it will expand the range of shooting.

　Practical is up to around 20x, after which the roughness becomes noticeable. It's not a particularly negative point because there are almost no scenes that require more than 20x zoom in everyday use.　As for the night view, I have the impression that the blown-out highlights and noise are not noticeable, and the image is quite bright. 

Two Reasons to Miss the vivo X Fold

　It's a very good folding smartphone, but it didn't suit me because of the following two points. If those don't bother you, you'll love it.

I couldn't bear the weight

　It was the ideal folding smartphone for me, such as the excellent camera performance, the usability of the sub display, and the design. The only thing is that this smartphone is too heavy...

　It weighs well over 300g without a case , and I feel a big difference compared to the Galaxy Z Fold3. Operating it while lying down puts a strain on your arm, and it is extremely inconvenient for everyday use.

　I continued to use it, thinking that I would get used to it if I used it, but the overwhelming discomfort that I couldn't get rid of no matter how many times I touched it. It's a device that you touch dozens of times a day, so it's stressful to use it while feeling "heavy" each time .

VoLTE not supported

　Since vivo X Fold does not support Volte , it is impossible to make calls or send and receive SMS . Earlier software versions had loopholes, but updates close them.

Overall review

　The previously reviewed folding smartphone "HUAWEI Mate X2" had a problem that Google services could not be used at all. Although it can be used with the vivo X Fold, I'm worried about the lack of Volte compatibility and poor handling.

　The camera performance is comparable to other manufacturers' high-end models, and the sub-display can be used as if it were a normal smartphone. It seemed to solve the dissatisfaction I felt when using the Galaxy Z Fold3, but because I packed everything into it, it bounced off the weight, so I had to give it a harsh overall evaluation. not.