Vivo X Fold 3 Pro Review : A Foldable Flagship Challenging Samsung’s Dominance

Samsung has been comfortably delivering incremental updates to its foldable phones for years. Enter Vivo, a new player aiming to capture the attention of premium smartphone buyers in India with its Vivo X Fold 3 Pro. After several weeks of usage, it’s clear that while Vivo hasn’t reinvented the wheel, it has certainly elevated the game, offering substantial value and features. However, it’s not without its flaws. Read on to find out why.
Pricing and Value Proposition
The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro comes with a hefty price tag of Rs. 1,59,999 for its sole configuration featuring 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. This might seem steep for a foldable Android smartphone, but it’s competitively priced against Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5, which starts at Rs. 1,54,999 (512GB) and goes up to Rs. 1,84,999 (1TB). Compared to the non-foldable Galaxy S24 Ultra at Rs. 1,29,999, the X Fold 3 Pro appears to offer a reasonable deal given its feature set.
Design: Thin is In
- Closed Dimensions: 159.96 x 72.55 x 11.2mm
- Open Dimensions: 159.96 x 142.4 x 5.2mm
- Weight: 236 grams
- Color: Celestial Black
Vivo’s X Fold 3 Pro claims the title of the thinnest foldable in India at just 5.2mm when open. While it’s not as slim as some bar-shaped premium flagships, it feels remarkably close. The design impresses, particularly when demonstrating its foldability to friends and family, who often mistake it for a regular smartphone. Additionally, it boasts an IPX8 rating, offering peace of mind for use in the rain, though the warranty does not cover water damage.
Display: Smarter by Design
- Cover Display: 6.53-inch, 2,748 × 1,172 pixels, Full HD+, 120Hz, AMOLED (LTPO), Armour Glass
- Main Display: 8.03-inch, 2,480 × 2,200 pixels, 2K+, 120Hz, AMOLED (LTPO), UTG
The X Fold 3 Pro’s main display is the largest on a foldable, surpassing traditional flagships like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The displays deliver vibrant colors and impressive brightness, even in direct sunlight, with no visible crease when unfolded. The aspect ratios make it ideal for content consumption, and the “flex mode” enhances usability by transforming the bottom half into a control panel when partially folded.
Features and Functionality
Vivo has integrated several unique features to leverage the phone’s hinge and large displays. These include using the camera in hover mode for hands-free photography, a fold-to-split gesture for multitasking, and a Desk Calendar AOD mode that turns the device into a table clock. The smart hinge design allows the phone to adapt its display orientation seamlessly, enhancing the viewing experience.
Software: Room for Improvement
- Operating System: Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14
- Update Commitment: Three years of software updates and four years of security updates
Despite being a third-generation device, Vivo’s software experience needs refinement. Apps don’t always stretch to fit the screen properly when reoriented, resulting in wasted screen space. The V-Appstore’s notifications can be intrusive, though they can be turned off. Some apps still display black bars or filler white bars, which Vivo has promised to address.
Performance: Keeping It Cool
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X
- Storage: 512GB UFS 4.0
The X Fold 3 Pro handles demanding tasks with ease, thanks to its powerful processor and efficient cooling system. Benchmarks show it outperforms the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and even the OnePlus Open. The device remains cool during intensive tasks like gaming and 4K video recording, without any performance throttling.
Cameras: Could Be Better
- Main Camera: 50MP (OIS), f/1.68
- Ultra-Wide Camera: 50MP, f/2.0
- Telephoto Camera: 64MP (OIS), 3x optical zoom, f/2.57
- Selfie Cameras: 32MP (cover display), 32MP (main display)
The primary camera performs well in various lighting conditions, with quick autofocus and excellent color reproduction. The telephoto camera delivers sharp portraits and good low-light performance but struggles with moving subjects. The ultra-wide camera, however, is less impressive, showing noticeable distortion and weaker low-light results.
Battery Life: Bigger is Better
- Capacity: 5,700mAh (dual-cell)
- Wired Charging: 100W
- Wireless Charging: 50W
- Charger: 120W included
Battery life is exceptional, lasting over a day with heavy use and up to 1.5 days with moderate use. The included charger fully recharges the battery in just 43 minutes, providing 82% charge in 30 minutes.
Verdict
Vivo’s X Fold 3 Pro offers significant value with its large, high-resolution displays, powerful performance, and feature-rich experience. However, its software needs polishing, and the lack of a paid care program for extended warranty is a drawback. For those seeking a refined software experience, the OnePlus Open might be a better choice at a lower price, though it lacks some features the X Fold 3 Pro offers. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 remains a strong contender with S-Pen support, but Vivo’s innovative approach and hardware advancements make it hard to ignore.