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This year we got to review Oppo Find N2, Oppo Find N2 Flip, Tecno Phantom V Fold and Honor Magic Vs. The foldable screen device war that was delayed for three years due to the pandemic heated up this year with the launch of the Vivo X Fold2 in China last April. It is a very exciting device as it is the first to come with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 as well as an in-screen fingerprint scanner.
This makes it the most powerful foldable screen device to date. We were lucky enough to get to test the X Fold2 for about a week. Based on this short experience we can say X Fold2 has the potential to be the best foldable screen device of 2023. Why do we say this? This is the full review for the Vivo X Fold2.
SPECIFICATIONS
Vivo X Fold2
External Screen – 6.53″ AMOLED, LTPO 120Hz
In – 8.03″ AMOLED LTPO 120Hz
Dolby Vision
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor
1 X 3.2 GHz Cortex X3 chip
4 X 2.8 GHz Cortex A715
3 X 2.0 GHz Cortex A510
Adreno 740 Graphics Chip
RAM 12 Gigabyte LPDDR5X
Internal Storage 512GB UFS 4.0
Primary Camera 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS (Wide Angle)
12 MP, f/2.0 (Ultra Wide Angle)
12 MP, f/2.0 (Telephoto) 2x Optical Zoom
Zeiss lenses
Front Camera 16 Megapixel f/2.5 (Front)
16 Megapixel f/2.5 (Inside)
4800 mAh battery
120W wired charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM Nano /5G
NFC Yes
Infrared None
Waterproof None
Fingerprint Scan System under the screen
Sale Price RM 6451* (12/512 GB)
* = Price converted from Yuan
SCREEN
The 6.53″ external screen is from the AMOLED LTPO family with 120Hz refresh rate support which makes it the largest screen for a foldable screen device. It is slightly wider than Magic Vs. So typing on the external screen is more comfortable. As with the Magic Vs, we rarely felt the need to use the internal screen on the X Fold2. The external screen has a screen ratio almost the same as a candybar smartphone.
The bezel is thin with a single camera hole in the middle. Because the panel is of the AMOLED type, the colors displayed are vivid, the animations look very smooth and use under bright sunlight is not a problem.
On the inside, the screen by 8.03″ AMOLED is also of the 120Hz LTPO type. So the experience of using this internal screen is the same as the external screen. Smooth, fast and no issues using it under the hot sun. One difference is that the inner screen only has a brightness level of 1600 nits compared to 1800 nits on the outer screen.
Both screens support HDR Dolby Vision display but We are aware that HDR mode is only active when using the YouTube and Prime Video apps only. The tested device was imported directly from China so we don't know if if the global version is released later the Dolby Vision mode will support Netflix.
The crease effect on the inner screen is visible but not very noticeable. The water drop folding mechanism used on the Find N2 and Magic Vs is used on the X Fold2. So when the screen is closed it's really tight without any room for dirt or dust to get in the middle. This mechanism also makes the device thinner in folding mode when compared to the Z Fold4. However, it is still not as thin as the Huawei Mate X3 which is the thinnest foldable screen device to date.
The hinge is hard enough to allow the X Fold2 to be used in Flex Mode but soft enough for the device to open easily. There is no feeling like the screen has a spring that opens suddenly like the experience of using the Phantom V Fold before.
The internal screen does not support any stylus features. A drawback that may not be noticed by the majority of users. We ourselves rarely meet Z Fold4 owners who use the S Pen on their devices. What we can say is that the haptic system on the X Fold2 is very good. Feels modern with a vibe that feels natural.
The automatic description mode is the only thing we feel is less than brilliant. Throughout the review we changed the description manually because we were not satisfied with the screen looking dim in automatic mode.
BIOMETRIC
The under-screen fingerprint scanner is used on the outer and inner screens. First time in history this is done on a foldable screen device. The scanner is of the ultrasonic type which is not only fast but has high scanning accuracy. During the week of using the device not once did either scanner fail to detect our finger.
Bonus points are given because the fingerprint scanner is placed in an easy-to-reach position even in hands-before mode. This is the best fingerprint scanner system in this class of devices.
DESIGN
Vivo X Fold2 in our opinion is also the most beautiful screen-foldable device of 2023. It feels comfortable in the hand because there are no sharp corners. The finish looks and feels quite premium. It combines the comfort of the Magic Vs with the textured finish of the Find N2. A pretty solid design combination we feel.
The power button and audio adjustment are placed on the right door flap. The position is ergonomic and these buttons do not hurt the fingers when pressed. On the left door leaf there is a sliding switch to mute notifications. Vivo borrows this feature from OnePlus devices.
The SIM tray that houses the dual nano SIMs is also placed on the right door next to the USB-C charging port. There is no infrared emitter or micro SD card support on the X Fold2. On the left door leaf there are two audio grills for the stereo audio system. With both firing sideways, more balanced audio can theoretically be enjoyed.
The main tri-camera system is placed in a round shaped hump. It's big but not very tall, but still causes the device to not be placed flat on the table. There's a nice texture to the metal ring that surrounds the camera's hump.
The back panel is made of leather-like material that has a rough texture. It makes the device look premium especially in red color on this unit we reviewed. With a leather-like texture, the back panel is not slippery because it provides grip on the palm. The second advantage is that the back panel also does not trap any dirt easily.
Leather-like back finish
Vivo provides a plastic frame that has the same leather-like material. Therefore if the frame is used, the advantage of this textured and premium looking rear panel can still be used. The frame also has thick corners that allow it to absorb shock if the device is dropped on the floor.
A physical button mutes notifications
In terms of design, hinge mechanism and appearance we feel X Fold2 is very beautiful. It also has a more practical external screen when compared to a Z Fold4. But the X Fold2 has one drawback compared to the Z Fold4 which is that it doesn't have any official waterproof standards. If waterproofing is important to you, only the Z Fold4 and Huawei Mate X3 have passed the IPX8 standard so far.
SOFTWARE AND USER EXPERIENCE
The Android 13-based OriginOS 3 operating system is used on the X Fold2. This is an operating system specifically for the Chinese market. Typically for the global market the operating system Funtouch OS is used. Because it is a Chinese operating system there are some shortcomings that should be pointed out to the reader.
First of all when activating this device for the first time, everything is in Chinese. The process became a little difficult because we had to use the help of Google Translate. The second problem is that there are many fat applications specifically for the Chinese market. It can all be removed if not needed.
The third problem is no Google Play Store. But the Play Store can be installed as a sideload with the GMS system being recognized. The process of restoring the application backup can then be done without any issues. YouTube, Gmail, Maps, Waze and Photos can all be used after the Play Store is installed. If you want to import X Fold2 directly from China, there is GMS so you don't have to worry that important applications cannot be used.
The interface of OriginOS 13 and Funtouch OS 13 is very different. We feel that Origin looks more beautiful with the settings screen using different colors for each category. Funtouch is more like stock Android so it's easier to learn. There are some rather confusing settings location changes in OriginOS 3.
But everything is still based on Android so after a day or two of using the X Fold2, we are no longer confused. There are all the basic Android 12L features built into OriginOS 3. For example Flex Mode support in the camera app, and YouTube. The change from outside screen to inside and inside to outside is also smooth. Apps switch quickly without lag. The experience is very different with the slightly slower Tecno Phantom V Fold.
The two apps are launched by pressing the icon at the top of the screen. There is an option to arrange two applications vertically or horizontally. Changing and resizing windows in this mode is also easy. The process of using two applications simultaneously is very smooth because the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip is assisted by a large 12GB RAM memory.
In tablet mode, there is a quick shortcut at the bottom of the screen that houses five favorite apps. When an application is opened, three of them will also be displayed on the bottom of this page. The same system is used on the Magic Vs and Phantom V Fold. But again the taskbar system used on the Z Fold4 is not borrowed. This is very disadvantageous but it is very likely that this system is patented by Samsung and cannot be used by competitors arbitrarily.
There is an Extended RAM system that adds 8GB of RAM virtually. The system operates automatically with the user not being able to change the size of the virtual memory they want to use. Another feature is kids mode which limits app access as well as device usage time.
The difference in the interface of OriginOS and Funtouch OS is significant but in terms of smoothness it is still the same. Animations are not stuttering. On a 120Hz screen, everything feels snappy with apps having no issues launching. Application running performance we will discuss in more detail in the Benchmarks section below.
BENCH MARK
The X Fold2's performance in benchmark tests was among the best this year with only the ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate scoring higher. In the Geekbench 6, Antutu 3D and 3D Mark Wildlife benchmark tests, the scores recorded by the X Fold are very impressive. It confirms its status as the most powerful foldable screen device to date.
Here are the X Fold2 benchmark scores compared to ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), Tecno Phantom V Fold+ (Dimensity 9000+), Galaxy Z Fold4 (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1), Honor Magic Vs (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1,) and iPhone 14 Pro Max (Apple A16 Bionic)
Geekbench 6
Vivo X Fold2 – 1854/5318
ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate – 1870/5534
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 1922/5017
Tecno Phantom V Fold – 1238/3776
Honor Magic Vs – 1276/3822
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 – 1422/3764
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 2524/6317
Antutu 3D
Vivo X Fold2 – 1,559,200
ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate – 1,313,393
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 1,171,384
Tecno Phantom V Fold – 994,304
Honor Magic Vs – 804,494
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 – 980,346
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 974,941
Wild Life Extreme
Vivo X Fold2 – 3727
ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate – 3742
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 3247
Tecno Phantom V Fold – 2567
Honor Magic Vs – 2651
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 – 2798
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 3373
Real-world performance is comparable to the scores recorded in the synthetic test above. X Fold2 is the most smooth-to-use and scrollable foldable screen device. All applications can be launched almost instantly. The relatively long waiting time in the first such as COD Mobile does not happen on the X Fold2. This is the advantage of using the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and fast UFS 4.0 memory. App installation is also lightning fast. Initial performance on the X Fold2 is comparable to the S23 Ultra and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate.
After a long initial session the device is only slightly warm. No overheating issues occurred during the review period. It's amazing because usually the chip performance on devices in this class is slightly reduced to save battery consumption (there are two screens) and the battery capacity is not that big.
There is no compromise on the performance of the X Fold 2 and this is good news for those looking for a device that is not only good for work, fast to run popular applications and capable of running at the highest graphics settings.
TELEPHONY And GPS
The 5G network can be enjoyed both indoors and outdoors. This is not surprising as all the devices with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that we have reviewed this year offer the same telephony experience. Voice calls are clear and uninterrupted.
Connection to cellular internet services as well as WiFi is also very satisfactory. Nothing negative we can write here. GPS performance is also very good. Take the wrong junction? Lightning fast new roads are suggested in Waze and the exact position of the vehicle is precisely tracked even in the middle of the city.
CAMERA
The main camera system combines a 50MP wide-angle f/1.8 sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle f/2.0 and a 120MP telephoto f/2.0 that supports 2x optical zoom and up to 20x digital zoom. For the selfie camera, the 16MP f/2.5 sensor is used outside as well as inside. The camera specifications are the same as used on the Vivo X90. This means that there is also a Zeiss lens on the main camera on the back of the device.
So it is not surprising that the photography performance on the X Fold2 is very satisfactory. The picture is not only bright but sharp. With the built-in Zeiss filter, photos with more artistic color tones can also be taken. The night mode is still very good helped by the wide angle lens that has OIS. It's just that night mode photos using other lenses will look a little soft due to the lack of OIS.
Overall it's not an exaggeration to say that the photographic capabilities of the X Fold2 are the best we've ever seen on a foldable screen device. There is a saying that a picture is better than a thousand words, so a sample picture of the X Fold2 is as below.
This is the result of the camera shot in zoom mode 0.6x, 1x, 5x, 10x and 20x. Good capture results up to around 5x zoom only. Beyond this level the resulting image appears soft but not broken. In our opinion, the performance of the X Fold2 camera is better than Magic Vs and Z Fold4.
BATTERY
Battery life is up to 18 hours with a SOT of around 8 hours on moderate use. It goes down to around 12 hours with SOT around 10 hours. For a foldable screen device with a 4800 mAh battery, both of these battery lives are very satisfactory.
The battery life of the X Fold2 is very good but if it runs out of time to recharge it is only 40 minutes via the 120W FlashCharge USB-C charger. This charger is provided with every purchase. The X Fold2's charging system is the fastest in the history of foldable screen phones.
AUDIO
Stereo speakers are placed on the left door with both firing to the sides for balanced audio. Equally large speaker grille holes allow audio that is balanced and loud at the same time. There is no 3.5mm audio jack as this is the standard of modern flagship devices. The X Fold2 screen supports Dolby Vision but the audio system does not support Dolby Atmos. Instead the Super Audio system replaces it with automatic settings for music, movies and video games. The X Fold2's audio quality is satisfactory but not outstanding.
IN THE BOX
Here's what's included in the box.
1x Vivo X Fold2
1x Skeleton with leather-like texture.
1x 120W Charger
1x USB-C to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
1x SIM Pin.
CONCLUSION
Vivo X Fold2 is the best foldable screen device in the world right now. The combination of a beautiful screen, the best biometric system, the most powerful chip, long battery life and best-in-class photography capabilities. So we hope that Vivo will offer this device to the Malaysian market in the near future. Suffice it to say that we are disappointed with Oppo's decision not to market the Find N2 globally.
Even if it is not launched, we found no problem installing the Google Play Store as a sideload to enjoy the YouTube, Gmail, Photos, Maps and more applications. The only risk is that at the initial stage everything is in Chinese so the use of the Translate application is necessary when activating the device for the first time.
In China, Vivo X Fold2 is sold at a price of around RM6500. This makes it more expensive than the Honor Magic Vs which is the best foldable screen device in Malaysia through the official channel.
Pro
120Hz LTPO external and internal screens
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is very powerful.
Premium thin design.
Comfortable to use with one hand.
Camera performance is very good.
The best biometric system.
Long battery life.
120W charging.
Cons
Not waterproof.
The OriginOS operating system is specific to the Chinese market.
The software is still not as good as the Z Fold4.
Not officially marketed in Malaysia.