Vivo X Flip review
The X Flip suits someone who wants a flagship foldable that is genuinely pocketable and does not mind the narrow unfolded shape in exchange for performance and portability. Anyone prioritizing battery endurance, a wider viewing experience, or faster charging should look at newer foldables or traditional flagships in the same price range.
This review is based on Vivo’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Vivo X Flip, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Vivo X Flip is a 2023 foldable that favors compactness and flagship performance over battery size, delivering a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and 120Hz AMOLED display in a package that actually fits a pocket. The narrow unfolded aspect ratio and modest 4400mAh cell are real compromises for portability.
Design & Build
At 198g and 7.8mm thick unfolded, the X Flip prioritizes portability over screen real estate, which is the defining trade-off of the entire phone. The aluminum frame and glass back feel sturdy rather than premium, and there is no creasing of the display visible when the phone is folded—a quality check that Vivo got right. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is reliable in daily use. Where this foldable distinguishes itself is that it actually fits a jacket pocket without making you feel like you are carrying a wallet; most rivals feel like a small tablet when closed.
Display
The 6.74-inch LTPO AMOLED unfolded display is bright and colors are vibrant, but the 21:9 aspect ratio—narrower than any traditional smartphone—defines how you actually use it. Scrolling through messages, reading, and browsing web articles feel natural on the tall, thin canvas. Watching video or playing games in landscape leaves you staring at thick black bars, or you hold it in portrait and get a sliver of content. At 407 ppi, sharpness is solid. The 3-inch cover display is small but functional for notifications and replies without unfolding, though it is too cramped for serious work. The 120Hz refresh is smooth and necessary at this price point; in 2023 it was table stakes for a flagship.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 with Adreno 730 remains capable in 2023—Genshin Impact runs at high settings with steady frame rates, and day-to-day apps (messaging, social media, email) show no lag. The 12GB of RAM ensures smooth app switching, and the UFS 3.1 storage is fast enough that there is no stutter loading files or opening large photos. This is not an overclocked beast; it is just a solidly fast phone that does not disappoint. Compared to the base Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 from the year before, the Gen 1+ brings a modest uplift, and by 2024 this chipset would start feeling ordinary, but in early 2023 it was current-gen flagship material.
Camera
The 50MP main sensor with an f/1.8 lens and optical image stabilization captures sharp daylight photos, and the Zeiss optics and dual pixel autofocus lock focus quickly even in mixed lighting. Low-light shooting is reasonable—not exceptional, but acceptable for a phone at this price and year. The 12MP ultrawide at 106 degrees handles landscapes and group shots without much distortion. The 32MP selfie camera is fine for video calls and portraits. The one disappointment is that video maxes out at 4K 30fps; rivals were offering 8K or 4K 60fps by 2023, so this feels conservative for a flagship foldable. Zeiss branding adds credibility, but in real use this is a competent camera system without a knockout feature.
Battery & Charging
The 4400mAh battery is the phone's biggest concession to weight and thinness. Expect about 14 to 16 hours of mixed use per day—enough for most people who charge nightly, but not enough to comfortably skip a day, and well behind the 18–24 hours typical flagships offered by 2023. Heavy users and travelers will feel the squeeze. The 44W wired charging tops the battery in roughly 50 to 70 minutes, which is slow compared to rivals at this price (100W+ was becoming common), so a battery emergency means a meaningful wait. There is no wireless charging, which is standard omission on foldables but still a limitation if you wanted the speed boost of a charger pad during travel.
Software
Android 13 with Vivo's OriginOS 3 runs smoothly, though the customization is thick and may feel intrusive if you prefer stock Android. The foldable-specific optimizations exist (app continuity between screens, cover display shortcuts), but they are incremental refinements rather than revelations. Software updates were promised, but Vivo's track record of long-term support lags behind Samsung or Google, which matters if you plan to keep this phone for 3+ years.
Value & Verdict
At around 800 EUR in early 2023, the X Flip cost less than the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and came with a faster chipset, which was a genuine selling point for performance-focused buyers. By 2024–2025, however, foldable prices have fallen and specifications have shifted—newer foldables offer larger unfolded screens, bigger batteries, and faster charging for similar money, making the X Flip feel dated. The narrow display ratio is a quirk that some embrace and others resent; there is no middle ground. If you value a compact foldable that fits your pocket and do not mind charging daily, this is a capable phone. If you want a foldable that doubles as a tablet for media consumption, the 21:9 ratio will frustrate you.
Verdict
The X Flip suits someone who wants a flagship foldable that is genuinely pocketable and does not mind the narrow unfolded shape in exchange for performance and portability. Anyone prioritizing battery endurance, a wider viewing experience, or faster charging should look at newer foldables or traditional flagships in the same price range.
- Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 handles current gaming and multitasking without throttling
- 120Hz LTPO AMOLED display with Zeiss optics on a 50MP main camera captures sharp daylight shots and reasonable low-light photos
- Folds compactly at 198g with an aluminum frame that feels solid; the cover display is usable for quick tasks
- 5G, NFC, and dual SIM on a foldable that doesn't feel like an oversized brick
- 4400mAh battery means roughly 14–16 hours of mixed use per day, which is tight for a foldable and tighter than typical flagships at this price
- The 21:9 unfolded ratio is tall and narrow—good for scrolling text but poor for watching video or gaming in landscape
- 44W charging is ordinary now; rivals in 2023 were already at 65–120W, so you're waiting 50–70 minutes for a full charge
Vivo X Flip Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2023, April 20 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.74 inches, 106.1 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio), Foldable LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~407 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 106˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Selfie camera | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| Battery | 4400 mAh |
| Charging | 44W wired |
| Software | Android 13, OriginOS 3 |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 166.4 x 75.3 x 7.8 mmFolded: 86.4 x 75.3 x 16.6 mm |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) |
| Build | Aluminum frame, glass back |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Vivo X Flip FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the X Flip support 5G?
Yes. The X Flip supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the X Flip use?
The X Flip runs on the Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm).
What display does the X Flip have?
A 6.74 inches, 106.1 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio) Foldable LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~407 ppi density).
How big is the X Flip battery?
The X Flip has a 4400 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 44W wired.
Does the X Flip have NFC?
Yes, the X Flip has NFC.
Does the X Flip support a microSD card?
No, the X Flip does not support expandable storage.
Does the X Flip have a headphone jack?
No, the X Flip does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the X Flip isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Pad3 Pro
iQOO Neo7 Pro
iQOO Neo8
iQOO Pad2 Pro
P60
