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This upcoming foldable is taking zoom capture to ridiculous levels, far ahead of Apple and Samsung

Vivo’s X Fold 6 is packing the kind of zoom that puts other foldables to shame

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Hinge view of Vivo X Fold 5 foldable phone
Nadem Sarwar / Digital Trends

Foldable phones have usually been great at multitasking, but aren’t known for their photography prowess. Recent offerings from Chinese brands have been the exception, and now, Vivo might be pushing the boundaries once again. Ahead of its launch in China later this month, Vivo has confirmed several major camera and display details for the Vivo X Fold 6.

However, the real headline-grabber is support for the ZEISS G2 telephoto converter, an accessory that lets the foldable shoot at a 200mm equivalent focal length.

Why this camera system stands out

Vivo executive Han Boxiao confirmed on Weibo that the X Fold 6 will feature a 200MP primary camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor. This makes the main shooter larger than the last-gen Vivo X Fold 5, though the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro was still larger. It will also include a ZEISS APO Super Telephoto lens using Sony’s LYT-602 sensor. The cameras are powered by Vivo’s V3+ imaging chip that helps with image processing and video capture.

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Vivo has been pushing hard on mobile photography over the past few years, especially with its X-series flagships, and the X Fold 6 continues the focus on high-end mobile photography. The telephoto converter lenses have become common for Chinese Ultra flagships, like the Oppo Find X9 Ultra and Vivo X300 Ultra, and the X Fold 6 seems to be next in line. The teaser hints at a 200mm ZEISS teleconverter kit, which would make zoom photography more fun.

Making Samsung and Apple suddenly look conservative

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold lineup has improved on cameras, especially with the Fold7’s 200MP main sensor. But Samsung’s current foldable still leans on tiny telephoto sensors. Apple, meanwhile, has not launched a foldable iPhone yet. Rumors currently suggest its first foldable may use just a wide and ultrawide rear camera setup, with no dedicated telephoto lens. So Vivo still has an edge with cameras.

The X Fold 6 is also confirmed to feature an 8.02-inch inner display using Samsung’s M14 luminous material that lets it hit an impressive 5,000 nits peak brightness outdoors and drop to 1 nit for late-night use. Vivo has also teased a more rounded design, a 2.5D vertical metal frame, and a new Blue Hole color option. Earlier confirmations also point to a Dimensity 9500 Super Edition chip and desktop mode support, while a 7,000mAh battery remains in leak territory. Unfortunately, global availability is still the big question, but a Chinese release seems right around the corner.

Vikhyaat Vivek
Vikhyaat Vivek is a tech journalist and reviewer with seven years of experience covering consumer hardware, with a focus on…
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