Vivo’s latest foldable has just hit the global market, after first appearing in China in June. I’ll tear the band-aid off early: the X Fold 6 won’t launch in the UK or the US, but it will be available in select European markets (as usual).
The Vivo X Fold 6 is launching at a very interesting time. Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, is just about to land, and Samsung shook things up with its passport-sized Galaxy Z Fold 8 earlier this year as well. Vivo keeps things a little more traditional; the X Fold 6 is the normal book-style fold that Android users are used to. And to keep it attractive, Vivo has maximized the specifications in every department.
Choosing a foldable over a bar phone has always come with compromises, whether it’s size and weight, battery capacity or camera performance. Vivo has worked to eliminate each of these limitations, and it’s really close. I’ve been using the X Fold 6 as my main device for the past week to see if it lives up to the hype.
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The polar opposite of the iPhone Duo
At the moment, it feels like all eyes are on Apple as the duo’s official launch draws closer. I get the impression that Vivo is more interested in elevating the likes of the Honor Magic V6 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, but the launch timing means that many will weigh the difference between it and Apple’s first attempt at the foldable form factor. It’s an interesting comparison, as the two devices couldn’t be more different.
The X Fold 6 looks and feels like a Pro Max-sized flagship when closed. The cover screen is not narrow like the Z Fold 8 Ultra, nor shorter than the Duo. It’s meant to feel like a normal phone that can fold into a large tablet when you need it, and it does.
It almost feels like this form factor is going out of style, and I think that’s a real shame. The utility is clear to see; Apps are all perfectly designed for the cover screen, and when you open it, you can have two apps side by side in their intended aspect ratio. I enjoyed using the Z Fold 8, but I ran into software optimization hiccups on many occasions.
The X Fold 6 is a pretty big and heavy phone, especially compared to the slim Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, but somehow it’s still lighter than the iPhone Duo. The Vivo tips the scales at 235g, while the smaller iPhone Duo weighs 254g. The chunky camera bump on the Vivo is certainly divisive though.
On the other hand, the camera bump is there for a good reason. While the Duo forgoes a telephoto camera altogether, the X Fold 6 has the most impressive telephoto I’ve ever seen on a foldable. Plus, if you really want to take things to the next level, it supports the same external teleconverter lens as the X300 Ultra.
And the camera prowess doesn’t stop there. The X Fold 6 has a 200MP main camera with a large 1/1.4-inch sensor, and a 50MP ultra-wide to boot. It also benefits from Vivo’s Zeiss partnership, with the signature T* lens coatings and co-developed image styles on track.
I’ve tested almost every foldable phone in 2026, and so far I think Vivo’s photos and videos are probably the best. Unfortunately, I haven’t tried the Duo yet, but I own the iPhone 18 Pro, and in most situations I prefer the results I get from this foldable phone. That’s quite an achievement, and without a telephoto I don’t see Apple competing.
Vivo is also light years ahead of the competition with its battery tech. Somehow there’s a 6,900mAh battery crammed into the X Fold 6, and I got two days on a charge very consistently. That is with heavy use, spending a lot of time with the large folding screen and taking a lot of photos.
Apple didn’t reveal the iPhone Duo’s battery capacity (it never does), but what it said at the phone’s launch was revealing enough. Users can expect up to 24 hours of typical use. That’s not even close to what Vivo offers here.
The same applies to the charging speed; the X Fold 6 supports up to 80W with a wire and 40W wireless. Again, Apple hasn’t confirmed the cable speed, but we already know enough. The brand says you can expect up to a 50% charge in 20 minutes; meanwhile, the Vivo can fully charge from flat in about 35 minutes.
Of course, there are many differences in the software, but Origin OS 7 is closer to iOS than ever, at least in terms of aesthetics. It has a Dynamic Island clone, really nice looking Liquid Glass styling, and very similar lock screen customization, too. If there’s something you don’t like, you can almost certainly change it, as the customization options are extremely detailed.
Where the X Fold 6 really pulls ahead is with its multitasking capabilities. So far, all sources report that the iPhone Duo can only show two apps side by side in split view, and that these windows are not resizable; it’s always a 50/50 split. What Vivo is doing is on a whole other level.
On the X Fold 6 you can up to four Apps open in split view, all resizable, and you can open a fifth as a floating window on top. Still not enough? You can also add tabs to the floating window to quickly switch between apps. I can’t imagine anyone ever needing more than that; it’s essentially desktop-level multitasking in your pocket.
Where Vivo falls short
Of course, no device is perfect, and the X Fold 6 has its flaws. The biggest is the phone’s software, despite the aforementioned multitasking features. I doubt I’m alone when I say I salivated when I first saw the iPhone Duo’s unfolding animation. It’s incredibly smooth.
In contrast, the X Fold 6 reacts more slowly than most when opened or closed. Instead of a smoother animation, you’re left with a blank screen every time you fold it, and then you have to wait a split second for the UI to catch up and appear on the screen. This transition isn’t hard to live with, but it’s far less polished than what Apple offers on the iPhone Duo.
For the most part, though, I like the X Fold 6’s software. It’s fast, smooth and extremely customizable. Unfortunately, it has the same quirks that we always see from Chinese brands. Apps will close in the background to save battery life, which may result in delayed notifications until you go in and tweak settings.
There’s also the ever-present lock screen feature that just shows random images until you disable it. Weird.
The iPhone Duo also impressed with its almost invisible fold. Vivo X Fold 6’s padding is minimal, but it’s still there. I’d say it beats the Z Fold 8, and it’s a step behind the Oppo Find N6’s circle. It seems like Apple might be leading the pack in this particular area, but we’ll pass judgment once we’ve spent more time with it.
Then there is the question of availability. If you live in a region where Vivo is present, then great, no problem – but that won’t be the case for many of our readers. I live in the UK; Vivo doesn’t work here, so the only way for me to get a Vivo phone is to import it from a European neighbor or grab a Chinese model.
It’s not hard to do, but it means there are no contract deals on offer, and if something goes wrong with the phone (which is more of a concern with foldables), I’m on my own.
Should you get one?
The Vivo X Fold 6 is a foldable phone with almost no compromises. Honestly, it would be a pretty solid phone if it didn’t unfold, and the fact that it does is just the icing on the cake. Battery life is incredible, gaming performance is solid, and the cameras are among the best we’ve seen on a foldable yet.
If the iPhone Duo is the foldable phone for people who didn’t know they needed a foldable, the Vivo X Fold 6 is the phone for foldable users who are tired of compromises. The two couldn’t be more different, and I’m glad they both exist.
As someone into photography, gaming, and content creation who often needs to do serious work on the go, the Vivo X Fold 6 is almost certainly more suited to my needs. But most people don’t demand that much from their phone.
I have no doubt that many prefer what Apple has cooked. Still, I’ve had an amazing time with this Vivo, and I don’t want to put it down anytime soon.
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