Vivo isn’t new to the foldable game, but with the X Fold5, the brand seems to have finally found its stride. It’s a phone that feels both polished and practical, something you couldn’t always say about earlier foldables. While the X Fold5 doesn’t reinvent the design language of its predecessor, it makes meaningful refinements that genuinely improve usability. But it’s not all perfect. Some decisions around finish and grip leave room for improvement. Here’s what Vivo nailed and where it could’ve gone further.
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What Vivo got right
It’s one of the thinnest and lightest foldables you can buy
At just 9.2mm thick when closed and 4.3mm when unfolded, the X Fold5 is shockingly slim, even thinner than many regular flagship smartphones. And at 217g, it’s one of the lightest large-screen foldables in India. For comparison, it is lighter than single-screened flagships like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Vivo has clearly put effort into reducing the bulk foldables are usually known for, and the result is a device that feels genuinely comfortable to use, whether folded or open. You don’t feel like you’re carrying a mini tablet in your pocket.
Durability is often a concern with foldables, but Vivo’s second-generation hinge addresses that head-on. It’s rated for 600,000 folds (over 15 years if folded 100 times a day), 25 percent more than the previous generation, and it feels solid. There’s no creak, wobble, or resistance when opening or closing the phone, and there’s a satisfying snap to it when closing. In real-world use, we casually tossed it around, treated it like a regular phone, and our reviewer accidentally sat on it a few times, too. Not once did it show signs of weakness. The hinge inspires confidence, and that’s a huge deal.
IP58 and IP59 ratings seal the deal
The X Fold5 is the most water- and dust-resistant foldable device in India currently, boasting both IP58 and IP59 ratings. This gives you real-world peace of mind. A few splashes or a dusty pocket won’t make you panic. You can even unfold it underwater (up to one meter) if you’re in a swimming pool, for example. Additionally, the cover display is protected by a second-generation Armour Glass, and it has SGS Five-Star glass drop protection certification. To put things in perspective, the Galaxy Z Fold7 has an IP48 rating, which makes it water-resistant to some degree, but less than what the Vivo X Fold5 can withstand.
Where Vivo’s foldable can improve
Premium finish, but slightly impractical
While the X Fold5 certainly looks slick, that “dual-layer back coating” on the back, as Vivo puts it, makes the device slippery and hard to grip. It’s not the kind of phone you can confidently open with one hand on the move, although one can say the same for any book-style foldable. The shiny surface also loves fingerprints and smudges. After just a few minutes of use, you’ll find yourself constantly wiping it down. A matte or vegan leather finish could’ve improved both the grip and day-to-day handling without compromising the premium feel. Of course, this might not bother those who prefer to add a cover to their phone.
Not the easiest to unfold
The sides of the device are glossy and smooth, which doesn’t help with grip either. When trying to unfold the phone quickly, especially with slightly sweaty or oily hands (as often happens in Indian summers), the lack of texture becomes a real usability issue. I found it difficult to open the Fold5 on the first attempt on numerous occasions. For a phone meant to be opened and closed dozens of times a day, that matters.
While the large circular camera module offers a good grip point and prevents wobble when laid flat, its size and protrusion won’t appeal to everyone. Some might find it uncomfortable, especially if their fingers rest near the edge. It’s a minor detail, but one that significantly impacts the overall experience.
The Vivo X Fold5 gets a lot right in terms of design. It’s thinner, lighter, and more durable than most of its competitors, making it one of the most travel-friendly foldables on the market. But for a phone that costs Rs 1.5 lakh, the grip and finish should’ve been just as polished as the hardware underneath. If Vivo can pair this impressive engineering with a more tactile, fingerprint-resistant design next time, it might just have the most complete foldable in the game. While this article focuses solely on the foldable’s design, you can read about every other aspect in our detailed review. Also, I wrote a separate piece on Origin Workbench and why I believe it is one of the best productivity-centric features in a foldable.
Where the Vivo X Fold5 fits in the bigger picture
With the X Fold5, Vivo is signalling that it’s not just experimenting anymore; it wants to be taken seriously in the premium foldable race. Samsung has long dominated this category, but thinner, lighter foldables are becoming the industry trend, with players like Honor and Huawei pushing similar refinements outside of India. By prioritising portability and durability, Vivo is aligning with this shift while also appealing to Indian buyers who are increasingly investing in ultra-premium devices. At Rs 1.5 lakh, this phone positions Vivo as a brand that can challenge Samsung not only on specs, but also on real-world usability.
