Vivo is no stranger to the foldable segment but its entry into the Indian market has been belated. You can count the number of foldable brands in India on one hand but finally we are getting some action. Samsung has been the major force, which was recently changed by OnePlus and now Vivo is entering with third-gen globally yet first-gen foldable, the X Fold 3 Pro in India.
Most people have talked about issues with the foldables but Vivo claims it has addressed most of those, which it feels makes the X Fold 3 Pro warrant a mouth-watering price tag of Rs 1,59,990. So, are the upgrades justifiable for what Vivo is asking for the foldable? We used the phone in many ways to look for the answer.
Classy Looks Matched With Slim-ish Profile
Most foldables are priced in the flagship range so it is imperative they tick the box when it comes to their looks. The X Fold 3 Pro does that with distinction. It has a sleek appeal which is revealed when you unfold the device but even in the folded state the overall build quality and finishing leaves nothing to complain about.
The sheen on the back panel with the help of glass and metal is the ideal combo which ensures it isn’t too slippery or glossy. The use of carbon fibre does a lot to keep the body as nimble as possible.
The hinge mechanism gets a lot of attention this time with multiple certifications fighting for its longevity. This is probably the first tall foldable that we liked using as more than just an entertainment device which tells you the work that has gone behind the scenes to make it user-friendly.
No Crease Issues Here
Foldables have posed another issue over the years which is the visible crease on the display that can be an eyesore. Vivo has proudly talked about working on that problem and we can attest for those claims as the X Fold 3 Pro offers a virtually creaseless display experience.
You have a tall form profile with a 6.53-inch AMOLED 120Hz outer LTPO display, while the main unit offers an 8.03-inch AMOLED LTPO 120Hz screen. The colours produced by the panel are rich, bright and the blacks are as deep as you’d expect from the technology.
Is there anything that is lacking on the display front? We still don’t know the exact durability of the folded screen and we have asked Vivo to share the details to get more clarity on that.
Flagship Power On Offer
It is surprising that before the X Fold 3 Pro, we didn’t have even one foldable device powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. And soon, that could become two with the imminent Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 unveiling next month. This hardware has shown its true force and capability, without letting the heat take a toll.
The X Fold 3 Pro benefits from having this under the hood which guarantees flagship-grade performance on all fronts. Vivo is also giving us a single variant with 512GB storage (non-expandable) with a massive 16GB RAM which ensures that you will never ask for more hardware, even a few years down the line.
There is also the need to talk about the FuntouchOS evolution that needs more refinement for Vivo to be4 categorised in the ultra-premium table. Granted, Samsung also dishes out ads and annoying pre-loaded apps on its foldables but Vivo’s case and need to become a part of the pack means the efforts need to be more conservative in this regard.
The OS doesn’t come with a lot of apps pre-installed and some of them can be deleted. The features baked into the software ensure you get to enjoy the best of the foldable, especially the tent and fold mode that offers controls on the secondary screen for select apps. Vivo claims it is listening to consumer feedback and we are hopeful those points continue to be part of its evolving product range.
Zeiss Optics Camera Motor On
Cameras have become Vivo’s strong forte thanks to its association with Zeiss Optics which we have previously used on the X90 and X100 series. Now, the X Fold 3 Pro getting those camera riches add further gloss to this shining pocket armoury. The camera system includes a telephoto lens that lets you capture macro shots with crisp details.
The main sensor is equally adept at clicking photos in most conditions, including low light. There is still a lot of room for improvement which we hope Vivo pushes through with few updates.
Everything Just Works, Almost
Vivo knows that a lightweight design cannot come at the cost of a smaller battery. So, the 5700mAh unit more than justifies its engineering system and support for 100W wired and 50W wireless charging speeds keep you happy. The battery life of the X Fold 3 Pro is more than capable of running for a day and more.
We ran the foldable through everything possible, using it as the primary device for a few weeks, and we regularly managed to get screen-on-time of more than 11 hours which shows its workhorse mentality and package.
Vivo X Fold 3 Pro covers most bases for a foldable that shows it in a bright light. However, the price of Rs 1,59,900 makes it a tough sell, even though it has all the attributes of a premium device. Samsung will have more to say on this matter when the Galaxy Z Fold 6 launches soon, but Vivo has clearly shown everyone the way this segment has to move.
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