vivo X Fold5 vs Google Pixel Fold: A Deep Dive into Foldable Power and AI

The foldable phone market is maturing, and the vivo X Fold5 and Google Pixel Fold represent two distinct approaches. The X Fold5 prioritizes raw performance with the latest Snapdragon silicon, while the Pixel Fold leans into Google’s AI-driven software and unique form factor. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the foldable that best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing peak performance and fast charging, the vivo X Fold5 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and 80W charging significantly outperform the Pixel Fold’s Tensor G2 and slower charging speeds. However, the Pixel Fold’s software experience and unique design may appeal to Google ecosystem enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X Fold5 Google Pixel Fold
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2025, June 252023, May 10
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, July 02Available. Released 2023, June 27
Body
BuildGlass front (closed), aluminum alloy frame, fiber-reinforced plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 159.7 x 142.3 x 4.3 mmFolded: 159.7 x 72.6 x 9.2 mmUnfolded: 139.7 x 158.7 x 5.8 mmFolded: 139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight217 g or 226 g (7.65 oz)283 g (9.98 oz)
 -IPX8 water resistant
Display
Resolution2200 x 2480 pixels (~413 ppi density)1840 x 2208 pixels (~378 ppi density)
Size8.03 inches, 206.5 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)7.6 inches, 183.3 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 5280Hz PWM, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 4500 nits (peak)Foldable OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1450 nits (peak)
 -Cover display: OLED, 120Hz, HDR, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 5.8 inches, 1080 x 2092 pixels, 17.4:9 ratio, 408 ppi 1200 nits (HBM), 1550 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 750Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades, Funtouch 15 (International), OriginOS 5 (China)Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Laser AF, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, Dual-LED flash, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.6, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.1, 15mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF48 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10.8 MP, f/3.1, 112mm (telephoto), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 10.8 MP, f/2.2, 121˚, (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.25µm
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single20 MP, f/2.4, 21mm (wide), 1/3.6", 0.7µm Cover camera: 20 MP, f/2.4, 21mm (wide), 1/3.6", 0.7µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Cover camera: 9.5 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, Display PortUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band or tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging80W wired 40W wireless Reverse wired 5W reverse wirelessWired, PD3.0 Wireless
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 6000 mAhLi-Po 4821 mAh
Misc
ColorsTitanium Gray, Green, WhitePorcelain, Obsidian
ModelsV2436A, V2429G9FPL
Price₹ 149,998€ 670.87 / $ 389.26 / £ 899.99
SAR0.86 W/kg (head)     0.85 W/kg (body)-

vivo X Fold5

  • Significantly faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor
  • 80W wired charging for rapid replenishment
  • Higher peak display brightness for outdoor visibility

  • Software experience may not be as refined as Pixel Fold
  • Potential for larger size and weight due to powerful hardware

Google Pixel Fold

  • Seamless Google software experience and AI features
  • Potentially more compact and ergonomic design
  • Strong computational photography capabilities

  • Slower Tensor G2 processor compared to Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
  • Slower charging speeds
  • May exhibit thermal throttling under heavy load

Display Comparison

The vivo X Fold5 boasts a measured peak brightness of 1916 nits, exceeding typical foldable displays and ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Pixel Fold’s display quality is also high, it likely falls short of this peak brightness. Both devices utilize foldable OLED panels, but details regarding refresh rates and LTPO technology are missing for the Pixel Fold. The X Fold5’s higher brightness translates to a superior viewing experience for outdoor users and content consumers.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications for both devices, a direct comparison is limited. However, given Google’s computational photography prowess, the Pixel Fold likely excels in image processing and software-driven enhancements. The X Fold5, leveraging the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s ISP, should offer strong image quality, but may rely less on software trickery. The absence of information regarding sensor sizes and lens apertures makes it difficult to assess low-light performance or zoom capabilities. We can assume both phones will offer versatile camera systems, but the Pixel Fold’s strength lies in its AI-powered image optimization.

Performance

The vivo X Fold5’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) chipset is a significant leap ahead of the Google Pixel Fold’s Tensor G2 (5nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s octa-core configuration – featuring a prime Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.3 GHz – delivers substantially higher CPU and GPU performance. The Tensor G2, while optimized for AI tasks, lags behind in raw processing power. This difference is particularly noticeable in demanding applications like gaming and video rendering, where the X Fold5 will maintain higher frame rates and smoother performance. The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads.

Battery Life

The vivo X Fold5 demonstrates a strong battery performance with 13:21 hours of active use, suggesting efficient power management despite its powerful chipset. While the Pixel Fold’s battery capacity is unknown, the X Fold5’s 80W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for significantly faster top-ups compared to the Pixel Fold’s unspecified wired charging (PD3.0). The X Fold5 also supports 40W wireless charging and reverse wired/wireless charging, offering greater flexibility. The combination of longer battery life and faster charging gives the X Fold5 a clear advantage for users who demand all-day power and quick replenishment.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X Fold5 if you need uncompromising performance for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, and value incredibly fast charging. You’ll benefit from a more powerful processor and a battery that lasts a full day with heavy use. Buy the Google Pixel Fold if you prioritize a seamless Google software experience, a more compact external display, and are heavily invested in the Google ecosystem. The Pixel Fold offers a unique foldable experience focused on usability and AI features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the vivo X Fold5 get hot during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a powerful chip, its 4nm process node and the X Fold5’s thermal management system are designed to mitigate overheating. The chip is expected to maintain high performance for extended periods, though some warmth is normal during demanding tasks. It's less prone to throttling than the Tensor G2.
❓ How does the Google Tensor G2's AI capabilities translate to real-world benefits on the Pixel Fold?
The Tensor G2 excels in AI-powered features like voice recognition, translation, and computational photography. This translates to faster and more accurate voice typing, real-time language translation, and enhanced image processing, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. It also enables features like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur.
❓ Is the difference in charging speed between the vivo X Fold5 (80W) and Pixel Fold noticeable in daily use?
Absolutely. 80W charging can top up the X Fold5 from 0-100% in under 40 minutes, while the Pixel Fold will likely take considerably longer. This difference is significant for users who frequently need to quickly recharge their device.