vivo X Flip vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G: The Ultimate Foldable Showdown

Foldable phones are becoming increasingly popular, offering a unique blend of portability and screen real estate. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the vivo X Flip and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. Which one reigns supreme in this foldable face-off?
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The vivo X Flip boasts a significantly faster chipset, brighter display, and vastly superior battery life. While the Z Flip3 offers a more established ecosystem and wireless charging, the X Flip's performance and endurance make it the clear winner for users prioritizing power and longevity.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X Flip Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 78, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 66 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2023, April 202021, August 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 28Available. Released 2021, August 27
Body
BuildAluminum frame, glass backPlastic front, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 166.4 x 75.3 x 7.8 mmFolded: 86.4 x 75.3 x 16.6 mmUnfolded: 166 x 72.2 x 6.9 mm Folded: 86.4 x 72.2 x 15.9-17.1 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)183 g (6.46 oz)
 -IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~407 ppi density)1080 x 2640 pixels (~426 ppi density)
Size6.74 inches, 106.1 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 101.5 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
 Cover display: AMOLED, 3 inches, 422 x 682 pixels, 14.5:9 ratioCover display: Super AMOLED, 1.9 inches, 260 x 512 pixels
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 660
OSAndroid 13, OriginOS 3Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 106˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF12 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
FeaturesLaser AF, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, Dual-LED flash, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single-10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, (wide)10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging44W wired15W wired 10W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless
Type4400 mAhLi-Po 3300 mAh
Misc
ColorsRhombic Purple, Silk Gold, Diamond BlackPhantom Black, Green, Lavender, Cream, White, Pink, Gray, Thom Browne Edition, Bespoke Edition, Wooyoungmi Edition, Dream White
ModelsV2256ASM-F711B, SM-F711N, SM-F711U, SM-F711U1, SM-F711W, SM-F7110
PriceAbout 800 EUR€ 279.00 / $ 208.04 / £ 215.00
SAR EU-0.86 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 69h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 596866 (v8) | 682223 (v9) GeekBench: 3441 (v5.1) GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo X Flip

  • Significantly faster Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Brighter display (1027 nits)
  • Exceptional battery life (110h endurance)
  • Potentially improved camera processing

  • Less established ecosystem compared to Samsung
  • No wireless charging
  • Potentially higher price

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G

  • Established Samsung ecosystem
  • Wireless charging (10W)
  • Reverse wireless charging (4.5W)
  • More compact and familiar design

  • Slower Snapdragon 888 5G chipset
  • Lower peak brightness (935 nits)
  • Significantly shorter battery life (69h endurance)

Display Comparison

The vivo X Flip takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 1027 nits, significantly outshining the Z Flip3's 935 nits. Both phones feature excellent contrast, but the X Flip's higher brightness provides better visibility in direct sunlight. The Z Flip3's contrast ratio is listed as 'Infinite' which is a nominal value and doesn't provide a concrete comparison.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems for their form factor. While detailed camera comparisons would require extensive testing, initial impressions suggest the X Flip may offer slightly improved image processing and low-light performance due to its more powerful chipset. Both offer Photo/Video capabilities.

Performance

Here, the vivo X Flip leaves no doubt. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset is a substantial upgrade over the Z Flip3's Snapdragon 888 5G. Expect noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games on the X Flip.

Battery Life

The vivo X Flip absolutely dominates in battery life. Its endurance rating of 110 hours is a massive leap over the Z Flip3's 69 hours. This translates to significantly longer usage between charges, a crucial factor for foldable phone users.

Buying Guide

The vivo X Flip is ideal for power users and those who demand long battery life and a smooth, responsive experience. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is a great choice for those already invested in the Samsung ecosystem, prioritizing wireless charging, and seeking a more compact and familiar design.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the vivo X Flip worth the extra cost over the Z Flip3?
If performance and battery life are your top priorities, the X Flip's superior chipset and endurance make it a worthwhile investment. However, if you're heavily invested in the Samsung ecosystem and value wireless charging, the Z Flip3 remains a solid option.
❓ Does the vivo X Flip have water resistance?
While specific IP ratings are not readily available for the vivo X Flip, foldable phones generally have reduced water resistance compared to traditional smartphones. It's best to avoid exposing either device to water.