Vivo X Fold 6 review: Is this premium foldable phone worth Rs 2.2 lakh? Digit.in

Foldable smartphones have come a very long way, offering a lot more than the novelty of a screen that folds in half. They have evolved into premium devices that aim to combine the convenience of a regular smartphone with the versatility of a larger display. However, with rising smartphone prices, primarily due to surging memory chip costs, expectations are higher than ever. The Vivo X Fold 6 enters this competitive market, where the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold are also trying to get buyers’ attention.

Priced at Rs 2,19,999, the Vivo X Fold 6 has a lot to prove. At this price, buyers expect much more than a premium design, reliable everyday performance, capable cameras, or battery life that can keep up with their daily routines. 

So, does the Vivo X Fold 6 deliver on expectations, and can it stand out against its premium rivals? I spent time with the phone to evaluate its design, displays, performance, cameras, and battery life to find out whether it is worth considering. Here’s my full review.

Vivo X Fold 6: Design

The Vivo X Fold 6 follows a book-style foldable design and comes in two colour options: Nebula Teal and Prism Black. I received the Prism Black colour variant for this review. Instead of a plain back panel seen on the X Fold 5, it features finely arranged vertical lines that give it a distinctive look. I also found the phone comfortable to hold, which is important for a foldable that you might use for extended periods.

The X Fold 6 features a large circular camera module on the back, which has become a familiar design element on Vivo’s flagship smartphones. The camera island protrudes noticeably from the back panel.

When folded, the phone measures 9.4mm in thickness and weighs 228 grams. When unfolded, it is just 4.4mm thick, giving you a large screen without making the device feel too bulky. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra measures 8.9mm when folded, 4.1mm when unfolded, and weighs only 215 grams, while the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold measures 10.1mm when folded and weighs 239 grams. This puts the Vivo X Fold 6 between the two in terms of thickness and weight. It is thicker and heavier than Samsung’s device, but slimmer and lighter than Google’s foldable.

The crease on the inner display is visible, particularly when viewed from certain angles. While this is common with foldable smartphones, it is still something you will notice when using the larger screen.

For durability, the Vivo X Fold 6 comes with IP58, IP59, IPX8, and IPX9 ratings for dust and water resistance. It also features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, along with a dedicated shortcut button for quick access to selected functions.

Vivo X Fold 6: Performance and software

The Vivo X Fold 6 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 Super Edition chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. To test its performance, I ran a few benchmark tests. The X Fold 6 scored 28,06,922 on AnTuTu. In Geekbench, it scored 1,571 points in the single-core test and 5,292 points in the multi-core test.

For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra scored 30,45,858 on AnTuTu, with Geekbench single-core and multi-core scores of 2,625 and 6,946, respectively. Meanwhile, the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold scored 10,47,605 on AnTuTu, along with 2,272 points in the Geekbench single-core test and 5,593 points in the multi-core test. These results put the Vivo X Fold 6 behind the Samsung foldable in all three tests. Compared to the Google foldable, it scores significantly higher on AnTuTu but falls behind in both Geekbench tests.

However, looking past the benchmarks, in everyday use, the Vivo X Fold 6 handles regular tasks such as browsing, social media, streaming, and switching between apps without any major issues. The large inner display also makes multitasking more convenient.

To test its gaming capabilities, I played BGMI on the phone. With the graphics set to the ‘Better Frame Rate’ option, the game can run at up to 90fps, delivering a smooth experience. However, if you switch to higher graphics settings, you may notice frame drops and lag during gameplay. 

Moving to software, the Vivo X Fold 6 runs OriginOS 7 based on Android 17. It offers several features designed specifically for the foldable form factor, making better use of the large inner display. One of the key features that I liked the most is Origin Workbench, which lets you keep a primary task open alongside up to four supporting tasks. There is also a Multi-Split Screen mode that lets you run up to four apps side by side, making it easier to switch between tasks without constantly moving between applications.

These features can be useful for work and productivity. For instance, you can keep a document open while checking emails, browsing the web, or referring to other information on the same screen.

Vivo X Fold 6: Camera

Vivo’s X-series smartphones have built a reputation for their camera capabilities, and the Vivo X Fold 6 aims to bring that same imaging experience to a foldable form factor. The phone features a triple rear camera setup co-engineered with ZEISS, comprising a 200-megapixel primary camera with OIS, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens. For selfies and video calls, there are two 20-megapixel front-facing cameras, one on each display.

Starting with the primary camera, the Vivo X Fold 6 captures impressive photos in daylight. Images look great, with plenty of detail, pleasing colours, and good contrast. The camera does a good job of capturing subjects without making the photos look overly processed. 

Speaking of the portrait shots, the edge detection is impressive, even around fine details such as hair, helping the phone separate the subject from the background and create a natural-looking blur.

The 50-megapixel telephoto camera is useful when you want to capture subjects from a distance without physically moving closer. With 3x optical zoom, it offers more flexibility for portraits and close-up shots. Meanwhile, the 50-megapixel ultrawide camera lets you fit more of a scene into the frame, making it useful for landscapes, architecture, and group photos.

I was impressed with the low-light photography. In night shots, the primary camera captures images with good detail while keeping the lighting balanced. Bright areas do not overpower the rest of the scene, and the camera retains a good amount of information in darker areas. This helps the images look clear and usable without making the night scene appear unnaturally bright.

The selfie cameras on the inner and cover displays make it convenient to take self-portraits regardless of whether the phone is folded or unfolded. You can also use the rear cameras for selfies by taking advantage of the cover display as a viewfinder.

So, the Vivo X Fold 6 makes a strong case for users who do not want to compromise on photography when choosing a foldable phone.

Vivo X Fold 6: Display

The Vivo X Fold 6 features an 8.02-inch AMOLED inner display. The outer display is a 6.51-inch AMOLED cover display. Both displays come with a 120Hz refresh rate. They also support HDR10+, HDR Vivid, and Dolby Vision, making them well-equipped for watching content. The AMOLED panels deliver vibrant colours and deep blacks, while scrolling through apps and webpages feels smooth.

Obviously, the inner display is the main attraction here. The large screen makes watching videos, reading articles, and working with multiple apps more enjoyable than on a conventional smartphone. The AMOLED panel delivers vibrant colours and good contrast, making videos and other content look appealing. 

The cover display is equally important because it is the screen you will use for most everyday tasks without unfolding the phone. At 6.51 inches, it is comparable in size to the display on a conventional smartphone, making it practical for messaging, browsing social media, replying to emails, and using apps. 

Vivo claims that both displays can reach a peak brightness of 5,000 nits. While the 5,000-nit peak brightness is a claimed figure, both displays are bright enough for comfortable viewing in everyday use, even under sunlight. You can read text, browse apps, and view content outdoors without difficulty.

Though there is one compromise. As I mentioned in the design section, the crease on the inner display is visible, particularly when viewed from certain angles. However, it does not take away from the benefits of having a large foldable screen.

Vivo X Fold 6: Battery

The Vivo X Fold 6 packs a 6,900mAh battery with support for 80W fast charging. To test its endurance, I ran the PCMark battery test, in which the phone lasted for 23 hours and 31 minutes. This is an impressive result and suggests that the Vivo X Fold 6 can handle extended usage without requiring to frequently charge the phone. With normal usage, the X Fold 6 should last for more than a day on a single charge.

In everyday use, the Vivo X Fold 6 also managed power consumption well during my testing. Using Google Maps for an hour consumed around 4 per cent of the battery, while playing BGMI for 15 minutes drained 3 per cent. These results suggest that navigation and short gaming sessions do not put a significant strain on the battery.

Coming to charging, the Vivo X Fold 6 took around 1 hour and 10 minutes to charge from 0 to 100 per cent. This is acceptable given the battery size.

Vivo X Fold 6: Verdict

As mentioned at the beginning, with smartphone prices climbing amid rising memory chip costs, the Vivo X Fold 6 has a lot to justify at Rs 2,19,999. And it does get several things right, including a premium design, vibrant displays, capable everyday performance, impressive cameras, and excellent battery life. Features such as Origin Workbench and Multi-Split Screen also make good use of the large inner display, giving the phone a practical edge for productivity.

However, it is not without compromises. The visible crease on the inner display remains noticeable, and its benchmark results fall behind the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra in our tests. While the camera system and battery endurance put the Vivo X Fold 6 in a strong light, these are areas where buyers should weigh its overall package against competing foldables.

Ultimately, the Vivo X Fold 6 delivers on many of the expectations that come with a premium foldable, particularly in photography, battery life, and multitasking. But at this price, it needs to offer more than a well-rounded experience to truly stand out. It is worth considering if these strengths match your priorities, though buyers should compare it with its premium rivals before making a final decision.