Vivo X Fold 6 Price Leak Hints at Major Hike Ahead of China Launch

Vivo X Fold 6 could launch at a much higher price than its predecessor, according to a new leak. The foldable is tipped to feature a 7,000mAh battery, 200MP camera, Zeiss APO periscope lens, and MediaTek Dimensity 9500 Super Edition.

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The Vivo X Fold 6, which is the successor to the brand's current flagship, Vivo X Fold 5, is all set to be unveiled in China by Vivo on June 26. And just days ahead of the release date, there is another leak regarding the price range of the phone, which might hint towards the fact that the foldable is going to be quite expensive compared to the previous generation. While the Vivo X Fold 6 is already expected to be one of the best-equipped phones among foldables, with features like a mammoth 7,000mAh battery, a 200MP camera setup, and the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 Super Edition chip, it looks like all these improvements are going to be quite pricey for the brand and consumers.

Vivo X Fold 6 price leaked

Based on a leaked picture going around on Weibo that appears to be an image of the retail box of the Vivo X Fold 6, the foldable device could see a release with a starting price of CNY 9,999, which comes to Rs 1,39,683 approximately. The price mentioned above could be for the basic version of the phone, which offers specifications like 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. It is worth mentioning that there is a significant price rise in this case compared to Vivo X Fold 5, which launched at a price tag of CNY 6,999 (Rs 97,774).

The leak also indicates that Vivo may provide several storage and RAM options of the X Fold 6 to cater to those who require additional performance from their smartphones. The smartphone with 12GB + 512GB storage is believed to be available for CNY 10,999 (around Rs 1,53,653), whereas the 16GB + 512GB configuration of the smartphone is estimated to come at CNY 11,499 (around Rs 1,60,638). The highest configuration of the smartphone, 16GB + 1TB, will most probably carry the price of CNY 12,499 (equivalent to around Rs 1,74,608). Judging by these pricing details, one can conclude that Vivo might market the X Fold 6 not only as an improved version of its predecessor but also as a high-end foldable phone.

Why the Vivo X Fold 6 may cost significantly more

If the leak is indeed true, the Vivo X Fold 6 will face an astronomical price rise from year on year, and there are quite a few reasons for this. The smartphone industry has faced issues regarding increased component and memory costs, which have led to an increase in pricing for many flagships this year. Increased storage prices, improved camera hardware, costly folding display manufacturing, and increased battery sizes all affect the end retail price of the phone. It also seems that Vivo is packing in hardware improvements instead of just tweaks into their X Fold 6 phone, which is another reason why they might be positioning it at a higher price range than its predecessor.

One more thing to think about here is the increasing competition within the foldable space. Manufacturers are not attempting to make their devices just future-looking anymore – on the contrary, they are attempting to make them fully-functional substitutes for regular flagships. In other words, large batteries, advanced camera systems, robust hinges, desktop-like multitasking capabilities, and flagship-level performance are what users can expect from modern foldable devices, and what Vivo is apparently planning to offer through the X Fold 6. If the rumored pricing turns out to be correct, the company is clearly counting on people paying extra money for that.

Vivo’s next foldable flagship

Some key specifications of the upcoming X Fold 6 have been confirmed by Vivo itself, and from the paper specs, it is obvious how impressive this foldable would be. It is rumored to be equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 Super Edition chip, which is expected to bring in premium performance to the smartphone in everything ranging from multitasking to gaming. Since foldables are not used just for entertainment but also for productivity purposes, it is important that they should come with great processing power. This seems to be the case with the upcoming X Fold 6.

Additionally, the device is rumored to come with the OriginOS 6 Fold along with an upgraded version of the Atomic Workbench experience. This means that there is going to be improved multitasking on the phone using the OriginOS 6 Fold along with the Atomic Workbench experience. This means that the phone is going to get a lot of updates on the software front.

200MP camera and Zeiss APO periscope lens

Camera technology would definitely be among the hottest topics regarding the Vivo X Fold 6. For starters, this foldable phone is likely to include a primary 200MP camera sensor, which is a rather ambitious specification for a phone in this segment. Many of such phones have to sacrifice something in terms of camera technology due to internal limitations but this does not seem to apply to Vivo's new release. What makes things even more interesting is the fact that the X Fold 6 is confirmed to include the first ever Zeiss APO super periscope telephoto lens in a foldable phone.

On top of the camera hardware, Vivo is also likely to include the Blueprint V3+ imaging chip that will help boost image processing, dynamic range, low light capability, and even photo quality. The device also includes support for the Vivo Zeiss G2 teleconverter (200mm). This is likely to enable users to have better zoom capabilities while taking photos of distant objects. For people interested in mobile photography, this can be the most interesting aspect of the Vivo X Fold 6. Vivo is effectively combining a premium foldable smartphone experience with an imaging experience typically found in camera-oriented slab flagships.

7,000mAh battery

The longevity of battery usage was always an issue with foldable smartphones due to the large screen and demanding hardware inside of them. This is why the decision of Vivo to introduce 7,000mAh capacity in the X Fold 6 is especially interesting. If it is indeed true, then this will become one of the most substantial batteries used in the foldable smartphone ever. It could theoretically allow the smartphone to last much longer compared to many of its competitors especially for those who are going to utilize the inner screen for entertainment purposes.

Large battery on the foldable smartphone might actually become the best asset of the X Fold 6. Together with the high-end chipset and optimized software, it could provide excellent experience for users. The foldables are not novelties anymore – people buy them not as secondary devices but as primary smartphones, which is why battery longevity is an absolute requirement. Vivo apparently realizes it and if the X Fold 6 is able to provide great performance with a full day of battery life, it would outclass many of its competitors.

This is the million-dollar question coming into launch day. On the one hand, the Vivo X Fold 6 seems to be offering some pretty significant updates compared to its predecessor. A 200MP camera, Zeiss APO periscope camera system, 7,000mAh battery, Dimensity 9500 Super Edition, as well as foldable multitasking advancements all look like significant upgrades over the existing features rather than just specs increments. Paper-wise, Vivo seems to be working on a foldable phone that wants to shine in everything from performance and photography to battery and productivity.

On the other hand, CNY 9,999 will mark an absolutely huge increase in price when compared to the price point of the X Fold 5. It is inevitable that such a price jump is going to be put under heavy scrutiny and criticism by many, particularly those who have the previous model. For existing owners of X Fold 5, it would make sense to see what the actual improvements in battery life, camera, as well as multitasking features are before deciding to get an upgrade. In any case, the X Fold 6 is likely going to be an incredible value for money for people getting into foldables.

As the Vivo X Fold 6's launch date in China approaches (June 26), the smartphone seems to be one of the most interesting devices in terms of a foldable phone release in 2023. According to the leaked pricing information, Vivo is going to make an effort to enter the high-end sector and provide some updates to its current model. Given the hardware updates, it is safe to assume that Vivo wants the device to be recognized as not only a foldable update but as something special and impressive. However, if Vivo can manage to create a smartphone with the mentioned features, it might become a great flagship choice among other foldables.

Nevertheless, pricing is a key factor here. As for now, the market of foldables is still quite exclusive and expensive, and the significant raise of the cost compared to the previous version might be discouraging for some buyers. Everything depends on Vivo's official announcement at the moment.