Vivo X Fold6: A powerful foldable with a few minor weaknesses

The Vivo X Fold6 is a high-quality foldable that impresses both visually and in terms of feel, and fits comfortably in the hand. Compared to its predecessor, however, it has become heavier. The display crease remains visible and noticeable, but it’s hardly a bother in everyday use. With an IP59 rating, the device is also well protected against water and dust. Up to 1 TB of storage is available. It remains to be seen how widely the global version will be available and how long it will receive updates.

When it comes to communication, the X Fold6 delivers good voice quality, though the noise cancellation could be improved. The Chinese variant also lacks 6 GHz Wi-Fi and eSIM support. Wi-Fi 7 still ensures high data transfer rates. The USB port, on the other hand, is disappointing: despite being rated USB 3.2 Gen. 2, the foldable only achieves around 350 MB/s in a copy test.

The camera system is one of the device’s strengths. The new 200-megapixel main sensor delivers good photos, and the optical zoom is also impressive. At high zoom levels, AI helps, though it sometimes produces images that look artificial. The ultra-wide-angle camera falls slightly short compared to the other cameras, but still performs well.

The displays offer a 120 Hz refresh rate and are relatively easy on the eyes thanks to high-frequency PWM dimming. However, they do not reach the promised 5,000 cd/m² in testing. The Fold6 remains easy to read outdoors, nonetheless. The base flicker rate of just 90 Hz is particularly noticeable.

The Dimensity 9500 delivers plenty of performance but gets very hot under sustained load. After 15 minutes, performance drops by about six to seven percent, while 3DMark stress tests are even aborted. In everyday use, the throttling is barely noticeable. Combined with the powerful 7,000 mAh battery, the Vivo X Fold6 still delivers an exceptionally capable overall package.