Vivo X Fold 3 Professional Evaluation: The Greatest Foldable Cellphone Proper Now

The Vivo X Fold 3 Professional looks like an outlier. Most foldable telephones compromise on digital camera efficiency to scale back the worth and make the interior elements match higher below the hood. No producer admits it, however it’s clear to anybody utilizing them.

Not solely does it pack a superb digital camera array, however the X Fold 3 Professional additionally manages to be thinner and lighter than some rivals. How might that be? There’s ingenuity within the design, but additionally, branching out of the Chinese language market means Vivo can apply some strain on the likes of Samsung and Google from afar. With Zeiss within the fold, this Fold provides any consumer shot at taking good pictures.

Design and Construct

At 11.2 millimeters (0.44 inches) skinny when folded, the X Fold 3 Professional isn’t far off from an ordinary bar smartphone, although the digital camera bump is noticeable. At 5.2 millimeters (0.2 inches), when folded out, it feels a lot thinner. Vivo features a slim casing for the again, although no bumper or case for the opposite half, so the gadget feels considerably uncovered. It’s not that you simply’d wish to drop any foldable anyway, given how fragile all of them are typically, however the Fold 3’s svelte profile serves your pocket properly while you get higher safety for it. Nonetheless, it’s good that this gadget has IPX8 water resistance, besides no mud resistance, which presents a higher hazard as a result of a hinge and built-in display screen protector turn into magnets for all types of particles.

Each shows are beautiful AMOLED panels. The entrance Cowl show is a 6.53-inch (2,748 x 1,172) panel made with Armor Glass, whereas the within is an 8-inch (2,480 x 2,200) foldable panel of thinner glass that doesn’t present a really noticeable crease within the center. With 4,500 nits of peak brightness, each are simpler to see in vibrant daylight, and an adaptive 120Hz refresh charge retains the whole lot clean. Assist for HDR10 and Dolby Imaginative and prescient additionally match proper in for consuming video content material. Even the onscreen fingerprint sensor proves to be very dependable.

Weighing a decent 236 grams (8.3 ounces), the X Fold 3 Professional doesn’t really feel cumbersome. Its Funtouch overlay isn’t my favourite Android pores and skin, however at the least the worldwide model isn’t saddled with bloatware, so I additionally felt the software program was lighter in weight.

Working on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, the X Fold 3 Professional additionally veers away from the MediaTek chipsets Vivo’s been rolling with for years on its V and X sequence telephones. There’s sturdy efficiency right here as a result of it helps protect battery life when working a activity or two. Foldables are inherently suited to multitasking, made simpler by the 12GB of RAM to start out for those who get the 256GB variant. In any other case, it’s 16GB/512GB or 16GB/1TB.

Digital camera Options

Vivo didn’t go mild on the rear digital camera array. The principle 50-megapixel digital camera (23mm equal) makes use of a Sort 1/1.3-inch Omnivision OV50H picture sensor with f/1.68 aperture and optical picture stabilization (OIS).

A 50-megapixel ultra-wide digital camera makes use of a Sort 1/2.76-inch Samsung JN1 sensor with f/2.0 aperture and section detection autofocus to span a 119-degree discipline of view.

The 64-megapixel telephoto digital camera is a periscope design utilizing a 1/2-inch Omnivision OV64B sensor with an f/2.57 aperture and OIS. This can be a 70mm equal at its 3x optical zoom and in addition occurs to be the identical telephoto present in the wonderful Vivo X100 Professional. The distinction is Vivo makes use of it at its full 64-megapixel dimension within the X Fold 3 Professional, that means there’s no crop issue right here. The Zeiss periscope system additionally makes use of floating parts to assist with focusing, however it doesn’t apply macro taking pictures while you get too near a topic. To do that, you must use the ultra-wide digital camera. However for those who hold a distance of round 20 centimeters (7.9 inches), the periscope lens permits you to take a macro shot from an inexpensive distance. It’s useful when getting a close-up with out the cellphone casting a shadow.

To high it off, Vivo teases with its 10x hybrid zoom that may show surprisingly versatile in the way it captures faraway topics with out an excessive amount of noise or over-sharpening. A lot of what Vivo lays out with the telephoto lens carries proper over from the X100 Professional, placing a flagship-level shooter in a foldable kind issue.

To stay with that pattern, Zeiss’ T* Coating covers the total rear array to assist cut back glare and lens flare. Vivo’s personal V3 Imaging Chip handles picture sign processing, with a specific lean towards low-light and portrait photos.

Software program Options

Vivo gives three most important picture profiles: Vivid, Textured, and Zeiss Pure. You’ll be able to select amongst them anytime, they usually’re available in most modes inside the digital camera app. All of them have their place, however the Zeiss look stays the perfect of the trio, in my view.

As well as, you get a variety of filters to check out whilst you take images, obtainable in a number of modes. Portrait mode brings again the seven Zeiss bokeh flare choices and the power to regulate the bokeh impact from f/0.95 to f/16. Lengthy Publicity gives its personal set of results and filters that will probably be acquainted to anybody who’s used a Vivo cellphone earlier than. There are much more filters and presets within the Gallery app’s modifying suite.

The numerous change right here is the foldable side itself. Merely with the ability to edit the identical picture in two apps directly feels liberating. I attempted out Vivo’s modifying instruments subsequent to Lightroom in a split-screen setting and loved the liberty of evaluating outcomes from each.

I’m simply disenchanted I couldn’t use the digital camera app that method. Vivo doesn’t enable split-screen setups for it in any respect, even for those who’re attempting to view the total Gallery on the opposite half. Most different foldables implement the identical limitation, so it’s not stunning. It’s a disgrace there isn’t extra flexibility on a tool constructed on that concept. In any other case, sharing images or shortly eradicating an object with the AI instruments now obtainable in units like this (and varied apps) makes on-the-fly workflows really feel quicker and extra intuitive.

Most apps will help split-screen setups by default, although some won’t. It can save you dual-app split-screen pairings by holding down on the icon within the activity bar and including it to the house display screen. Sadly, some apparent ones don’t work, like Lightroom and Photoshop Specific side-by-side as a result of the latter doesn’t help split-screen in any respect. Different apps do, like VSCO, Snapseed, Canva, and Photoleap to call a number of.

Like different foldables, Flex mode splits an app right into a viewable half and a management half. For the digital camera app, meaning seeing a reside view on the underside or high half whereas viewing the final picture you captured on the opposite. Faucet on the preview to see the picture you shot masking one half. Fold out the cellphone, and it’ll cowl your entire inside show. Fold it again up once more, and you’ll go proper again into the split-screen digital camera setup.

Since foldables could make capturing varied views simpler, this association could make cell pictures really feel enjoyable and inventive. It additionally gives alternatives in a number of modes, like taking pictures in a burst from a low or excessive angle or taking images over an impediment or crowd.

Picture High quality

Most important digital camera

Whereas the X Fold 3 Professional doesn’t have the identical digital camera specs because the flagship X100 Professional, Vivo went past simply outfitting its premium foldable with middling or getting older mid-range sensors (taking a look at you, Samsung). Good sensors coupled with Zeiss’ software program help ship stable outcomes, together with one aspect these two do significantly properly: dynamic vary with uncovered mild sources and reflections.

I additionally recognize that Vivo doesn’t apply an excessive amount of when rendering the ultimate picture. There isn’t a preponderance of oversharpening nor a extreme discount in distinction. Night time mode will generally lean on sharpening and lowered distinction to light up the scene, however the major picture mode is nice sufficient to seize most first rate low-light scenes anyway. The Zeiss Pure profile produces extra genuine photos, although Vivid and Textured are price experimenting with.

I wasn’t certain what to anticipate from the Omnivision OV50H sensor, however it may well deal with various conditions. The X Fold 3 Professional received’t match the great thing about the X100 Professional so far as total outcomes, however for a foldable, the hole is way nearer than you would possibly suppose.

Telephoto

This is among the strongest hyperlinks to the broader digital camera system as a result of it proves to be so dependable, particularly when it provides you good outcomes from so far as 10x hybrid zoom (234mm equal). You want first rate lighting, after all, however it’s an enormous deal to see in a foldable cellphone. The 3x zoom at a 70mm equal is on par with the X100 Professional, which may ship wealthy colour and good element, although you naturally lose a few of that going past that vary.

The perfect half is that the lens is adaptable to totally different settings or conditions, like the way it applies to the Portrait mode, the place you’ll be able to shoot at 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 100mm equivalents. Plus, it permits you to shoot in macro from a distance. It really works in Night time, Snapshot, Excessive Decision, Professional, and the video modes. If solely Vivo did the identical with Lengthy Publicity.

Extremely-wide

In distinction, the ultra-wide digital camera is the weakest hyperlink. It’s able to taking good images, however you’ll discover mushy edges and a scarcity of punch, typically posing a little bit of an issue for a foldable cellphone that makes perspective pictures a lot simpler. Any topic in the course of the body will look superb, besides the broader scene will present the constraints of this specific sensor.

Professional and Excessive Decision

I acknowledge this won’t be the gadget to usher it in, however Vivo actually ought to enable customers to shoot in RAW at full decision. As is, you’re compelled to accept pixel-binned 12.5-megapixel images in both RAW or JPEG inside the mode. SuperRAW returns to provide you a 14-bit choice, however once more, not at full-res. The nice factor is Vivo at the least serves up a pleasant set of instruments to compose images, from the usual guide controls to helpful parts like a stage, shake discount, bracketing, interval taking pictures, and even Zeiss’ horizon correction for structure and landscapes.

Excessive-resolution mode permits you to shoot full-res JPEGs. Relying on the picture, you could find yourself with nice photos you’ll be able to edit properly in Lightroom or one other app. You need to use the mode with the opposite two lenses as properly, which is a superb strategy to offset among the weaknesses of the ultra-wide and construct off the strengths of the telephoto lens.

Particular Modes

Lengthy Publicity continues to be probably the most inventive to me, although others have upsides, too. Whether or not it’s Meals, Astro, Dwell Photograph, or Panorama and Structure, you’ve got some license to attempt issues out. Much more so when you think about the X Fold 3 Professional’s kind issue. Supermoon returns and is simply at its finest when the moon is clearly seen. I attempted utilizing it with a reddish moon hanging low over the horizon and didn’t get an important consequence. Snapshot is nice for freezing motion, besides it ramps up the ISO to offset the quicker shutter velocity. Therefore, you could get nice outcomes for a cellphone or pill display screen, however the artifacts turn into extra evident on a monitor or TV.

Video Options

I centered on nonetheless images for this evaluation, but I additionally bought to understand how digital camera array helps on the video aspect. There are usually not many adjustments so far as choices go. You’ll be able to document in 8K at 30fps, 4K, and 1080p at 30fps or 60fps in Video mode. You need to use Teleprompter to run a script alongside the display screen as you document your self utilizing the entrance digital camera. For some Hollywood aptitude, you’ll be able to attempt Cinematic Portrait to document at 24fps, together with LUTs to provide your footage a sure look. Professional mode might be the higher choice over the common video mode as a result of it permits you to document in a variety of resolutions and body charges. Plus, you get focus peaking and publicity suggestions, two options unavailable for nonetheless photos.

The Greatest Foldable But?

It’s very spectacular to see Vivo in some way cram in a 5700mAh battery into the X Fold 3 Professional when the perfect Samsung has been capable of do is 4,400mAh, going again to the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The corporate did this whereas making a thinner physique that’s a hair lighter (236 vs. 239 grams) and packs much better cameras. Add in very quick wired charging (with a North American adapter) together with 50W wi-fi charging, and there’s each day longevity right here.

It doesn’t finish there. That is presently the one foldable I’ve examined that has an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor constructed into each screens. The inside show is bigger and brighter, with a flatter crease within the center. Samsung might have an edge in AI options, multitasking choices, and productiveness choices (a la the S Pen) within the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Nonetheless, after utilizing each, the Vivo X Fold 3 Professional trounces it in nearly each different method.

The X Fold 3 Professional succeeds in not making you are feeling such as you’re utilizing one thing stuffed with compromises. Nor does it come throughout as an incremental enchancment. I didn’t get to check its predecessor, however I make that time referring to foldables at massive, not simply Vivo’s personal lineup. It’s a powerful gadget that clarifies simply how a lot the likes of Samsung and Google have coasted on this nascent cell sub-category.

Are There Options?

Even the OnePlus Open, which I picked as the perfect foldable obtainable when it launched final yr, has some catching as much as do towards what Vivo’s performed right here. Honor’s Magic V3 is a critical contender as a viable various. It can carry a slew of AI options in future updates, however it’s additionally costlier off the bat.

On North American shores, choices stay restricted. Samsung has loved a protracted head begin on this class, now coming into its sixth era with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, but it selected to place in a lot of the identical digital camera array it used two years in the past. Google is again for a sequel with its Pixel 9 Professional Fold. Each sacrifice digital camera {hardware} (and a few software program) to make their units thinner and cheaper, attempting to offset all that by doubling down on AI-driven imaging options.

Ought to You Purchase It?

Sure. Much more so for those who care little for any AI options. Vivo hasn’t stated a lot about its plans on that entrance, however the X Fold 3 Professional is greater than able to working them if they arrive alongside later. The worldwide launch centered on India, and the conversion charge places this cellphone at roughly $1,900 USD. That’s proper within the ballpark with Samsung and Google, however you get extra for each greenback from a pictures perspective.