News

vivo X Fold5 breaks some records for a foldable

Second lightest foldable of 2025 with four IP ratings

Published

June 25, 2025

Vincenz

We’re just in the second quarter of 2025. Yet, it’s been raining foldables all around.

While we’re still all waiting for the grand launch of the HONOR Magic V5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, vivo walks the red carpet first with the X Fold5.

Lightest of ’em all

If last year’s X Fold3 was already lightweight, vivo has managed to beat its own record.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

From 219 grams, its successor is more featherweight at only 217 grams. That alone makes vivo’s X Fold5 the world’s lightest book-style foldable so far.

UPDATE #1: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is now 2025’s lightest foldable at 215 grams.

But that’s only for the Titanium model. The two other colorways — Clear and Pine Green — are heavier at 226 grams.

Even the OPPO Find N5, its closest rival, weighs 229 grams.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

While not the thinnest (as it’s already reserved on the upcoming HONOR Magic V5 at 8.8mm), the Titanium Version of the X Fold5 with fiberglass back is still razor thin at 9.2 mm.

Meanwhile, the other two colorways with regular glass backs are slightly thicker at 9.7mm.

For comparison, last year’s X Fold3 was 10.2mm.

When unfolded, they’re 4.3mm and 4.55mm respectively.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

All these wouldn’t be possible without the vivo X Fold5’s mighty foldable mechanism.

That’s all thanks to its hinge made of ultra high-strength FS55 steel and carbon fiber materials.

Speaking of durability, the vivo X Fold5 is also the first smartphone ever to feature four IP ratings: IP5X, IPX8, IPX9, and IPX9+.

As confusing as it sounds, IPX8, IPX9, and IPX9+ are all about water-resistance.

The most extreme IPX9+ rating means it can be folded and unfolded underwater. It also has utmost protection against strong rain and wind.

Meanwhile, IP5X has resistance from dust disturbance.

Also, the vivo X Fold5 has a durable “anti-freeze” body that can withstand -20ºC temperature.

Pro-grade without the “Pro” name

This 2025, vivo has simplified its latest foldable to just a single model without the existence of a separate “Pro” version.

Regardless, the vivo X Fold5 still packs pro hardware inside.

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

It runs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 4nm SoC found on 2024 flagships.It’s then backed by either 12GB or 16GB of LPPDR5X Ultra memory plus options between 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of storage in the UFS 4.1 interface.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Screen sizes are still similar like last year: 8.03-inch inside, 6.53 inches outside.

Both are LTPO 8T AMOLED displays with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, 8,000,000:1 Contrast Ratio, 452 ppi Pixel Density, 4500 nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3 Wide Color Gamut, and 1.07 Billion Colors support.

Battery capacity has then been bumped up from 5500mAh to 6000mAh — making it a foldable with one of the biggest battery capacities.

Charging protocol still remains like last year: 80W FlashCharge.

However, vivo brings its 40W wireless FlashCharge that was absent in last year’s base model (which only the X Fold3 Pro had wireless FlashCharge at 50W).

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Last but definitely not the least, its mighty triple 50MP ZEISS camera system with ZEISS T* lens coating.

There’s a 50MP f/2.05 UWA (Ultra-Wide Angle) lens with a 50MP f/1.57 VCS Bionic main camera using Sony IMX921’s 1/1.56-inch sensor.

Lastly, a 50MP f/2.55 periscope telephoto lens based on Sony IMX882 image sensor that’s capable of shooting optically zoomed images to 3x, up to 20x telephoto macro, and up to 100x max. Also, a color-spectrum sensor that’s absent in last year’s X Fold.

Both selfie cameras are 32MP f/2.4 shooters.

ICYMI, that’s a flagship-grade camera system very much akin to the vivo X200, X200s, and the recently-released X200 FE. Still a rarity among foldable smartphones.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The vivo X Fold5 runs the latest version of OriginOS 5 based on Android 15 with AI-rich features and an all-new Stage Manager-like Multitasking view.

There’s even seamless (and serious) connection to the Apple ecosystem.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Whether it’s sharing photos and files via AirDrop, call and text (and iMessages) forwarding in iPhones, screen mirroring, extending, or even remotely controlling your Mac, native controls when pairing your AirPods, or even viewing your latest Activity Rings in your Apple Watch, vivo’s China-based OS all support it.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Pricing and Availability

The vivo X Fold5 is available in four configurations:

12+256GB = CNY 6999 (US$ 975 / EUR 840 / GBP 720 / SG$ 1250 / PhP 55,730 / INR 83,935)
12+512GB = CNY 7999 (US$ 1115 / EUR 960 / GBP 820 / SG$ 1430 / PhP 63,685 / INR 95,930)
16+512GB = CNY 8499 (US$ 1185 / EUR 1020 / GBP 870 / SG$ 1520 / PhP 67,670 / INR 101,930)
16+1TB = CNY 9499 (US$ 1325 / EUR 1140 / GBP 975 / SG$ 1695 / PhP 75,625 / INR 113,920)

Pre-orders run for six days. Online and offline store availability starts on July 10, Thursday.

Currently, just like any Chinese-exclusive device, there’s no word about global availability.

UPDATE #2: vivo X Fold5 was recently launched in India with a price of INR 149,999 in a lone 16+512 GB Titanium Gray variant.

News

Samsung is teasing smart glasses again

The brand is experimenting with more form factors.

Published

January 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

What comes next after the smartphone? For years, brands hunted for an answer. Apple, for example, placed its bet on the Vision Pro, a wager that hasn’t paid off yet. Samsung, on the other hand, is betting on a different horse: augmented reality.

In a new earnings call (via Seeking Alpha), Samsung’s Seong H. Cho, the brand’s head for mobile marketing, confirmed that they will experiment more with “diverse form factors such as next-generation AR glasses.”

Samsung has been teasing a pair of glasses for a while now. However, with an impressive lineup already in the works (including the brand’s first trifold smartphone), it’s understandable that hype for the teased glasses took a bit of a backseat.

But, with an official word now about the wearable, the game is once again on to create an impressive pair of smart glasses.

The only question here is the “next-generation” part. Since Samsung doesn’t really have a pair out in the market right now, it’s a bit difficult to determine what the next generation might mean.

Of course, it could simply be a marketing term that implies smart glasses are the next generation of technology. If it pertains to what’s already out in the market, it could mean a pair that comes with a camera or even a display. Of note, most smart glasses today (or, at least, those accessible to most users) use only audio for its smart functionalities.

News

Nothing will not release a Phone (4) this year

But the Phone (4a) is still scheduled.

Published

January 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Last year, Nothing offered a worthy alternative to the usual flagship brands. Though the Phone (3) edged closer and closer to flagship-level prices, the smartphone is still a decent performer through and through. This year, however, a Phone (4) is not in the works.

Through a new YouTube video, Nothing’s Carl Pei has confirmed that the brand will not release a Phone (4) this year. The Phone (3) will still be the brand’s flagship option throughout 2026.

Pei did not reveal any explicit reason why they couldn’t make a new flagship this year. However, he does say that he wants every upgrade to be meaningful.

Despite the lack of a flagship, Nothing’s work will continue through the (a) series. The brand will release the new Phone (4a), for which Pei is promising a revolution. He says that there will be significant upgrades which will push the series closer to a flagship-like experience. It will also have new designs.

Unfortunately, the new phone might not come cheap. Along with the phone’s announcement, Pei confirmed that prices might increase this year, as a response to spiking RAM prices. It’s unclear how much it’s changing, though.

At the very least, the (a) series is usually priced competitively. However, if the increases affect the entire lineup, the flagship’s prices might go up to even more concerning levels.

Computers

3D printing made accessible: Bambu Lab moves closer to everyday consumers

Empowering consumers to create tangible objects

Published

January 29, 2026

GadgetMatch

Photos from Rodneil Quiteles

China-based brand Bambu Lab makes an effort to move closer to everyday consumers in the Philippines with a new retail partner by holding a media and creators roundtable in the Philippines. This was a bid to reshape how consumers perceive and use 3D printing technology.

Established in Shenzhen, China in 2020, Bambu Lab aims to make 3D printing more accessible, practical, and relevant to daily life through printers and other supplies.

The goal is to support practical home use, creative hobbies, product design, and even specialized tools, while putting emphasis on ease of use.

With such optics, Bambu Lab is trying to make consumers feel that there is less deep technical knowledge required and that they can actually create physical objects with 3D printing.

One of their products is the entry-level Bambu Lab A1 mini, which is compact enough to fit on a small desk.

The brand also has more advanced models which are capable of printing multiple colors and materials on a single run.

To complement the hardware ecosystem, Bambu Lab’s open platform MakerWorld lets users browse, select, and print from an extensive library of shared 3D designs directly from their own desktops.

The platform features a wide variety of objects across multiple categories. There’s household items, DIY tools, children’s toys, props, and educational materials.

In the Philippines, Bambu Lab will open its first concept store at One Ayala, Makati City. The concept corner will give mallgoers the opportunity to see the range of 3D printers and consumables firsthand.