Vivo X Fold 5 Phone Design
- Muhammad Rehman
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
vivo's X Fold series has rapidly earned a reputation for blending cutting-edge hardware with sleek, pocketable design - and the new X Fold5 continues that legacy in bold fashion. Unveiled as the company's sole flagship foldable this year, the X Fold5 builds on the success of the X Fold3 series with meaningful upgrades in design, battery life, and performance.
The absence of an X Fold4 model may be attributable to the Chinese belief that the number four is unlucky. It is the lightest and slimmest "book-style" foldable device that vivo has ever produced, measuring just 4.3 mm thick when unfolded and weighing 217 g. This is made possible by a reengineered hinge and the use of aerospace-grade materials, continuing vivo's push to deliver elegant yet robust foldables.
Camera-wise, the vivo X Fold5 takes more of a side-step compared to its predecessor than a clear-cut upgrade. The main camera is still a 50MP unit, now with a brighter f/1.6 aperture, though it uses a slightly smaller 1/1.56-inch sensor (down from 1/1.3"). The ultrawide maintains a similar sensor size and 15mm focal length, but it is now coupled with a f/2.1 lens, still offering phase-detection autofocus.
The zoom camera's previous 64MP sensor has been replaced with a 50MP 1/1.95-inch one, and the periscope lens has been upgraded to 85mm f/2.6 from 70mm. While the setup is still ZEISS co-engineered and quite capable, it's a reshuffle rather than a significant generational leap.
The X Fold5's thinness was the first thing we noticed, and it's probably the most striking feature. According to Vivo, it only measures 9.2mm when folded and 4.3mm when unfolded. For reference, this reviewer is currently daily-driving a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with a Spigen case - a combo that is easily thicker, which is mind-blowing.
In addition, the X Fold5 is lighter than the S24 Ultra, despite having two displays, a hinge, all of the camera hardware, including two selfie cameras, and a 6,000 mAh battery. It sits at 217 grams, which might not sound light in the grand scheme of things, but is really impressive for a book-style foldable.
The X Fold5 doesn't put any extra strain on the thumb and fits comfortably in the hand. We might finally be "there" when it comes to modern foldable design - a phone that has all the benefits of a large second display and almost none of the drawbacks compared to a classic "slab" design.
First, let's talk about style. We greatly appreciate the X Fold5's decision to go with "elegant and timeless" over flashy. On our review unit, the back side is all one solid color, Titanium Gray. Additionally, the phone will be available in white and green, both with the same solid finish. All the details, such as the hinge and camera rings, are color-matched with the rest of the back side, which is a nice touch. A very subtle color accent ring in what appears to be gold surrounds the camera island on our unit. It makes the whole bit pop a little.
When it came to sealing the X Fold5, Vivo really stood out. It features IP58/IP59 ingress protection, which is very impressive for a foldable device. That means the phone is dust-protected and should be able to survive a dip in up to 3m of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Impressive stuff all around.
Before we move on to controls, it is worth saying a few words about the phone's hinge. Like the rest of the build, it feels solid. There is no flex or give in it, at least not yet. Because it is a linear hinge with equal resistance, you can open the phone at any angle you want. It features a satisfying snap on both ends.
Let's talk controls. Vivo managed to fit a surprisingly large number of buttons on the X Fold5. Yes, this is the brand-new custom button in the phone's top right corner. It can switch between vibration and ring mode and turn on the flash. It is technically positioned on the left frame when the phone is unfolded, while the volume rocker and power button are left on the right side. All of the buttons are unsurprisingly very thin, almost to the point of being uncomfortable, but that is one tradeoff you have to make with a thin, foldable device.
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