The Pros and Cons of vivo X Fold5

The market for folding phones is getting more exciting with the launch of the vivo X Fold5. This phone is the next version after the vivo X Fold3 and competes with other folding phones from brands like Samsung, OPPO, and Honor.

vivo skips the number 4 because of cultural reasons. It also shows that the changes in this phone are not small. They are important.

The vivo X Fold5 brings improvements in many parts. It has a thinner body that is still strong and waterproof. It also gives better performance, strong cameras, upgraded software, and a battery that lasts longer. Let’s look at some of its pros and cons!

Pros of vivo X Fold5

As a high-end folding phone, vivo X Fold5 tries to offer strong performance in all areas. It improves some features from the older model and also adds new things. Here are some of its pros:

1. Luxurious Design, Thin Body, Strong Build, and Waterproof

One reason the vivo X Fold5 is interesting is its thin body. When folded, it is 9.2 mm thick. When opened, it becomes very thin at only 4.3 mm. The phone weighs 217 grams. It still feels comfortable to hold, even with two screens, cameras, and a 6000 mAh battery inside.

From the back, the vivo X Fold5 still uses a big round camera area. The design looks stylish and expensive. Most importantly, it looks modern and doesn't go out of style. The phone is available in two solid colors; Titanium Gray and Feather White. Both have a smooth matte finish that does not show fingerprints easily.

To make the phone stronger, vivo uses second-generation armour for protection. This extra layer helps the phone survive drops and hits. vivo says it gives 30% better protection.

The hinge is made with Carbon Fibre. This makes it strong and helps the screen stay smooth without deep crease lines. The phone passed a test where it was folded 600,000 times.

The vivo X Fold5 has IP58 and IP59 ratings. These ratings mean the phone is protected from dust and water. It can stay underwater up to 3 meters deep for 30 minutes. So, the phone is still safe in heavy rain or even under water. It can also work in cold temperatures, down to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

2. Strong Battery with Full Charging Features

Even though the vivo X Fold5 has a thin and light body, it still comes with a large 6000 mAh battery. This is bigger than the battery in the vivo X Fold3, which is 5500 mAh, and also bigger than the one in vivo X Fold3 Pro, which is 5700 mAh. It is also much larger than the battery in the Honor Magic V3 (5150 mAh) and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 5G (4400 mAh).

At the time of its release, the vivo X Fold5 had the biggest battery among folding phones in the world. It uses advanced technology called Blue Volt, or high-density silicon carbide. This technology combines two strong materials, they're second-generation Semi-Solid Electrolyte and fourth-generation Silicon Anode.

According to vivo, the phone can last up to 80 hours for playing music and more than 13 hours for video meetings. GSMArena’s test shows that the phone can be used actively for 13 hours and 21 minutes. This is better than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, which lasts only 11 hours and 44 minutes.

For charging, the vivo X Fold5 gives you many options. It supports 80W fast charging, which is much faster than 25W. Based on a test by TechTablets, it can charge from 19% to 100% in just 38 minutes. It also supports 40W wireless charging, and reverse charging, both wired and wireless.

3. Full Camera Setup with ZEISS Technology

vivo already has experience in making great cameras for folding phones, like in the vivo X Fold3 Pro. This continues in the vivo X Fold5. The camera setup looks similar, and vivo still works with ZEISS for the camera sensors, to make sure the photo results stay excellent.

The main camera has a 50 MP sensor. This time, the vivo X Fold5 uses a Sony IMX921 sensor with an f/1.6 aperture. The older vivo X Fold3 Pro used a different sensor, the larger OmniVision OV50H, with an f/1.7 aperture. This difference changes how much light the camera can take in.

The telephoto periscope camera is now better. It uses a Sony IMX882 sensor with a 50 MP resolution. The sensor size is 1/1.95 inches, and each pixel is 0.8 microns. This upgrade helps the camera take in 33% more light, which improves photo quality.

This telephoto camera can also take close-up photos from as near as 15 cm. For wide-angle shots, the phone still uses the same 50 MP ultrawide camera with an ISOCELL JN1 sensor. vivo proves once again that folding phones can still have strong camera features.

There are even special things only folding phones can do when taking photos. For example, you can use the outer screen as a preview when using the main camera. You can also fold the phone slightly and make it stand on its own, without using a tripod. This gives more ways to take creative photos or videos.

4. AI Features and Shortcut Button

The vivo X Fold5, released in 2025, brings several AI features. These features are mainly for improving photo quality. vivo calls this group of tools the AI Image Studio. Some of the AI tools include AI Four Season Portrait, AI Erase, AI Magic Move, AI Image Expander, and Enhance, which helps to make photos more detailed and sharper.

The phone also has AI features to help with daily tasks. These include AI Smart Call Assistant, AI Captions, vivo DocMaster, Origin Workbench, and Snap Text. These tools are useful for multitasking, especially on a large folding screen like this one.

The large screen also comes with special features. One of them is Flex Mode. This mode lets you use the screen in two parts with different functions.

The top screen works as a viewer to show content. The bottom screen works as a control panel. When Flex Mode is on, the phone looks like a mini laptop with a screen and keyboard.

On the side of the phone, there is a special shortcut button. You can use this button to quickly open certain apps or features. These include the flashlight, camera, Notes app, voice recorder, and Google Gemini, an AI assistant that comes with the phone.

5. Runs Android 15 and Gets 4 OS Upgrades

The vivo X Fold5 comes with Android 15 and uses the FunTouch 15 user interface. It also brings new AI tools for editing photos and helping with everyday tasks.

One of the best things is the 4-year OS upgrade promise. This means the phone will get system updates every year until Android 19. vivo also promises security updates for 4 or even 5 years. So, the phone can stay safe and up to date for a long time.

6. Strong Performance from Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

The vivo X Fold5 uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This is the same chipset used in the previous model, the vivo X Fold3 Pro. Even though it is not new, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 still gives excellent performance. It is one of the best chipsets in the high-end phone category.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is built with 4 nm technology. It has eight CPU cores that are divided into four groups. The first group has one Cortex X4 core (3.3 GHz). The second group has three Cortex A720 cores (3.2 GHz). The third group has two Cortex A720 cores (3.0 GHz), and the last group has two Cortex A520 cores (2.3 GHz).

Other important parts in this chipset include the Adreno 750 GPU (903 MHz), Hexagon AI processor, and Spectra image processor. The vivo X Fold5 supports this chipset with 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM. It also has 512 GB of internal storage using UFS 4.1, which is very fast.

Even if this is not the newest chipset at the time of release, the vivo X Fold5 still performs very well. GSMArena shows that the phone got 2.06 million points in the AnTuTu v10 test. This score is very close to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, which got 2.07 million points with the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

7. Great Main and Cover Screen Quality

At first look, the screen of the vivo X Fold5 seems similar to the one on the older model. Some parts are still the same as the vivo X Fold3 Pro. For example, the 6.53-inch cover screen still has a resolution of 1172 x 2748 pixels. The aspect ratio is also 21:9, which is good for daily use.

The screen refresh rate is still 120 Hz, but this time it is more adaptive. This is because the screen uses an LTPO panel, the same as the main screen. With this panel, the refresh rate can change based on what you are doing. This helps save battery.

The screen brightness is also higher. It can now reach 5500 nits at peak brightness, so it is easy to see the screen even under strong sunlight.

For the main screen, not much has changed. The size is still 8.03 inches, using a Foldable LTPO AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2200 x 2480 pixels. The screen quality is very good. It is nice to use for watching movies, browsing social media, and playing games.

Comfort is also improved with TÜV Rheinland and SGS certifications. These help protect your eyes during long use. The screen is also safe to use in dark rooms or low-light situations.

8. Stereo Speakers, Infrared Blaster, NFC, and USB Display Out Support

The vivo X Fold5 has two stereo speakers that are loud and clear. One speaker is placed at the top, and the other is at the bottom. This helps the sound feel more balanced on both sides. The speakers use Snapdragon Sound technology, so the audio feels more real and full, even when the screen is fully opened.

The phone also has many useful features for connection. One of them is the infrared blaster that you can use as a remote control. It also supports NFC (Near Field Communication), so you can connect it to other devices, make digital payments, or use it as an access card.

Like the model before it, the vivo X Fold5 uses a USB Type-C 3.2 port. This port can connect the phone to a bigger monitor. With this feature, you can show your screen on a large display just by using the USB cable that comes with the phone. It can be helpful when you want to view photos or take pictures on a bigger screen.

Cons of vivo X Fold5

Harus diakui bahwa tidak ada HP sempurna, bahkan sekelas flagship pun masih punya hal yang mesti diperhatikan. Namun, biasanya ini hanya sebagai bahan pertimbangan dan terkadang bukan hal besar. Berikut kekurangan dari vivo X Fold5.

1. No Fingerprint Sensor Under the Screen

One thing that some users may not like is the removal of the fingerprint sensor under the screen. In the older model, the vivo X Fold3 Pro, the fingerprint sensor was placed under both the cover screen and the inner screen. This made it easy to unlock the phone from either side.

Since the vivo X Fold5 uses an AMOLED screen, it is possible to place the fingerprint sensor under the display. But this feature has been removed.

Now, the fingerprint sensor is placed on the side of the phone, together with the power button. The sensor still works well, but it can be hard to reach when the phone is open.

2. Average Front and Cover Cameras

Because this model does not come with a “Pro” version, some features may be less advanced. One example is the chipset, which is not the newest. However, this is not a big issue. The bigger concern is the camera quality.

The front and cover cameras are not as good as other phones in the same price range. Both can only record video at 1080p and 30 frames per second. This is quite basic for a phone that costs around US$ 1,255. A phone in this price class is expected to have better video recording features.

Some reviews said that the camera performance is still in the flagship class, but the front and cover cameras are just average. Some tech reviewers also said that the telephoto camera is not the best compared to other folding phones.

Conclusion

The vivo X Fold5 continues to show vivo’s good reputation in making high-end folding phones. It is one of the best folding phones with a thin and light design. Even with this design, the phone has a very large battery, up to 6000 mAh, which is bigger than most other folding phones.

The camera setup is still complete, even though this phone can fold. Its camera system, made with help from ZEISS, can still give good results. You can take many kinds of photos and videos using the special folding design. In many cases, you do not need a tripod or a phone stand anymore.

Many other parts of the phone are also better than the older model. These include stronger protection against drops and water, faster charging, better performance, and a longer OS upgrade promise.

But there is still one thing missing. The fingerprint sensor is no longer under the screen. It has been moved to the side of the phone.

So, what do you think? Does the vivo X Fold5 match what you are looking for?