Vivo X Fold 2 Review: Beautiful, But Compromised

The vivo X Fold 2 is a remarkable device that effectively crosses the gap between smartphones and tablets. Its foldable shape is more than just a gimmick; it’s a very useful feature that boosts productivity and entertainment. It’s critical to examine the expense. The vivo X Fold 2 is a premium device, and the price reflects it. It’s not for everyone, but for those willing to invest in cutting-edge technology, it’s one of the greatest foldable phones on the market.

At the end of the day, the vivo X Fold2 isn’t perfect. The crack in the display is evident, but it is hardly a deal breaker, especially for early foldable adopters. The gadget is considerably heavier than ordinary smartphones, which may be an issue for some users. The vivo X Fold2 exemplifies what’s possible when ingenuity and technology combine. It may not be for everyone, but for those who select it, it offers a glimpse into the future of smartphones.

VIVO X FOLD 2 KEY FEATURES

The first thing you’ll notice is that the X Fold2 features two fingerprint readers, both under-display and ultrasonic. This is the first foldable smartphone with two fingerprint sensors that we are aware of. But more about that later.

Second, the X Fold2 has the quickest wired charging option in a folding form factor, with an astounding 120W wired and 50W wireless charging. The battery capacity has also increased compared to the original X Fold, to 4,800 mAh, putting it on par with several flagships based on the conventional form factor.

Of course, the X Fold2 is powered by the latest flagship hardware available: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, at least 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of internal storage. Depending on how you look at it, the camera department may also receive a slight improvement. The new main sensor is larger, however the periscope’s 5x zoom camera is replaced with a regular 2x zoom camera. The good news is that the latter now has a larger and better sensor with a wide f/2.0 aperture, which improves low-light performance. The ultrawide now has autofocus but no longer employs a Quad-Bayer sensor. So, as you can tell, it’s a mixed bag.

The main display is likewise properly upgraded. Although the dimension is the same as last year (8.03″), it is now LTPO4 Foldable OLED, which supports not only HDR10+ but also Dolby Vision in addition to the rapid 120Hz refresh rates. The external panel preserves its size while still offering high-end capabilities such as a 120Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision support.

But, to be honest, foldables have never been about cameras. Perhaps due to hardware limits or price constraints, ordinary flagships remain the superior choice for photographers. Still, we consider the X Fold2 as a capable competitor to the industry’s big names, and we’re disappointed that only Chinese users will be able to get one.

VIVO X FOLD 2 UNBOXING

The device is packaged in a large, luxurious-looking retail box and arrives unfolded. The kit includes a 120W charging brick and a USB-C to USB-C cable for charging and data transfer.

Vivo has supplied a two-piece protective cover that is identical to the X Fold2’s design, ensuring that the aesthetics are not compromised.

CAMERA

Getting back to the Z Fold 4 comparison, I was hoping to see the Galaxy S22 Ultra cameras integrated into a $1,800 smartphone. Samsung “settled” on adopting the same triple camera arrangement as the Galaxy S22 Plus, which provided a far better experience than the Z Fold 3, but fell short of the finest camera phones.

I had great hopes for the Vivo X Fold 2 after reading Nick’s review of the original Vivo X Fold and seeing the excellent camera hardware on the Vivo X90 Pro. In the big scheme of things, the X Fold 2 did not disappoint, outperforming the Z Fold 4, but it appears that Vivo cut some corners.

There are three back cameras: a 50MP wide-angle lens, a 12MP 2x telephoto sensor, and a 12MP ultrawide camera. I enjoyed experimenting with the many options, such as enabling the Zeiss “Natural Color” profile and using the numerous photo modes that Vivo offers.

I was most disappointed by Vivo’s choice to remove the 5x telephoto camera from the X Fold. Instead, there is only “just” a 2x optical zoom, with everything else being digital zoom. It’s just not something I anticipated from Vivo, a business that is clearly (pun intended) committed to giving a good camera experience.

DESIGN AND SCREEN

The vivo X Fold 2’s display consists of an 8.03-inch inner screen and a 6.53-inch outside screen, both of which are constructed of Samsung E6 panels with 2K+ resolution, HDR, Dolby Vision, and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Aside from the size and resolution differences, the only distinction is that the brightness of the inner display may be increased to 1800nit for a portion of the screen, which is somewhat higher than the outer display.

One excellent feature is that each of them has a hole-punch selfie camera on top. Users can capture selfies regardless of the folded condition. The wrinkle in the middle of the inner screen appears to be invisible due to the new hinge, but it can still be seen from the side. Fortunately, we would not use the phone that way. But I can still feel it as I move my fingertips around the screen.

The ultrasonic fingerprint reader has always been one of Vivo’s flagship models’ most distinguishing features, and with the Vivo X Fold 2, users can enjoy the best unlocking experience on both the inner and outer screens. It resolves the difficulty we faced with foldable models. You may now effortlessly unlock your phone regardless of how it is folded.

HOW’S THE PERFORMANCE?

In terms of performance, the Vivo X Fold 2 runs on the Snapdragon 8 gen2 chipset. As the other 8Gen-2 foldable phones will not be available for at least a month, the X Fold 2 is likely the most powerful foldable phone for the time being.

However, due to the small body’s tendency to overheat, the X Fold 2’s peak performance is somewhat limited, both in daily usage and in gaming; the main cores will only function at a reduced frequency, which is not an issue for most users. However, if you play Genshin Impact, an average frame rate of 55 at the highest graphics setting is a cause for concern.

So I’d recommend the iQOO series for gaming, and I’m hoping Vivo can improve the performance of the X Fold 2 via OTA, as I discovered that intensive graphic loading with the phone unfolded didn’t cause the body to get too hot.

The Vivo X Fold 2 has a 4,800mAh dual-cell battery, and in our 5-hour average use test, it only had 2% juice left, so even if we subtract the power consumed by playing Genshin Impact for an hour, it has ample battery life for a full day of use.

The 120-watt cable charger still has a major advantage over the competition, as it can be charged over 50% in just 10 minutes and fully charged in less than 30 minutes. Another surprise is that it enables up to 50W wireless charging. The 120-watt cable charger still has a major advantage over the competition, as it can be charged over 50% in just 10 minutes and fully charged in less than 30 minutes. Another surprise is that it enables up to 50W wireless charging.

Buy it if...

• Nice design, strong hinge, and nearly crease-free inside display.
• Both displays have exceptional display quality.
• Excellent battery life.
• Dependable camera experience (except for selfies).
• Two ultrasonic fingerprint readers for further ease.
• Unrivaled rapid charging in the foldable market, including fast wireless charging.

Don't buy it if…

• The selfie camera isn’t fantastic, and 2x optical zoom isn’t enough for 2023.
• Not the greatest stereo speakers.
• A bit heavy.
• Available only in China.

FULL SPECIFICATION