vivo X Fold3 Pro intrigues its characteristics. The folding smartphone in the 3rd generation became thinner and lighter, received an already evil filling, and pumped cameras. It turned out to be a very sophisticated, beautiful, but still ambiguous folding machine with many nuances. We will discuss them and (not only) in a detailed review.
This year, the line of vivo folding devices was divided. Now we have as many as two «folds »: the usual vivo X Fold 3 and with vivo X Fold 3 Pro.
Features of vivo X Fold3 and vivo X Fold3 Pro
Collected the characteristics of both devices in one table. The main differences are — in the processor and in more advanced cameras. Our test is the Pro version — the most sophisticated and interesting.
| Characteristic | vivo X Fold3 Pro | vivo X Fold3 |
| Display | External screen: AMOLED, 6.53 inches, 2748 x 1172, frequency 120 Hz, brightness up to 4500 nit, HDR10 +, Dolby Vision Inner: LTPO AMOLED, 8.03 inches, 2480 x 2200, frequency 120 Hz, brightness 4500 no, HDR10 +, Dolby Vision | External screen: AMOLED, 6.53 inches, 2748 x 1172, frequency 120 Hz, brightness up to 4500 nit, HDR10 +, Dolby Vision Inner: LTPO AMOLED, 8.03 inches, 2480 x 2200, frequency 120 Hz, brightness 4500 no, HDR10 +, Dolby Vision |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 3, frequency 3.3 GHz (4 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 2, frequency 3.2 GHz (4 nm) |
| Memory | 12 GB or 16 GB of RAM, 256, 512 GB or 1 TB of RAM | 12 GB or 16 GB of RAM, 256, 512 GB or 1 TB of RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP f / 1.7, matrix 1 / 1.3 inches, focal length 23 mm, laser autofocus and OIS; 3x zoom camera 64 MP f / 2.6, 1 / 2.0 inches, 70 mm (3x zoom) OIS; 50 MP f / 2.0, 1 / 2.76 inch, 15 mm | 50 MP f / 1.8, 1 / 1.49 inch matrix, laser autofocus and OIS; 2x zoom camera 50 MP f / 1.9, 1 / 2.93 inches, 70 mm (3x zoom) OIS; 50 MP f / 2.0, 1 / 2.76 inch, 15 mm |
| Front camera | 32 MP f / 2.4 outside and another 32 MP f / 2.4 inside | 32 MP f / 2.4 outside and another 32 MP f / 2.4 inside |
| Battery | 5700 mAh, fast wire charge 100 W, wireless 50 W, reverse charge | 5500 mAh, fast wire charge 80 W |
| Communication | 4G (all bands), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, USB Type-C 3.2 Gen2, IR port | 4G (all bands), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 LE, NFC, USB Type-C 3.2 Gen2, IR port |
| OS | Android 14, Funtouch 14 (global), OriginOS 4 (in China) | Android 14, Funtouch 14 (global), OriginOS 4 (in China) |
| Corps | in the folded state: 160 x 72.6 x 11.2 mm, in the decomposed state: 160 x 142.4 x 5.2 mm, weight 236 g, protective glass Armor Glass, IPX8 water protection | in the folded state: 160 x 72.7 x 10.2 mm, in the decomposed state: 160 x 142.7 x 4.7 mm, weight 219 g, protective glass Armor Glass, water protection IPX8 |
Essentially vivo X Fold3 — is a leper vivo X Fold2. The novelty works on the same filling, but slightly refreshed the cameras: TV and ultrasound are now 50 MP each instead of 12 MP. At the same time, X Fold3 lost weight and a little in price.
Prices for vivo X Fold3 Pro in 2024 In China
In China, the spread of smartphone prices is justified by the model and memory configurations. The basic version of «folda » pleases prices that can be compared with folding beds or «flips » from competitors:
- vivo X Fold3 (12GB + 256GB) — 6999 yuan (82,000 rubles);
- vivo X Fold3 (16GB + 256GB) — 7499 yuan (88,000 rubles);
- vivo X Fold3 (16GB + 512GB) — 7999 yuan (94,000 rubles);
- vivo X Fold3 (16GB + 1T) — 8999 yuan (106,000 rubles).
For vivo X Fold3 Pro on the official Chinese website, they ask for more:
- vivo X Fold3 Pro (16GB + 512GB) — 9,999 yuan (118,000 rubles);
- vivo X Fold3 Pro (16GB + 1T): 10,999 yuan (129,500 rubles).
Vivo X Fold3 Pro Release Date
Both folding machines first showed China. Then announced on the global market.
In the world
China announced the launch of a new line of vivo X Fold3 on March 26, 2024. On April 3, the basic version went on sale, and after a couple of weeks, the «proverb » went on April 23. In India, smartphones were presented on June 6, from which the world expansion of the novelty began.
Overview of vivo X Fold3 Pro
Last year vivo X Fold2 left an extremely pleasant impression. But the experience of use was affected by the effect of the duckling. Over the year, a lot of water flowed, as well as folding machines were in their hands.
For example, an extremely curious came out OPPO Find N3 or OnePlus Open. Yes, and vivo pleased with the ultimatum camera phone: first vivo X100 Pro, and later the Ultra version. Thus, the quality bar soared to heaven. Therefore, conquering it to another «fold » will not be easy.
Scope of delivery
In the box from under the device, in addition to the device itself, a 120 W USB Type-C power cable and a simple case on the back were found.
It is almost useless and is unlikely to be able to seriously protect the device from adversity of operation. But the protective film on the outer screen — is a definite good.
Folding nuances
It is important to remember that any folding smartphone 95% of the time is used in a folded state. You indulge in the first couple of weeks with an internal screen of 8 inches. Cool, fun, friends ask questions, you are happy to show off the curiosity. Then gray everyday life comes when almost any task is easier and faster to solve on an external display.
Hence the three main requirements for the ergonomics of any fold:
vivo X Fold3 Pro for all these parameters is not bad, but not perfect. Therefore, in order.
Thickness at level
vivo X Fold3 Pro weighs 236 grams, which is absolutely normal in modern realities. Titanium iPhone 15 Pro Max, for example, weighs a little less (221 grams), it’s not easy to feel the difference. Unlike last year’s vivo X Fold2, which pulled off a hand at all 279 grams.
Complicated Thickness
Again, it used to be much sadder. vivo X Fold2 boasted a brick-shaped body of 12.9 mm. The current «probe » has lost weight to 11.2 millimeters. It feels like vivo X Fold3 Pro looks like a regular smartphone in a durable, armor-piercing case.
However, competitors offer more interesting characteristics. So, Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 will please a thickness of 9.47 mm, and the phytonyashka Honor magic v3 even lower — 9.2 mm. All this is a serious statement.
Narrow screen outside
The only thing that spoils ergonomics. The external display of vivo X Fold3 Pro is too narrow — 65 mm. The difference is only 5 − 6 millimeters compared to the same iPhone 15 Pro Max (71 mm), but using such a «sandwich » is no longer comfortable.
Of course, it can be worse. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 display is still, and the smartphone itself is almost a millimeter thicker (12.1 mm). But with Koreans it always is. They are the first to ask a niche in the market, but they never succeed in it.
Design and Ergonomics
At first glance, everything is wonderful. And reliable. Front Armor Glass safety glass with a bunch of certificates for armor-piercing, at the back of at least strong matte plastic in two color variations: black and white. Red flowering in this generation was not brought.
The side frame is made of metal, and the — carbon fiber joint. They promise a resource of 500,000 positives, which is definitely enough for our century. The smartphone collapses with a pleasant sound, in a decomposed state holds any comfortable position, and most importantly — in a fully open state pleases with honest 180 degrees.
I twist the — convenient position I want to find
vivo X Fold3 Pro — not a square smartphone. Therefore, in order for the black frames in full screen mode to be smaller, the device needs to be turned over. True, there is a problem with ergonomics.
Stereodynamics (there are two of them) are located on the left half of the smartphone — where the external screen is. Therefore, to keep the device remains only for the right part with the camera module. At first glance, no problems.
However, in this position, the smartphone’s little finger rests on the power button, so during the roller, you can turn off the screen of the device at the most inopportune moment.
The fold is not felt
It’s time to let go of this story. The fold is in all folding devices without exception but does not affect anything anywhere. You can live, and with pleasure.
But we are still waiting for full protection. For vivo X Fold3 Pro, this is IPx8, that is, a smartphone can be bathed in a basin with fresh water for 30 minutes. But it’s better not to meddle on the beach and other dusty places with the device.
Useful chips
On the right side there is a volume mode switch. It is impossible to hang another action on it without auxiliary utilities. But the smartphone pleases with tactile vibrating returns. It’s especially nice to set up an alarm clock and turn the zuma drum in the cell.
Vivo X Fold3 Pro has as many as two ultrasonic fingerprint scanners — each on the screen. And they work lightning fast.
Displays
The external and internal screen is pleased with the excellent P3 color rendering and the impressive resolution:
- external screen 6.53 inches, 2748 × 1172 points;
- 8.03 inch internal screen, 2480 × 2200 pixels.
Both AMOLED panels operate at a frequency of 120 Hz and are impressive with an extreme brightness of up to 4500 nit. Of course, there is the Always On Display mode, which does not consume so much charge.
But the main thing is that the system almost instantly switches between screens. Games, browser, even Instagram (the social network is recognized as extremist and prohibited in Russia) — everything on the fly adjusts to the dimensions of two screens at once. Over the year, they did a great job of optimization.
The external display is slightly mowed at the right edge, but this is not a waterfall screen, you can exhale. It simply repeats the slight bending on the back cover in the folded state.
Productivity
Under the hood, like last year, the most charged iron and technology. At the forefront, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with a frequency of 3.3 GHz, assembled using a 4-nanometer process.
A selection of 12 or 16 GB of the fastest RAM LPDDR5X to date and a storage of 256 or 512 GB, or 1 TB UFS 4.0.
All this beauty knocks out almost 2 million points in AnTuTu and almost does not troll (does not lose productivity under load). At least in games, the smartphone feels completely calm even with a long load. Maximum possible heating — 45 degrees.
- AnTuTu: 1 982 533 points;
- Geekbench 6: single-core — 2151, multi-core — 6515.
Zeiss Cameras
vivo is closely associated with the legendary company Zeiss. From the German company, the smartphone got sharp optics, as well as several software filters that typically color the final pictures.
At the forefront is a 1 / 1.3 inch matrix of 50 megapixels with a f / 1.68 lens. Of course, there is laser autofocus and high-quality optical stabilization. Globally, the pictures are very pleasant in almost any light. Especially skillfully, algorithms process night in the same mode.
However, the main problem of all five smartphone cameras is different exposure and color temperature. This is especially clearly seen when shooting portraits on the main cameras. When switching between an ultrasound, the main module, and a TV, the exposure and tone of the skin change unpredictably: then the face is yellow, then pink, then pale.
By the way, frontal cameras (both on 32 MP) are not shot in the best way. Nevertheless, it is better to turn over the smartphone and shoot on the main modules. And there is so much more quality and room for creativity.
For a three-fold optical approximation, a 64 MP zoom with optical stabilization is responsible. It also allows you to shoot in a hybrid 10-fold mode, but for some reason the intermediate and popular value of 5x was not brought. There are only 3x.
The TV was equipped with a pair of additional buns. Firstly, thanks to autofocus, he does a good job with macro images. Much better than an 50 MP ultrasound on which the system switches to if you bring the smartphone close to the object.
Secondly, the TV is shooting the moon well, but only with a 10-fold approach. In normal mode (3x), the algorithms extremely ineptly finish the Earth’s satellite directly on top of the photograph. It looks as ridiculous as possible.
vivo X Fold3 Pro is able to shoot 8K video at 30 frames per second, but this is a completely useless activity. Especially when the smartphone is much better at shooting a standard video as a 4K 60 frame / s. Moreover, on the fly, you can switch between all three cameras and zoom objects without much loss in quality, even at the long end of 10x.
Operating system
The Chinese version works on the OriginOS 4 shell, which in turn is built on the basis of Android 14. Worldwide, the smartphone comes with Funtouch 14. Globally, there is no difference among the shells. Even in the Chinese device, there are all possible LTE bands and Russian from the box. And the Google Play store is downloaded from the built-in V-Appstore catalog once or twice.
The only problem pops up with downloading individual applications. For example, Genshin Impact and some other utilities do not download from Google Play via Wi-Fi. Through a cellular network or VPN, everything is installed without problems.
Application Panel and Multi-screen
The system was well pumped to work simultaneously in several applications on the internal screen, that is, in tablet mode.
Firstly, a dock appeared from where you can pull applications for launching in multi-window mode or just open them. Secondly, on the 8-inch panel, up to 3 windows fit simultaneously. Superproductive citizens will be delighted.
Double battery
Inside vivo X Fold3 Pro there are two separate batteries of 2850 mAh each. In the form factor of the cot, where each half is only 5.2 mm thick, otherwise nothing. In addition, the battery charges faster than — in two parallel streams with a total capacity of up to 100 watts. In minutes, the values are as follows:
- 15 minutes — 40%;
- 30 minutes — 74%;
- 45 minutes — 100%.
However, for the fastest charging, you must go to the settings and activate the «Ultra-fast default » option. Otherwise, it will take 55 minutes to complete the gas station.
A total capacity of 5700 mAh smartphone is enough to live without a day and a half without recharging. But different games, online conferences and other resource-intensive tasks will eat the whole charge by evening.
Conclusion
Vivo X Fold3 Pro had high hopes. Last year, X Fold2 — was pleased with the almost perfect folding machine at that time. Then the company, with its vivo X100 Pro, proved that it could be better than most competitors in the camera. Having folded 1 + 1, everyone was waiting for the release of an ultimatum flagship with top cameras in the format of a large folding «fold ». Happened? And yes and no.
«On paper » vivo X Fold3 Pro — the perfect smartphone. The most evil iron to date, the most advanced wireless technologies: high-speed USB, Wi-Fi 7, all LTE frequencies maintained in Russia for lovers of purchasing devices in China.
It would seem that here he is — uncompromising smartphone! Yes, and in a thinning case with two fierce screens. What is their peak brightness alone 4500 nit — market record. Like much more in vivo X Fold3 Pro. In theory.
In practice, we get not the thinnest and most convenient ergonomics «fold ». Competitors in the person of Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 and HONOR Magic V3 have already gone around both weight and thickness of the hero of today’s review. The five built-in cameras leave much to be desired — they do not reach the vivo X100 Pro in quality. However, in the photo, all folding devices, without exception, lag behind the classic flagships. We are waiting for 2025 and a turning point.
Given the considerable price of vivo X Fold3 Pro within 140 − 170 thousand rubles, it is better to save money until better times. But if you really want to buy a folding smartphone right now, then you can take a closer look at the basic vivo X Fold3 (without the Pro prefix). He had cameras pumped, still cool iron, but there is a smartphone in the range of 100 thousand rubles.
You can read more our review of the sensed Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6. And for the review of vivo X Fold3 we thank friends from BigGeek store.