vivo's new large foldable phone aims to become Apple's partner

Author | Huang Yu

Editor | Wang Xiaojun

In seeking breakthroughs in the high-end market, foldable smartphones have been a key focus for domestic smartphone brands in recent years. To further open up market space, vivo has made a significant move.

On June 25, vivo officially launched the new generation of foldable smartphone, the vivo X Fold5, which emphasizes both lightweight design and performance, while actively embracing the Apple ecosystem, claiming its goal is to become the "strongest wall breaker" in the Apple ecosystem. The starting price for this model is 6,999 yuan, with the top configuration priced at 9,499 yuan.

It is reported that the vivo X Fold5 is the world's first Android phone that connects with the Apple Watch, enabling cross-ecosystem smartwatch connectivity, allowing communication including calls, messages, and notifications to sync seamlessly. Additionally, the X Fold5 achieves deep pairing and a seamless experience with cross-ecosystem hardware such as AirPods, iPhone, and Mac.

At the launch event, vivo's Vice President of Products, Huang Tao, pointed out that when switching from iPhone to Android, many people are most reluctant to leave the Apple ecosystem, stating, "What you are worried about is exactly what the blue factory aims to solve."

However, he also admitted that these interconnected features rely on Apple's open interfaces, and if Apple adjusts its interface policies one day, the use of some features may also be affected. Nevertheless, vivo still chooses to invest in development, just to make users' choices freer and their usage more convenient.

Vivo provided research data showing that many users of vivo's foldable phones also own Apple ecosystem devices. Breaking down system barriers to achieve cross-ecosystem data and task flow, and deep collaboration between different system hardware, is a demand for some vivo foldable phone users.

In addition, for users who are reluctant to give up their iPhones, vivo has proposed that the X Fold5 can become the "perfect dual-device partner" for Apple dual-device users. Huang Tao noted that nearly 40% of iPhone users are dual-device users, and the proportion of dual-device users among iPhone Pro Max users even exceeds half.

It is reported that the X Fold5 can provide support for the iPhone in emergencies such as signal loss or low battery through convenient hotspot and reverse charging features. Furthermore, the X Fold5 aligns with Apple users' habits by offering quick operation buttons, magnetic protective cases, and other functional devices.

These initiatives are redefining the interaction between Android devices and Apple ecosystem products, ushering in a new era of seamless connectivity and enhanced user experience.

By focusing on ecological interconnectivity, the blue factory has a clear goal: to enable more iPhone users to choose the vivo foldable phone.

It is important to note that against the backdrop of innovation bottlenecks in smartphone hardware and software, foldable smartphones, which emerged six years ago, have become a focal point for smartphone brands seeking new growth. Apart from Apple, major mainstream smartphone brands continue to release foldable smartphone products. With the overall market scale still limited, competition in the foldable smartphone market is also quite fierce According to IDC data, in 2024, Huawei continues to maintain an advantage in the Chinese foldable smartphone market with nearly 50% market share; Honor ranks second with a share of 20.6%; vivo ranks third with a market share of 11.1%.

At the press conference, Huang Tao mentioned that in 2024, vivo's market share in the "left-right fold" foldable screen market ranks in the TOP 2.

However, the foldable smartphone market has shown signs of slowing growth.

IDC pointed out that in the fourth quarter of last year, the shipment volume of foldable smartphones in China reached 2.5 million units, marking the first year-on-year decline of 9.6% after nine consecutive quarters of rapid growth. Although there have been continuous improvements in aspects such as thinness, battery life, imaging, and creases, inherent disadvantages such as price, quality, and internal space have made it difficult for foldable smartphones to achieve greater breakthroughs and appeal in terms of usage scenarios and consumer demographics.

Against this backdrop, to achieve more breakthroughs in the foldable smartphone market, mobile phone brand manufacturers must put more effort into product performance and innovative experiences.

While continuing to narrow the performance gap with flagship flat-screen phones, the interconnectivity and collaboration of vivo X Fold5 with Apple ecosystem devices undoubtedly become its prominent advantages.

With Huawei's return, the domestic smartphone market landscape is being reshuffled. For vivo, which has maintained its position as the number one in the domestic market for several consecutive years, the pressure to continue holding its position is significant, and continuous breakthroughs and innovations are undoubtedly the path it must persist on