Comparison between the foldable phones Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Vivo X Fold 5 with detailed specs, camera, performance and software updates.
Introduction
Two folding flagships, one clear choice. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 brings sharper cameras, better video, and the best experience. Yet, the Vivo X fold 5's back with a bigger battery, cleaner portraits, and a hinge that's rated for six lakh folds.
Both have stunning displays. Both crush multitasking, but one is built for your everyday, not just a spec sheet.
Let's get started with the comparison between the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs the Vivo X Fold 5.
Design and Build Quality
The Fold 7 is leaner than ever, 4.2mm when open. Just 215 g and a titanium plate under the display adds a reassuring stiffness you'll notice the moment you unfold it. Samsung's hinge feels smooth and precise. And with IP48 and Gorilla Glass ceramic 2, it's built to live in the real world. Pocket puddles, panic drops, all of it.
But the Vivo X Fold 5 is heavier by just 217 g, and it feels chunkier in the hand. Not in a bad way, more like a hardcover book compared to a magazine. The materials are premium. The hinge feels just as confident, if not more so. And Vivo's hinge is rated for six lakh folds. That's one lakh more than Samsung. Also worth nothing, Vivo has an IP58 and 59 rating, so it survives splashes and pressure jets and is technically tougher on paper.
Both feel flagship, but one's gunning for elegance and polish, the other for its strength. Now, on paper, both phones flaunt high-end foldable OLED panels with LTPO 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10 Plus, and Dolby Vision on the Xfold 5. But when you use them side by side, the differences start to show up in two places: brightness and color accuracy.
The Vivo X Fold 5 hits a staggering 3250 nits peak brightness on the main display and around 2900 nits on the cover screen. That's not just class-leading, it's outdoor proof, direct sunlight proof, and the kind of overkill you appreciate on a daily afternoon.
Samsung's Fold 7 is no slouch either. 2400 nits on the main screen and 2480 nits on the cover screen. It's bright enough in most conditions, but if you stack them side by side outdoors, the Vivo just punches through harder. But brightness is just one side of the story.
Vivo's color checker Delta E lands at 0 to 9 which means top-tier color accuracy. But what's more impressive is the contrast over 68,000:1 with RGB balance holding steady across brightness levels, and color gamut coverage of 99.5% is just a smidge under perfect.
Now, the Fold 7 color checker delta E averages 1.6, and yes, 100% color gamut coverage is textbook Samsung.
So what's the takeaway? Vivo's panel is brighter, more color-accurate out of the box, and nails color contrast beautifully. It's tuned for natural colors and serious work.
Samsung's panel feels punchier, slightly more saturated, and maybe a bit more vibrant for media with that typical One UI tuning that makes things pop.
Both are excellent, but if you're into photo editing, watching HDR content in sunlight, or accurate visuals, Vivo takes the lead. If you prefer Samsung's signature punch, Fold 7 won't disappoint either.
Performance
On paper, both phones are blazing fast. But dig deeper, and the story splits into two different personalities. Vivo X Fold 5, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, scores 1.94 million on AnTuTu, while the Samsung Fold 7 with the Snapdragon 8 Elite surprisingly posts a slightly lower 1.92 million AnTuTu. But its multi-core score hits 8,405, which is significantly higher than Vivo's.
So, how does that translate to real-world use? Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7's tuned for multi-core throughput, meaning better raw performance when you're exporting large files or multitasking with heavy apps.
But, Vivo X Fold 5 holds up better over time. CPU throttling stays at 83% under stress, while Samsung dips to 82%, which is a minor difference, but noticeable if you are gaming or editing for long sessions. While speaking of gaming, F7 has the GPU advantage, especially in sustained graphically intense loads.
But here's where Vivo strikes back, with Battery life and efficiency. In battery life, Vivo ran for 20 hours and Samsung for 15 hours. That's over 5 hours of additional endurance, which is massive for something this powerful.
And when it's time to top up, Vivo goes from 0 to 100 in 53 minutes, while Samsung takes over 103 minutes, even with a 30W PD charger. In day-to-day use, Vivo feels slightly quicker to open apps, switch tasks, and return to heavy background loads.
Samsung's strength is in raw multi-core grunt and gaming GPU power. If you're editing 4K timelines on the go or doing desk-style desktop work, it will keep up. But if you're after a balanced performance with better battery and thermal behaviour, Vivo tuned for that.
Camera
Both phones deliver flagship-grade photos, but with very different philosophies. The Vivo X Fold 5 aims for instant appeal. Brighter exposure, higher saturation, and dramatic contrast. It gives you bold skies, vivid greens, and food shots that pop right off the screen. It's tuned for social media-ready photos with zero edits.
The Galaxy Z fold 7 goes for realism, natural tones, better highlight control, and a more balanced dynamic range. It may look less eye-catching at first glance, but there's more flexibility for editing and more detail in challenging lighting.
In daylight shots, Vivo looks more vibrant. Samsung is more true-to-life. In zoom images, Samsung wins with sharper, cleaner shots, especially at higher magnifications. In low light, Samsung again has better control over neon lights, less blooming, and more details.
In close-ups and food photos, Vivo takes the lead as its Zeiss tuning makes textures and colors pop. In portrait and indoor shots, Samsung edges ahead with better detail and skin tone accuracy. If you like your photos loud, lively, and ready to post, go with the X fold 5. Choose Samsung if you prefer accurate, edit-friendly images with better lowlight and zoom performance.
Software
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers 7 years of updates, OS, and security, taking the full 7 from Android 16 to Android 23. That's unmatched in the Android world. Vivo X Fold 5 promises 4 years up to Android 19, which is solid, but Samsung clearly leads on longevity.
In daily use, One UI 8 on the Fold 7 is built for productivity with Dex mode, split screen, multitasking, floating windows, and a taskbar. It's a real workhorse when plugged into a monitor.
The FunTouch OS 15 on the X fold 5 skips the desktop mode, but keeps things fluid and intuitive with Origin Workbench, a clever floating window system that keeps your workflow light and fast. More intuitive for most users who just want to juggle two or three apps at once without friction.
And the best part, no bloatware on either of these phones, just clean, focused software you can rely on for daily use. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 wins for future-proofing and heavy workflow. Vivo nails everyday speed and simplicity.
FAQ's
Which phone has better performance?
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 features the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, offering higher clock speeds and optimized AI processing. It comes with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage.
The Vivo X Fold 5 uses the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 16GB RAM and up to 512GB storage.
Conclusion: Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers better performance overall.
Which phone offers longer software support?
Samsung promises 7 years of Android OS and security updates (Android 16 to Android 23).
Vivo provides around 4 years of software support for the X Fold 5.
Conclusion: Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers significantly longer software support.
Which phone has a better display?
Internal Display:
- Galaxy Z Fold 7: 8.0" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 1968×2184, 120Hz, 2600 nits peak brightness.
- Vivo X Fold 5: 8.03" LTPO AMOLED, 2200×2480, 120Hz, 4500 nits peak brightness.
Cover Display:
- Z Fold 7: 6.5", 2520×1080.
- X Fold 5: 6.53", 1172×2748.
Conclusion: Vivo X Fold 5 has a sharper and brighter display overall.
Which phone has a bigger battery and faster charging?
- Z Fold 7: 4400 mAh battery, 25W wired, 15W wireless charging.
- X Fold 5: 6000 mAh battery, 80W wired, 40W wireless charging.
Conclusion: Vivo X Fold 5 wins with a much larger battery and significantly faster charging.
Which phone has better water and dust resistance?
- Z Fold 7: IP48 rated (solid water and dust resistance).
- X Fold 5: IP58/IP59 rated (slightly better dust protection).
Conclusion: Both offer strong resistance, but Vivo has a slight edge in dust protection.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 feels like a foldable for the long haul. It's polished, powerful, and practical. If you want software updates till your next career change, an unmatched Zoom, and a foldable that doubles as a workstation.
The Vivo X Fold 5 is built for ease. It's faster to charge, lasts longer, and its photos hit harder straight out of the camera.
Two folds, two different philosophies: Samsung's The Safe Bet, Vivo's The Surprise Delight. Pick the one that fits your rhythm. Let me know which one you'd pick, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 or the Vivo X Fold 5, and why? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
COMMENTS