Foldable phones are on their way to becoming more prevalent and more mainstream, especially now that more brands are trying to jump on the bandwagon. Although Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi have long been playing that game, other companies need to join in to increase the visibility and accessibility of this new type of mobile device. A few more competitors also mean that there could be new ideas being tried, not to mention new pricing schemes that could make foldable phones more approachable. This is what the OPPO Find N did when it tried to change the design a little, and received some positive feedback. While the Vivo X Fold isn’t too far away from Samsung’s design but is improving in the areas that matter most.
Designer: Vivo
Old Design, New Perspective
After a short period of experimentation it appears that Samsung’s “innie” design won the war. Huawei eventually switched away from its outward folding or “outie” mechanism to something that resembles the Galaxy Z Fold. While there are some differences between Vivo and OPPO, the consensus is that these foldable smartphones open and close just like a book.
What some don’t agree on yet is how big these phones should be. With a shorter phone than many foldable phones, and a wider one when folded down, the OPPO Find N challenged this status quo. This created a tablet-like experience where the full screen is laid out in landscape orientation, while the external screen remained useful when the phone was folded, unlike most of the complaints with the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
In contrast, the Vivo X Fold nearly matches Samsung’s foldable in size and design and is actually taller than it. Although it seems like a Samsung knock-off on the surface, the devil is in the details inside. Specifically, the Flexion hinge it uses is similar to the one that the OPPO Find N and the Huawei Mate X2 use, which would allow the phone to fold shut completely without any gap. The Flexion hinge also minimizes the visibility of the edge of the screen. However, this can only be verified in real-world tests.
Specs Sometimes Matter
Vivo also does a few things that Samsung doesn’t seem to be interested in just yet, particularly when it comes to the cameras. The Vivo X Fold comes with a better set of four sensors, at least on paper, though some Samsung fans are hoping that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will correct the flaws of its predecessor in this regard. It’s easy to want the best smartphone for your money.
That said, those cameras do come with a bit of a cost, at least in terms of design. Vivo’s Vivo X fold camera bump has a big circle wrapped in a larger, reflective rectangle at the back. It is as “in your face” as it can get, though thankfully not in the same ridiculous proportions as the Honor Magic 4 Ultimate.
There’s also the presence of under-display fingerprint sensors, something that is common in most smartphones today except the foldable ones. While Vivo can be applauded for their initiative, this implementation is also wasteful as you have to install two fingerprint scanners on each side of the primary, foldable screen. There are concepts and patents on how that can be reduced to a single “back-to-back” sensor, but the technology just isn’t there yet.
The Price is Right
The exorbitantly expensive cost of these folding phones is one reason people avoid them. Although Samsung attempted to lower the price last year, it is still too high for most people. The OPPO Find N tried to offer a more reasonable price tag, and Vivo is doing the same, though with a bump that is justified by the features.
The Vivo X Fold is going for around $1,400, but its availability is limited to China, at least for now. Unfortunately, Samsung is still the only global competitor. With rumors about the Galaxy Z Fold 4 shaping up to be quite interesting, the company will undoubtedly still hold the top position in that niche. Still, it’s reassuring to see that there are other brands willing to challenge the giant in order to help diversify foldable phones.
