Is it safe to say that the foldable wars are finally on? After Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, more eyes are looking towards foldables, and Apple’s foldable isn’t even out yet. Despite still being in the iPhone Duo’s preorder phase, Samsung has already laid a bold claim over the market. According to the South Korean brand, demand for the Galaxy Z Fold8 family has increased since the debut of the Duo.

As reported by Forbes, Richard Chang, Corporate Vice President for the Mobile Division, said, “Customer demand for the Galaxy Z Fold8 family has increased 16 percent since launch, and with a 300 percent increase in active Google searches for Samsung foldables in the last month alone.”

To be fair, Chang did not attribute the recent spike to Apple. However, the timing is more than just a coincidence. A few weeks ago, Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, the company’s first foray into the foldable market. Almost immediately, the Duo turned heads for its novel approach to its foldable interface. Unlike its competitors, it transitions seamlessly when folding between the two modes.

However, Apple’s efforts might not be enough, at least not before the Duo actually launches. Samsung is still on an upward trend, thanks to the more convenient passport-style form factor of the Galaxy Z Fold8. Still, regardless of which side of the fence you’re on, it’s a win for consumers that the two biggest names in the smartphone space are finally feuding over foldable supremacy. We might be in for a golden age of foldables in the next few years.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 18 Pro Series review

vivo has introduced the vivo V80, a smartphone featuring a 50-megapixel ZEISS telephoto camera, a 7,200mAh battery, and a 144Hz display. The device also introduces a cold-carved glass design and OriginOS 7, with new AI-powered photography and productivity features.

ZEISS cameras take center stage

The vivo V80 features a 50-megapixel ZEISS Super Telephoto Camera with 3x optical zoom and up to 10x digital zoom. It uses a 1/1.95-inch Sony IMX882 sensor and optical image stabilization to capture detailed photos while reducing blur from hand movements.

The camera supports ZEISS 100mm Center-Stage Portrait, which uses ZEISS Planar Style Bokeh and a low-saturation platinum tone to emphasize subjects. The phone also offers ZEISS 85mm Portrait with Sonnar Style Bokeh and warmer cinematic tones.

For night photography, CCD Flash Portrait combines flash illumination with CCD-inspired color processing.

The main camera uses a 50-megapixel Sony LYTIA 700V sensor with optical image stabilization. Meanwhile, the 50-megapixel front camera features autofocus and a wide-angle lens for group selfies.

AI Best Face lets users change individual expressions in photos captured using Live Photo. The AI Creative Camera also offers lighting effects such as Glow, Sunlight, and Top Lighting. Other editing tools include AI Erase, AI Magic Move, AI Image Expander, and Creative Sticker Collage.

The vivo V80 supports 4K video recording at 60 frames per second on both its front and rear cameras.

Cold-carved glass design and durable construction

The vivo V80 features a one-piece cold-carved glass back that integrates the rear cover with the floating camera module. It also uses an aerospace-grade metal frame and reinforced glass for additional durability.

The device passed SGS drop and impact resistance tests and carries IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance ratings.

vivo offers the V80 in Starwish Purple, Wander Green, Sunrise Orange, and Vast Gray. The Starwish Purple variant uses Laser Holographic Lithography to create a three-dimensional stellar pattern on the back cover.

Large battery and 144Hz display

The vivo V80 packs a 7,200mAh BlueVolt battery that uses fourth-generation silicon anode technology. Its 90W FlashCharge system can charge the battery to 50% in 30 minutes, according to vivo.

The phone also supports Multi-Scenario Bypass Charging, which manages heat during charging while users stream videos or play games.

A Qualcomm Snapdragon 7-series processor powers the device. vivo also lists support for up to 144fps high-frame-rate gaming and 8GB of RAM with an additional 16GB of software-based Extended RAM.

The display features 1.5K resolution, a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, and local peak brightness of up to 5,000 nits. It supports 1.07 billion colors and a minimum brightness of 1 nit. The phone also includes dual stereo speakers, Gaming Hypersense Audio, and Signal Boost technology.

OriginOS 7 adds AI tools and cross-device features

The vivo V80 runs OriginOS 7, which introduces AI-powered productivity tools and expanded personalization options.

Snap Note converts photos of whiteboards or handwritten notes into editable documents. AI Recorder provides meeting transcriptions and six types of smart summaries for lectures, interviews, and calls.

Users can also customize their phones with StickIt stickers, the motion-responsive Wiggle Theme, and Pet Pals animated companions.

OriginOS 7 adds cross-device features through vivo Office Kit, including phone-to-iPad screen mirroring and note synchronization. It also supports Apple Watch health and notification synchronization, Spatial Audio with AirPods, and photo transfers through Shake & Share.

For security, the system includes Security Shield, which helps block sideloading threats, identify malicious USB connections, screen spam calls, and detect unsafe browser URLs. vivo says the V80 will receive six years of annual security updates.

Availability

vivo says the V80 will gradually launch in India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other regions. Pricing, availability, and specifications may vary by market.

The company has not announced local pricing or a confirmed Philippine release date in the provided press release.

The NBA is experimenting with the use of smart basketballs and official wrist wearables ahead of its 2026-2027 regular season — two technologies which NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has mentioned can potentially be used officially in games as early as next season.

Per the Associated Press, select preseason games have included a smart basketball that has a Bluetooth sensor, manufactured with the league’s official provider Wilson. This can collect data for future use in real-time officiating decisions.

In a later interview with CNBC, Silver detailed that the smart chip integrated into the basketball weighs “roughly a gram” and does not affect the players’ feel or perception of the ball — at least in their tests.

“We A/B tested the ball with the chip, without the chip, and nobody could tell the difference, so that’s a good sign,” Silver said.

Both the official wearables and the smart basketballs underwent pilot testing during the summer league. The G-League also participated in the testing.

The NBA mentioned information from the Wilson-developed connected balls will be “for research only” for now. As such, the technology will not be used throughout the regular season and playoffs through mid-2027.

But Silver already sees the practical applications of the smart basketball, including determining out-of-bounds and goal-tending calls.

These can be based on whether the ball changed its arc, spin, or direction, as well as whether a finger touched it or not.

As such, the league could adapt its use as early as the 2027-2028 season.

Furthermore, the information the chip can provide can also be processed by players, as in the case of shooters observing which spin is most optimal for accuracy.

Wilson has not shied away from innovations, having introduced an airless basketball in the past.