Vivo seems to have once again decided not to market its foldable screen device, the X Fold3 Pro, in Malaysia. The reason is unknown but we had the opportunity to try it for ourselves for a short time during a visit to Vivo's headquarters in Shenzhen China. Continue reading the article below to see the change in times and our brief experience about it.
Thinner And Lighter
Touching on the matter of design, it clearly maintains the same elements as the previous generation, which is to have a book-like design with a screen that folds inwards. But what is interesting is that the device is now thinner with a width of only 5.3mm when opened and is light at 236 grams – lighter than the Fold X2 which weighs 279 grams. Even when it is folded, it is not very thick and can provide good comfort.
Various built-in modes are provided through the camera application such as Snapshort, Night, Portrait, Photo, Video and More. Interesting video footage can also be easily recorded through the Cinematic Portrait function. A total of five focal lengths are also offered, namely 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 100mm. Next, three color profile options consisting of Vivid, Textured and ZEISS are also provided for more interesting color reproduction. In our observation, the sensor is well matched which allows the reproduction of images using the main camera to give satisfactory results. Here are some pictures that were taken:
Bigger Battery
The 5,700mAh battery is bigger than the 4,800mAh used on the X Fold2. It is interesting because the device is able to offer better battery capacity in a thinner device body. It is also an upgraded silicon-carbon with better ability in various conditions. However, the charging system provided supports 100W wired and 50W wireless output.
Conclusion
Our experience with the Vivo Fold3 Pro is too short to give a verdict on whether it is a good use or not. In addition, the software on the given unit has not yet been fully optimized, giving other constraints to determine further. However, some positive signs that the Fold3 Pro does not disappoint in terms of design are clearly visible.
The body is lighter and thinner which provides better comfort. The high-resolution screen is bright and clear enough to make the device comfortable to use in various situations. The use of the latest processing chips is also a plus for the device. In addition, Vivo is also seen to be getting more mature in this device by offering a waterproof rating which is an additional protection. Vivo says the device will not be offered officially in Malaysia.
Features such as the Alert slider button that has been used since the first generation are still included on the left side of the device. Then an under-screen fingerprint scanner is also still used on the outer and inner screens. This makes the device unique and stands out from its competitors.
The 8.03-inch main screen and the secondary vertical screen of 6.53″ are still used. Then both also support an AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution with a truly beautiful visual presentation. The details are clear enough with the color processing also full of life. The scrolling experience also feels smooth on the 120Hz screen setting and the crease effect is still there but not as obvious.
Next, the hinges used are able to keep the body structure from being folded accidentally. No strange noises when the screen is opened also makes us not hesitate to use it during this visit. The device can also be completely folded with no noticeable empty space near the hinge. The power button and audio controls are placed on the right side of the device. Next, the bottom part has the audio grille, USB-C port and SIM tray.
The device is also actually equipped with a stereo audio system with another built-in speaker at the top. It is able to produce a loud sound but is not very enjoyable due to the less prominent bass. Again no red emitter or micro SD card support. But the device has an interesting upgrade which is the official IPX8 waterproof standard. This means Samsung, Huawei and Honor have competitors to watch out for.
Powerful Internal Hardware
Like any 2024 flagship smartphone, the Vivo X Fold3 Pri is also powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. The received unit offers a sizeable memory match with 16GB of RAM that supports a virtual RAM of 16GB of built-in RAM. In addition to the internal storage of 512GB UFS 4.0 which should provide a good experience.
Then the X Fold3 was announced with OriginOS 4.0 on the Chinese version. However, checking through the official website of the latest launcher FuntouchOS 14 is used on the global version which is also built based on Android 14. There is no Google PlayStore support but it can be installed as a sideload without any issues. Another major advantage of the Chinese version of the device is that it often offers fast updates.
As previously said, OriginOS offers a more beautiful and neat interface than FuntouchOS. It uses a different color for each category which makes it more organized. Flex Mode is also supported on devices with a stable hinge that allows it to be used even when folded at a 90-degree angle.
There are also AI-based features available that include AI Note Assist that can perform summaries for long notes, and convert notes to a format that uses AI assistance. Next, AI Transcript Assist which can produce audio transcription automatically and AI Global Translation to perform real-time text translation.
Enhanced Camera System
On the back is a circular camera bump housing a 50MP wide sensor, a 64MP telephoto periscope (3X optical/100X digital) and a 50MP ultra-wide with OIS. A 32MP selfie camera is also used on both the outer and inner sides of the device's screen. The presence of ZEISS branding clearly indicates that Vivo is working with the company for the camera capabilities of the device. The picture capture option can be taken at a ratio of 1:1, 4:3, 16:9 and full.