Folding phones are about to become more common and more popular, especially now that more and more brands are trying to jump into the market. Although Samsung, Huawei and Xiaomi have been playing this game for a long time, 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 there may be new ideas being tested, not to mention new pricing schemes that could make foldable phones more affordable. This is what OPPO Find N experienced when it changed the design a bit, winning some positive responses. The Vivo X Fold, on the other hand, doesn’t stray too far from Samsung’s design, but makes improvements where it matters most.
Designer: Vivo
Old design, new perspective
After a short period of experimentation, it seems that Samsung’s “innie” design has won the battle. Huawei eventually switched from its outie to something resembling the Galaxy Z Fold. Of course, there are important differences that OPPO and Vivo also accept, but the general consensus seems to be that folding phones of this nature open and close like a book.
What some still disagree with is how big these phones should be. OPPO Find N has challenged the status quo with a phone that is shorter than most foldable phones and wider when unfolded. This created a tablet-like experience where the entire screen is in landscape orientation, while the external screen remains useful when the phone is folded, unlike most complaints with the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
In contrast, the Vivo X Fold is almost identical to Samsung’s foldable in size and design and is actually taller than it. Although on the surface it looks like a copy of Samsung, the devil is in the details inside. In particular, the Flexion hinge it uses is similar to the one used by OPPO Find N and Huawei Mate X2, which would allow the phone to fold completely without any gaps. It also reduces the visibility of the crease in the middle of the screen, although this can only be confirmed in real-world testing.
Specifications sometimes matter
Vivo also does a few things that Samsung doesn’t seem to care about yet, especially when it comes to cameras. The Vivo X Fold comes with a better set of four sensors, at least on paper, although some Samsung fans are hoping that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will correct the shortcomings of its predecessor in this regard. If you pay a high price for a smartphone, it is understandable that you will want to get the most out of it.
However, these cameras come at a low price, at least in terms of design. The Vivo X Fold’s camera is a large circle enclosed in an even larger reflective rectangle on the back of the phone. It’s as “in your face” as you can get, though fortunately not in the same ridiculous proportions as Honor Magic 4 Ultimate.
There are also fingerprint sensors under the display, something that is common in most smartphones today, except for folding ones. While Vivo can be praised for taking the initiative, it also shows how wasteful such an implementation can be, as you need to have two such fingerprint scanners, one under the main foldable display and the other on the secondary external screen. There are concepts and patents on how this can be reduced to a back-to-back sensor, but the technology is simply not yet available.
The price is correct
One of the biggest reasons people stay away from these foldable phones, apart from concerns about durability, is their incredibly high price. Samsung tried to reduce the figure last year, but it is still beyond the reach of most people. OPPO Find N tried to offer a more reasonable price, and Vivo does the same, albeit with a punch justified by the features.
The Vivo X Fold costs about $ 1,400, but its availability is limited to China, at least for now. This, unfortunately, means that Samsung still has almost no competition in the global market. With rumors that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is emerging as quite interesting, the company will undoubtedly still hold the leading position in this niche. However, it is reassuring to see that there are other brands ready to challenge the giant to help diversify folding phones.
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