You can tell where they are going with this one by the numbers. The X Fold 6 is being sold as a device that puts the camera first. It will come with a 200MP primary and a Zeiss APO super periscope to put an end to the kind of imaging compromises you see in other foldables.
A foldable that goes after DSLR territory
Huang Tao, product head at Vivo, has no problem calling the X Fold 6 a mini-DSLR in folding form. And there is hardware to put behind that. We are talking a 200MP main with a 1/1.4-inch HPB from Samsung, an f/1.68 opening, and CIPA 4.5 image stabilization.
Then there is the telephoto side of things. This one is a Zeiss APO periscope running on a Sony LYT-602, with its own CIPA 4.5 stabilization. Vivo says you can even add the 200mm Teleconverter G2 if you want to get some extra distance in your shots.
What’s so special about this setup?
Compared to the 50MP triple we had with the X Fold 5, this is a big step up. If what they are saying is true, the X Fold 6 won’t just be a phone with a good camera; it will be among the most you can do with a foldable.
Vivo is putting some of its own silicon to work, too. The V3+ (or Blueprint Imaging Chip) is there to handle native colours and let the AI do some heavy lifting in low light or with the telephoto.
When it comes to the display, it’s all about the nits
The 8.02-inch inner panel is made with Samsung’s M14. Vivo is touting 5,000 nits of peak output, but it can go as low as 1 nit for when you are up late. It has the TUV Rheinland Global Eye Protection 3.0 to boot.
The outer screen is on the same M14 platform. You get 2K, 144Hz, and a 44 percent cut in power use. And like the inside, it has the 5,000 nits for outside and 1 nit of softness for before you put it down for the night.
AI and a new look under the hood
They made the chip specs public last week: the X Fold 6 has the Dimensity 9500 Super Edition. It is a custom build for on-device AI, which is part of their new Atomic Benchmark for getting things done on a foldable.
Vivo has also shown us a bit of a facelift. With a 2.5D metal frame and R-corners, the X Fold 6 is meant to be less of a brick in your hand while still having the weight of a premium device.
Where we stand and what is coming
If you have been on the fence because of the cameras, this might be the one. Having a 200MP and a Zeiss APO in a book-style form factor is what a lot of us have wanted.
Here is what is on the table so far:
– 200MP main with CIPA 4.5 stabilization
– A Zeiss APO periscope with the same level of OIS
– An 8.02-inch inner on M14
– 5,000 nits across the board
It will be running OriginOS 6 Fold with some fresh multi-tasking and AI. There is a Blue Hole colour in the works, and a China launch is due any time this month.
Word on the street is there is a 6,900mAh battery in there, but Vivo hasn’t put that in writing. We will see if those figures hold up when it ships, but the rest of the spec sheet is already a lot to live up to.
For the buyer
Vivo’s point is simple: you don’t have to give up on a top-tier camera or a great display for a foldable. The X Fold 6 is for those who want to be taken seriously with their photos on a large screen.
If you have a newer model, do the math on the 200MP and the Zeiss before you switch. For the rest, the X Fold 6 is a very compelling way to get into the high end of the market.
