The Pro targets premium buyers; the standard reaches those who want a foldable but can't justify the cost.
As the foldable smartphone market grows more contested, Vivo prepares to enter 2024 with a two-tiered strategy — one device for those who want the best, and one for those who want access. Leaked specifications surfacing on Weibo from a credible source sketch the outlines of both the X Fold 3 and its Pro sibling, revealing a deliberate architecture of inclusion and exclusion that reflects a broader industry question: how do you democratize premium technology without diminishing it? The answer, it seems, lies in the careful choreography of what each buyer is allowed to have.
- A trusted leaker has published what appears to be near-final specifications for both Vivo foldables, raising anticipation just days before Samsung's own foldable announcement on January 17.
- The gap between the two models is sharper than expected — the Pro claims Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a periscope telephoto, ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, and 50W wireless charging, while the standard model is stripped of each.
- Camera hardware emerges as the clearest battleground: the Pro's 50MP OIS primary lens with Sony LYT 900 and a 64MP periscope telephoto contrasts starkly with the base model's conventional 2x zoom and likely lesser sensor.
- Vivo appears to be standardizing its top-tier camera stack across flagships, with the X Fold 3 Pro reportedly sharing its primary sensor with the upcoming X100 Pro+ — a sign of deliberate platform thinking.
- No launch date has been confirmed, but the granularity of these leaks signals the devices are deep in development and a reveal may be imminent.
The specifications for Vivo's next foldable phones have come into focus, courtesy of Digital Chat Station — a Weibo-based tipster with a strong track record. The leaks cover both the X Fold 3 and X Fold 3 Pro, successors to last year's X Fold 2, and paint a picture of a company deliberately constructing two tiers of foldable experience.
At the top sits the Pro, powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and equipped with a triple rear camera system: a 50MP OIS primary sensor reportedly using Sony's LYT 900 chip, an ultrawide, and a 64MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom. It also carries an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner and supports both 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. The standard X Fold 3, meanwhile, runs on the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, swaps the periscope for a conventional 2x telephoto, and forgoes both the ultrasonic scanner and wireless charging — concessions that position it as a more accessible entry point.
Both models share 2K LTPO displays with 120Hz refresh rates, preserving a sense of visual parity even as the hardware beneath diverges. Notably, the Pro's primary camera sensor is expected to mirror what Vivo plans for the X100 Pro+, hinting at a broader effort to unify flagship camera hardware across its lineup.
With Samsung set to reveal its own foldables on January 17, the timing of Vivo's launch will matter. The depth of these leaks suggests the phones are close — but the official word has yet to arrive.
The rumor mill around Vivo's next-generation foldable phones is spinning faster now. A trusted tipster known as Digital Chat Station has posted detailed specifications for both the Vivo X Fold 3 and X Fold 3 Pro on Weibo, giving the tech world its clearest picture yet of what the company plans to release as successors to last year's X Fold 2.
The split between the two models is becoming clearer: Vivo is building a premium tier and a more accessible one. The Pro version gets the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, while the standard X Fold 3 steps back to the previous generation's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Both will have 2K resolution foldable screens with LTPO technology supporting 120Hz refresh rates, but the Pro adds an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner embedded in the display—a feature the base model skips entirely. On the charging front, the Pro model supports 50W wireless charging alongside 100W wired charging, a capability the standard version won't have.
The camera differences between the two are where the real distinction emerges. The X Fold 3 Pro will carry a triple rear camera system anchored by a 50MP primary sensor with optical image stabilization, likely using Sony's advanced LYT 900 chip. This main lens is paired with an ultrawide camera and a periscope telephoto lens. The Pro's telephoto is expected to be a 64MP Omnivision OV64B sensor offering 3x optical zoom. The standard X Fold 3, by contrast, loses the periscope entirely and instead gets a conventional 2x optical zoom telephoto lens, possibly using a 32MP Sony IMX 709 sensor. Neither version's ultrawide specifications have been detailed by the leaker.
The standard model makes other compromises too. It drops the Omnivision OV64B periscope sensor altogether and forgoes the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, likely reverting to a less sophisticated biometric solution. It also loses the 50W wireless charging capability. These omissions suggest Vivo is deliberately positioning the base X Fold 3 as a more affordable entry point into its foldable lineup, while reserving the premium features for those willing to pay more for the Pro.
Digital Chat Station's leaks have proven reliable in the past, lending credibility to these specifications. The information also hints that Vivo may use the same 50MP OIS primary sensor in its upcoming X Fold 3 Pro as it plans for the X100 Pro+ smartphone, suggesting a broader strategy to standardize high-end camera hardware across its flagship range. The exact launch date remains unconfirmed, though the detailed nature of these leaks suggests the phones are likely in advanced stages of development. With Samsung preparing to unveil its own foldable phones on January 17, Vivo's timing will be crucial in capturing attention in an increasingly competitive segment.
Notable Quotes
The standard version is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and lacks the OV64B periscope, ultrasonic under-screen fingerprint, and 50W wireless charging.— Leaked specifications via Digital Chat Station
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does Vivo need two versions of the same phone? Why not just make one good foldable?
Because not everyone can afford the premium. The Pro targets people who want the absolute best camera and processor; the standard version lets Vivo reach people who want a foldable but can't justify the extra cost. It's a market segmentation strategy.
But doesn't cutting the periscope camera from the standard model feel like artificial limitation? They could include it and just charge more.
Maybe, but there's a real difference in what you're getting. The periscope isn't just a feature—it's expensive to manufacture. By removing it, Vivo can hit a lower price point while still offering a genuinely capable phone. The standard version still has a 50MP main camera with stabilization.
The fingerprint scanner difference is interesting. Why would they remove that from the base model?
Ultrasonic fingerprint sensors are more expensive and complex than optical ones. Every component you remove saves money. For a value-conscious buyer, a standard fingerprint scanner works fine—it's not a dealbreaker.
So the Pro is really the "complete" version, and the standard is the compromise version?
That's one way to see it. Or you could say the Pro is the luxury option and the standard is the practical one. Both are legitimate products for different buyers. The question is whether Vivo prices them far enough apart to justify the differences.