Foldable phones are pretty darn expensive . This means buy more than one is usually off the table for most folks , including those who already have the money to buy one . So if you buy a folding that good but not great , you ’re most potential fail to end up with buyer ’s remorse and even finish up hating the shape element completely .
That brings me to Vivo ’s newest sideways folding smartphone : the Vivo X close 3 professional . It ’s the most put - together foldaway phone I have used to particular date , leading with many tiptop in the class . This include the brightest exhibit on a foldable , the fastest charging on a folding , and arguably some of the good cameras paired with Zeiss ’ incredible science . It may very well be the best Android earphone — not just the well foldable — I have used so far .
The X Fold 3 Pro is Vivo ’s third Fold , as the name give away . But it ’s only the first time that Vivo has the confidence to release it outdoors of China . The phone is still only selling in parts of Asia for now , and while there is some hope for it to launch in Europe , that may look on its success in the existing markets . For Vivo , however , it ’s more of a statement piece than just a production , which is why it has gone above and beyond in making it one of its most likable gadget so far .
Tushar Mehta / Digital Trends
I have been using the telephone for about three weeks , and I feel it challenges the limitation that incumbent leader in the family incrimination for their lack of innovation — save the fold screen . Here ’s why I thnk it is the best foldable and may have exhaust theSamsung Galaxy zed Fold 6even before its formal announcement .
Unmatched ergonomics
From the earliest glimpse , the Vivo X turn up 3 Pro feels like a foldable you would desire to pick up in your hand and use for long hours . That has n’t been my experience with most foldables , especially the previous Galaxy Z Fold telephone set , due to their restrictive outer display and brick - comparable composition . One exception that stood out for me was the OnePlus Open , which hasbeen my casual number one wood since launch . The Vivo speech sound one - ups the Open ’s incredible ergonomics .
The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro is one of the thin and lightest foldables you ’ll find , measuring 11.2 mm ( 0.44 column inch ) when fold and just 5.2 mm ( 0.20 inches ) when lying matte . The phone weighs 236 gramme ( 8.32 ounces ) , which is not much beyond theGalaxy S24 Ultraand theiPhone 15 Pro Max . While theHonor Magic V2is an exception , it still unravel last year ’s computer hardware and inferior camera , and a replacement wo n’t set in motion globally until later in the twelvemonth .
The Vivo X close down 3 Pro ’s dimensions and weighting are individual - digit deviations from those of the OnePlus Open . However , it goes in favor of Vivo upon realizing that it has a much larger cover display , measure 6.53 inch , compared to the 6.2 - in screen display on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 . More importantly , it follows a more conventional blueprint for the display ’s prospect ratio , unlike the egregiously narrow Galaxy Z Fold or theGoogle Pixel Fold , which resembles a valet ’s two - fold wallet .
Gentle curves along the Vivo X close up 3 Pro ’s outer presentation and the rearward glass panel delegate the same clean phone impression as other phones from the brand . The purpose invite you enough not only to prevail the phone but also to open up it up and spend a moment admiring its slenderness before you start using it . Whether fold or unfolded , the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro is sluttish to hold for a long continuance compared to other foldables .
The phone unfolds completely flat — virtually 180 degrees — and opens up with an almost camouflage crease . Vivo credits a C fiber seam holding the folding flexible joint together for the minimal bulging in the inner folding screen , as well as the light-colored free weight . Like the outer exhibit , the inside one is also massive and unfolds to an 8 - inch footprint , big than most foldables we know , including the OnePlus Open and theGalaxy zed Fold 5 . Even escape speculate a similarly - sized 7.6 - inch inner display on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 .
Despite the large displays on both ends , the X close 3 Pro administer the weight equally . At no point did I hold it in one hired hand and feel I would drop it due to a weight imbalance . I could easy anchor the unfolded headphone between my quarter round and pinkie finger and carry on using it in almost every reasonable position , being seat or lying down .
Outstanding displays
In addition to a footprint that ease ease of enjoyment , the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro ’s staggering displays also perform heroically . Both the inner and the cover screens are among the promising on smartphones — not just on foldables . Vivo claims a peak brightness of 4,500 nit on both of them , in the same range of mountains as the OnePlus 12 and far beyond what the Galaxy zed Fold 5 or the S24 Ultra offer . Even the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is rumour to boast a much dimmer video display , peaking only at 2,600 nit .
Of naturally , this acme brightness value is what the display reach at the level of a individual picture element — while the global brightness is comparatively much less . But the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro outpaces the Galaxy Z Fold 5 ( or any other Samsung phone ) with sustenance for Dolby Vision — an HDR codec that labor the display ’s brightness to its highest levels , create a productive contrast between light and sour guest .
The biggest real - world service program of the bright display is gamey profile , even under lineal sun . On the opposite , the speech sound can have really low brightness levels for well-fixed viewing during the nighttime . It even comes with an excess Dim feature similar to Samsung phones to reduce the cleverness even further .
Vivo also claim these are LTPO 8 MT panels , which means they can effectively switch between dissimilar refresh pace values between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on the content being play , which subjugate visual tearing and ameliorate stamp battery life . In addition , the Vivo foldable also comes with a dedicated process to proactively change the displays ’ refresh charge per unit . The result is a super fluid and stammer - free experience , hassle an impression of some serious and true hardware under the hood driving it .
Another cardinal differentiator of the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro ’s displays is the dual fingermark scanners under both displays . So far , most brands have limit themselves to using side - rise physical fingermark scanners on foldables . Vivo , on the other hand , charter the unusual itinerary of using under - video display scanners — one inside and another for the outer showing . Both of these are ranking ultrasonic fingermark scanner ( which use sound wave to detect thumbprints ) rather of the more mainstream optical ones .
Despite the differences in materials covering both displays , the fingerprint image scanner under both are incredibly fast . In line with other ultrasonic fingerprint scanners , as seen on the likes of the Galaxy S24 serial publication , you may just touch the scanner briefly and lift your digit alternatively of make to hold it in that position .
Incredible cameras
Over the years , Vivo ’s flagship X series has hauled a reputation of having some of the best television camera on a smartphone . This is mostly attributed to Vivo ’s partnership with German optics giant Zeiss . In accession to render camera crystalline lens with its hallmark “ T * ” ( pronounced , tee - star ) anti - reflective coating , Zeiss has also dower its expertness and aid Vivo duplicate simulated versions of its classically revered camera lens system , include B - Speed , Biotar , Planar , Sonnar , and Distagon . Additionally , the partnership has bestowed Vivo ’s premium phones with special colouring filter ( also known as LUTs ) to recreate the dreamy images characteristic of Zeiss .
The Vivo X shut down 3 Pro borrow the same Zeiss - inspired camera feature as the X100 serial publication from in the first place this year . That includes a 50MP main camera with a sensor sizing midway between the X100 and the X100 Pro ( or the new announced X100 Ultra ) . Meanwhile , the other television camera — an ultrawide and a 3x periscope telephotograph — are identical to the Vivo X100 .
Vivo ’s flagship camera have attained a in high spirits standard of telephone set photography , and the ecstasy Fold 3 Pro is expected to live up to the hype . It sire a host of presets , including combos with specific lens configurations and LUT filter to re - create scenarios enliven by Zeiss lenses .
Zeiss cameras surpass at making any nonliving target appear more rattling and dreamy , and the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro ’s tv camera helps achieve that to a great extent . While we have document Vivo ’s excellency at capturing resplendent images clock time and again in our former reviews , here are some photo I took with the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro that show its tuberosity .
disregardless of the electron lens you choose , the range of a function exhibit qualities of professional cameras . These long - range shots taken from a distance have subtle blur around the leaves to serve increase vehemence on the object in focus — the post box and the building , respectively . This blurring core is added unnaturally after the image is taken but makes the injection look much more lively .
What I really look up to about Vivo ’s flagship cameras is their power to cheer DSLR - similar portraiture , even while using the elementary camera , usually meant for wide - angle guesswork . One can easily tell apart the non - uniform blurring in both of the images below , indicating digital manipulation instead of existent lens bokeh . Despite that , the onlooking person ’s grimace in the left look-alike and the relentless dog in the other are knavishly separate from the respite of the picture , make the images appear more dramatic .
But the tangible magic appears when you switch to the 3x telephoto in portrait manner . The Vivo X close 3 Pro ’s telephotograph photographic camera with a 70mm - tantamount focal duration beautifully retains the person of the paradigm , while the pre - craft filters impart to an even more dramatic look . One of my preferred look about this camera is that it does n’t take off the human touch modality from the photos , go forth elements such as facial faithful intact .
Even when capturing subjects other than humans , the Vivo X close up 3 Pro ’s portrait camera does remarkably well at divide them from the background . My favorite testing scenario relies on using leaves because most phone often go wrong to focus accurately ( autofocus relies on coloration to separate objects ) . But as you may see below , the leaves in focal point are shown isolated from the rest period of the bunch .
The last lot equate a scenario enamor in thoroughgoing darkness and without any external sluttish generator ( the real scene was significantly dimmer than it appears here ) apart from the moonlight . The f/1.7 aperture already allows enough exposure to make the leaves of the tree diagram slightly visible . Even without using the Night mode , the ten fold up 3 Pro increases the exposure time to roughly two seconds , capturing more loose .
But with the Night style rent , there is much more visibility — and much less distortion around the dim areas . As in the images below , the Nox sky is transformed into a dawn sky , with the moonshine from behind the tree forming a halo around it .
For foldaway smartphones , camera have been the weak link in the otherwise promising performance story . But the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro tells another story , suggesting that earpiece trade name can no longer be explain for unexciting cameras on roughly $ 2,000 phones .
Mind-blowing charging
Another area where the Vivo X close 3 Pro excels is its battery execution . With a 5,700mAh content , it has the large barrage on any foldable yet . After consistently using the phone for over three weeks , I can safely say it outlive any other foldable headphone I have used — and cure one of my bountiful peeves with the form ingredient .
The large covert on horizontally folding earphone , such as the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and OnePlus Open , consume a mess more battery than the vertical screens on stock slab phones . As a event , the battery on these devices is much shorter and hardly fawn through the Clarence Day without court supererogatory power . For the Vivo Fold , that ’s not an issue . During my usage , the electric battery has easily lasted for over 30 60 minutes . Not only does this exhort me to well utilize the inner screen but I am highly inclined to apply the internal silver screen more and more , especially for watching video content and playing games .
For charging , Vivo addresses another major drawback with foldables . It opts for super - fast 100 - watt power rescue over a wired mechanism using its proprietary FlashCharge technology . Do n’t care about finding an aptly betray power brick , as Vivo admit a 100W charger in the corner .
Vivo suggests the bundled charger take only 30 minute of arc to fully charge the phone . However , accounting for limitations such as heat generated in the cognitive process , it take longer in material life . During my examination with an ambient temperature of rough 90 degrees Fahrenheit , the phone took about 45 moment to go from 5 % to 100 % of battery cathexis .
If you ’re not carrying the official charger , there ’s no motive to worry . A stock USB - palladium battery charger , such as one sold with a MacBook , will commove the phone in about 70 minutes .
The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro even hail with wireless charging , with up to 50W charging pace using an officialhigh - focal ratio vertical wireless chargeror up to 5W using any other Qi - compliant wireless charger . While wireless charging is bang-up for scenario when you ’re not using the telephone for longsighted durations , I recover myself bank on the riotous courser for quick dash of power .
Exciting performance
A Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip , 16 GB RAM , and 512 GB UFS 4.0 computer memory obtain the helm for performance here . The powerful combination ensures you never languish for power , even with the most demanding use lawsuit . Naturally , gambling is one of the most demanding activity on a sound , and I sustain my newly formed inclination for the petite multiple - shooter gameSquad Busters . I play the game for several hours without even see any heat build up up .
The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro handlesSquad Busterseffortlessly — and is expected to because of the hardware power the phone . So I dialed the encumbrance up by playing the on-line fight royale titleFarlight 84 , which can be reckon a intercrossed ofFortniteandApex Legends . I ran the highest nontextual matter configurations with anti - aliasing and high shadow detail turn on .
The game consistently ran at a frame pace of 60fps — the mellow presently supported on the game ’s Android version . While there was some detectable heating plant , the telephone set never got uncomfortably raging . More significantly , it was very prompt to cool down immediately after each gaming session .
While I was already confident about the hardware ’s power , the actual functioning left no uncertainty about its capabilities despite the complex entrails . I also obtain the telephone had slenderly better performance when used unfold — which I suspect has to with effective heat energy dissipation due to the larger surface area . I confirmed this by running one of the most intensive tests on the popular GPU benchmark,3DMark . Below , I compile the resultant from both trial and compare them folded versus unfolded .
The run is called “ Solar Bay Stress Test , ” which examine the thermal reply to CPU- and GPU - intensive undertaking like gaming . The test is run unendingly for 20 cycles to find out how the performance take hold up with heat . Here is how the result equate :
Phone use DoS →
Metrics ↓
Although the phone started with high performance in the folded state , there was a discriminating decline in performance , nifty heat propagation , and with child throttling . This suggest that the unfolded United States Department of State is better for play and similarly intensive task .
Helpful software features
Along with an splendid set of hardware , the package experience is tailor for foldables . While features like flex mode have become basic feature for fold up Android sound , Vivo tot a few extra unity to meliorate usability and productivity .
First is “ close to Split , ” which let you jerk the sound in slightly and unfold it back to invoke a multiscreen setup . The gentle folding gesture economise the effort of manually dragging and dropping apps onto an existing open for a snag - cover setup .
When you part close up and spread the telephone set , the existing app slew to the left , and an app draftsman opens to the right , permit you to choose the second one to open . you may only open two apps side by side , which is n’t as telling asOnePlus ’ Open Canvasfeature , but the moving-picture show gesture is very functional and even coolheaded to show off .
The second feature I really admire is call Desk Calendar AOD . It essentially converts the phone into a desk clock — with dissimilar lookout option . You just have to activate the feature and identify the phone on a flat open while only partially folded .
The clock stays lit for almost an hour and turn off automatically to spare shelling . Besides the ingeniousness and novelty , I find this characteristic highly reliable when settling in for sleep . I like having a very subdued clock on my bed ’s nightstand while still wanting to cherish complete darkness at night , and this is where the feature really stands out .
Besides these , the out show on the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro can also be used when only half pen up , which is majuscule for watching videos or for video calling without having to hold the phone . Of of course , you could also expend it to take photos in this predilection .
Vivo gives it all, except one key thing
Vivo has gone all in to put other foldables to ignominy , and the features I list above exemplify how it is one of the best foldables . The features that put competitors to shame are the video display , television camera , and fast charging . While the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6 is expected to bring some significant improvement over the Fold 5 , we still do n’t see it exceeding the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro in many areas , especially these three .
There is , however , one major disadvantage that Vivo faces , and that is the lack of distribution channel . Despite the heroically charged foldaway , Vivo is still specify outreach to parts of Asia — while Samsung will sell the speech sound in practically every grocery store . Even if you manage to buy the Vivo Fold from countries such as China or India , you will be paying $ 2,000 for the equipment and wakeless implication duties over it while not getting a global warranty . These act make the Galaxy Z Fold a less lucrative but still more practical phone to buy .
However , if you do n’t have to bother about the bills and can afford to spend a hatful of hard cash for the best camera , fastest burden , bountiful battery , and the most attractive display on a foldable earpiece , the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro is simply unbeatable .
