Vivo X Fold 3 Pro Review

Vivo X Fold 3 Pro is the new addition to the line of the foldable smartphones, introduced by the company Vivo. As would be expected of products in this class it is fairly priced in the high end market category and offers consumers a stunning thin profile and a solid built. As a foldable phone with dual displays that are capable of providing a wide perspective and centered on performance and flexibility, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro tries to reestablish new standards in the world of foldable gadgets. 

Vivo believes that the X Fold 3 Pro it launched in India is the thinnest foldable device currently out there with a thickness of 11.2mm. It is slightly thicker than the most standard premium flagships that usually hover around 8. 5mm thick, its slim profile feels nearly as good in hand. When opened fully, it has an added advantage of having a thin body of only 5. 2mm, which has set a new record for not only foldable devices, but also conventional smartphones and tablets. The device can be used daily and opens up to  reveal the large inner screen.

To top it off,  and match it with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5, Vivo also makes the X Fold 3 Pro IPX8 water resistant. This way, this certification serves as an assurance to the users that they can use in rainy conditions. There are, however, some limitations that are normal in the market for premium smartphones: warranty does not cover cases related to water damage.

To give you an idea about the portability of the phone, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro has about 8. Measuring at 6. 58-inches when folded and a 07-inch main folding display places this foldable at the top of its class. However, this huge screen goes even beyond the bar-type flagships such as Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra of 6. 8” in height and 3. 0” in width, and Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max of 6. 7’ x 3. 0” in dimensions. Such size provides some specific opportunities for usage of the smartphone, providing natural color’s saturation and rather high brightness in natural conditions and under direct sunlight. Unbelievable, the screen produces a nearly flawless fold with no apparent distortions when opened flat; a perfect improvement for the user.

In Vivo’s “flex mode” where controls are usually located at the lower part of the surface, is still roomy and quite versatile akin to a typical premium flagship’s screen present in the top segment of the same surface. Regardless of the type of media loaded into the player or the different formats and ratios of the content being consumed, the extent of the fully opened contours invites the audience. 

The first variant is called the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro which comes with a rather large 6. 53-inch cover display with a 21. 1: 9: aspect ratio of which is among the highest in a foldable type of a gadget. Its size can be useful for real-life usage scenarios like connecting a Bluetooth keyboard and turning into a sort of compact Android tablet for light work. Also, it is especially useful for answering the calls and meetings when there is no opportunity to work at the computer, raising the overrall usefulness and comfort.  

Improving the ergonomics of the device, the manufacturer of the Armour cover glass has added a 3D curved edge at the right side, so that people would have a perfect swiping experience. To further illustrate, the X Fold 3 Pro like other foldables has two fingerprint scanners placed under their screens. Firstly, the use of the cover display’s reader is as expected, however, the unlock with a hard press on the main display can be somewhat ambiguous, providing scope for enhancement.  

Compared to the first book-style foldable by OnePlus, the OnePlus Open, Vivo had lots of time to polish the software for the X Fold 3 Pro in its third generation. It operates on Funtouch OS on the basis of Android 14, and the user shall receive updates for three years and security ones for four years. Although this kind of a commitment is good, it lacks the kind of commitment seen in its competitors like Samsung and Google which provide up to 7 years software assurance. This difference may be a disadvantage since they make Vivo an unattractive option to the traditional Samsung clients in India.  

To conclude, Vivo’s Funtouch OS is mostly utilitarian and the evidence points to some areas that apparently require polish. Due to the Squared main display of the X Fold 3 Pro, the screen orientation is changed from the portrait mode to landscape for movies and apps used in the tablet format. Yet it was observed that not all applications do not have a smooth transition towards this structure. Some of these apps, extending to the edges of the screen, include WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger by Meta, etc although they are not as seamlessly integrated to Google services like Messages, Calendar and Drive. Not even a giant Netflix can manage to play the videos and allow the users to view the video in full screen without having to pinch the screen to zoom in, meaning a lot of frames are clipped. 

An attempt to solve this problem was made in one of the recent updates, where the”Display at the top of the screen” option in Settings was added to deal with the cutout of the selfie camera. However, this solution is not enough, as applications which cause issues, have a white bar on the left, which does not occupy the area optimally.

Pre-installed on the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro are many Vivo apps, most of which are inherently baked into Android and cannot be uninstalled. Still, some are surprisingly practical, bringing AI features which the company’s top-tier smartphones have been sorely lacking up to now. For example, native Notes app can create highlight or an abstract based on the copied text, the recorder app not only transcribes the voice memos but also has an option to generate the summary automatically. 

Thus, if users often capture phone calls, it is also necessary to mention that the dialer app of the Vivo phone has a hidden way to record a conversation without a sound signal before, during, and after the operation, which increases the convenience and privacy of the process.  

The device can run the most graphically intensive games such as Genshin Impact with ease at maximum graphics settings, and there are no major concerns with the device heating up. Both displays remain responsive during intensive gaming sessions, such as playing Call of Duty: In other words, Mobile at Max and Ultra frame rates. This steady operation is made possible by a large vapour cooling system that harmoniously blends with the rather thin body of the device. Positioning the processor in the upper half of the phone with the phone held in the horizontal position also ensures comfort while gaming as it avoids warm areas being in contact with the user’s palms.

The company could be described as professional with opportunities for the team’s further development.   In photography, the main camera of the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro produces good results in different lighting conditions. One is fast autofocus making the images of children and pets very clear and distinct. Colors look true and vivid even in low light; a big city can provide, though it does not oversaturate them, keeping detail and clarity that are characteristic of a mid-range smartphone on the go.

The performance of the telephoto camera on the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro is very high with vibrant outcomes of the portraits, and accurate colors in daylight. It also performs moderately worse when it comes to moving subjects inside under artificial lighting, photos come out slightly soft. 

Vivo X Fold 3 Pro Battery: Long lasting power was one of the core ideas of campaigns after campaigns, saying that to achieve that one has to work extremely hard in the process.

In this regard, the device has a long battery life, which is rather scarce, not only in the sphere of foldable devices but even among the flagship smartphones. You can get a full day’s usage with rigorous usage where you keep toggling the displays and with ‘Always-On Display’ enabled the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro surprises with a battery that can last more than 24 hours. For casual usage, you will be going way past 1 to even 5 or more depending on the thickness of the material you are to cut. It has an approximate of five days battery power on a single charge.

Vivo X Fold 3 Pro review conclusion: Some of the issues do not significantly detract from what is offered as benefits in the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro there are large high-resolution screens, enhanced performance, added AI functionality, and improved camera capabilities. As it stands in its segment, Vivo has provided efforts in attracting smartphone consumers who are brand-switching. Significantly, the phone is assembled in India; however, there is no paid care program which competitors such as Samsung and OnePlus offer additional warranty services.

Q1: What makes the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro stand out from other foldable smartphones?

The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro distinguishes itself with its exceptionally thin design and large folding display, offering a unique blend of portability and screen real estate.

Q2: Is the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro durable?

Vivo claims the X Fold 3 Pro is IPX8 rated, making it resistant to water ingress, similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series. However, users should still exercise caution with water exposure.

Q3: How is the performance of the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro for gaming and multitasking?

With its powerful hardware and efficient cooling system, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro handles demanding games like Genshin Impact and supports multitasking with ease, even when using multiple apps simultaneously.

Q4: What are the standout features of the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro’s camera system?

The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro boasts a versatile camera setup that performs well in various lighting conditions. It includes features like quick autofocus and capable low-light performance, making it suitable for both casual photography and professional use.

Q5: Does the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro support 5G connectivity?

Yes, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro supports 5G connectivity, ensuring fast and reliable internet speeds where available, which is crucial for modern smartphone users.

Q7: How does the battery life of the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro hold up under heavy use?

The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro features a sizable battery that offers impressive longevity, capable of lasting through a full day of heavy usage. It supports fast charging for quick replenishment of battery life.

Q8: Is there any special software feature unique to the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro?

Vivo’s Funtouch OS on the X Fold 3 Pro introduces innovative features tailored for the foldable form factor, enhancing user experience with optimizations for multitasking and app continuity across the folding display.