After spending some time with the Vivo X Fold 2, I was excited to mess around and use the Vivo X Flip. This is Vivo’s first “rotatable” smartphone, following in the footsteps of the Moto Razr Plus, Galaxy Z Flip 4 and others.
Granted, this is the first flip phone I’ve used since the Galaxy Z Flip 3, as I’m more of a foldable phone type. But the X Flip opened my eyes a bit to the appeal this smaller, more compact form factor has on the market.
Vivo X Flip: design and specifications
Getting the boring stuff out of the way first, the Vivo X Flip is basically a 2022 flagship in pretty much every way. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It also sports a dual camera setup, which is pretty much as good as it gets in this market segment.
Vivo has also managed to pack in a 4,400mAh battery, one of the largest we’ve seen in this form factor. This comes with 44W fast charging, which blows the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Moto RAZR Plus out of the water. But more on that in a bit.
As for the displays, you’re greeted with a 3-inch AMOLED cover screen, sandwiched between the hinge and the camera module. Open the phone and you’ll find a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz.
| Category | Vivo X Flip |
|---|---|
| Main view | 6.7-inch OLED @ 120Hz (LTPO), 2520 x 1080 (407 PPI) |
| Cover show | 3 inch AMOLED, 682 x 422 resolution |
| chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 |
| Memory | 12GB |
| Warehousing | 256GB, 512GB |
| Rear camera 1 (main) | 50MP, ƒ/1.8, 1.0μm, 1/1.49 inch sensor, Dual PDAF, Laser AF, OIS |
| Rear camera 2 (ultrawide) | 12MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.22μm, 1/2.93 inch sensor, 106 degree FoV, Dual Pixel PDAF |
| Front camera | 32MP, ƒ/2.5 |
| Video resolution | 4K/30FPS on rear cameras, 1080p/30 or 60fps on front camera |
| Drums | 4,400mAh |
| Reload | 44W wired fast charging |
| Ports and SIMs | USB Type-C, Dual SIM |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, 3 noise canceling microphones |
| wireless | Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, WiFi 6, 5G |
| Safety | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor |
| Weight | 198 grams |
| Dimensions | 166.4 x 75.3 x 7.8mm |
| Resistance to water and dust | ❌ |
| Colors | Rhomboid violet, silk gold, diamond black |
| Software | Origin OS 3 based on Android 13 |
And that brings me to the first thing of note about the X Flip courtesy of the waterdrop hinge. Basically, unless you’re really looking for it, you can’t see the crease in the center of the screen. You don’t have to worry about the screen becoming an eyesore if you leave it open on your desk or when you use it.
Taking a quick step back, I wanted to touch on the overall design of the X Flip. I think Vivo has nailed it perfectly, as the phone is easy and comfortable to hold, thanks to the rounded edges. I’m also a big fan of the side-mounted fingerprint scanner built into the power button.
The X Flip feels really solid but isn’t too heavy for everyday use. It doesn’t feel like a budget phone in any way, something I was a little concerned about going into this review.
Vivo X Flip: performance and battery life
Performance is on par with what you’d expect from a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 smartphone. It’s going to be damn good and can handle just about anything you’d want to throw at it. You may find that it gets a little hotter than other phones, but there’s really nothing to worry about.
I’m also happy to see 44W fast charging on board, which is better than many of the best ‘slab’ phones out there, not to mention the X Flip’s flip-flop enemies. I was able to get 50% charged in about 30 minutes, which is more than fine as you don’t need the X Fold 2’s 120W fast charging.
However, I was also disappointed to learn that despite using glass and aluminum, there’s no wireless charging available. It seems that this was more of an oversight than anything else, and perhaps Vivo is just playing it safe with this clamshell device. But it also gives the company room for improvement in case there’s an X Flip 2 on the horizon.
Vivo X Flip: Software
The X Flip runs OriginOS 3, which is based on Android 13, but has many different tweaks so you can customize the interface to your liking. This includes making the Quick Settings panel easier to use as it slides down the bottom half of the screen, eliminating the need to do finger exercises to reach the top of the phone.
There’s really not much to write home about when the X Flip is fully open, as it’s pretty much the same experience you’ll find on any Android phone. The fun begins when you want to try using different apps in a semi-folded state on the X Flip.
Thanks to the water drop hinge design, the X Flip can be positioned at different angles ranging from 60 to 120 degrees. This is great for those times when you want to watch a video with your phone propped up or if you want to take a photo and want to take advantage of the built-in tripod.
Like the X Fold 2, Vivo has only released the X Flip in China, which means it won’t come with Google services available out of the box. Instead, you’ll need to sideload the Google Play Store, which takes just a few steps, then you can download all your favorite apps and games.
As for the X Flip cover screen, I still have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it’s nice to see a larger screen that lets you easily reply to messages or use it as a camera viewfinder without having to open the phone.
But on the other hand, Vivo has some severe limitations when it comes to the apps you can use. As of this writing, the only apps you can use right out of the box include some of the company’s apps, along with WeChat. Of course, we’d like to see support for more apps expanded, even if it’s just for messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.
Beyond that, you can still read all your incoming notifications, and there’s a customizable panel that lets you see things like the date, steps, and time. And there are tons of customization options available in the Settings app.
Vivo X Flip: cameras
As mentioned above, the X Flip is “only” equipped with a dual camera setup, but I’ve been regularly surprised by the results. I didn’t need to worry about a delay between tapping the shutter button and actually taking the photo. The built-in night mode also managed to impress, which is especially fun to use since the X Flip doubles as a tripod.
Image 1 From 7
That said, you really won’t be disappointed with the camera system offered by Vivo’s first flip phone. It might even be the best camera system in this form factor, despite not using the same sensors as Vivo’s excellent X90 Pro+.
Image 1 From 3
Vivo X Flip: the competition
The obvious competition for the Vivo X Flip is Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 5. Rumors suggest that Samsung is expanding the cover screen to make it more useful, while also implementing a new hinge design that allows it to close completely. Plus, the cost will be lower, considering you won’t need to import it from China, plus any launch deals you may have.
Motorola’s Razr Plus is also an excellent contender for the X Flip, as both are powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. The Vivo gets the edge in the storage, RAM and battery department, but again, the Razer Plus is easier to get your hands on and has even bigger screen coverage.
Vivo X Flip: Should You Buy It?
You should buy it if:
- You want the best cameras in a foldable clamshell phone
- You are ok with importing and installing Google services
- You want excellent battery life in this form factor
You shouldn’t buy it if:
- You want to use it with an eSIM
- You don’t want to worry about importing and installing Google services
- Are you interested in what the Galaxy Z Flip 5 could offer
As with the Vivo X Fold 2, it’s really hard to recommend the X Flip wholeheartedly. Vivo’s first clamshell foldout is quite excellent, especially after getting over the lack of out-of-the-box Google services. The camera is great, the battery life is great, and it’s comfortable to hold despite being quite slippery.
Not only is the Galaxy Z Flip 5 just around the corner, but the Razr Plus is already available and you can go to your local carrier and pick one up now. If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that I’m excited to see what Vivo can do with a possible successor.
If you Truly If you want to pick up the Vivo X Flip for yourself, it’s available through Giztop and, as of this writing, is on sale for around $999. But you might be better suited to wait a little longer to see what the Z Flip 5 has to offer.
#Vivo #Flip #review #Holy #mother #pearl
Image Source : www.androidcentral.com