Tipster Digital Chat Station recently released a Weibo post to share some insights about the upcoming foldable phones for the Chinese market this year. The leak suggests that the Vivo X Fold 4 will not feature an in-screen fingerprint sensor.
Vivo X Fold 4 to feature a side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Unlike previous generations, the Vivo X Fold 4 is expected to switch to a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, departing from the in-display fingerprint sensors seen on its predecessors. Vivo has historically been the only brand offering in-display fingerprint scanners on both the inner and outer screens of its foldables. The Vivo X Fold and X Fold+ featured optical in-display fingerprint sensors, while the X Fold 2 and X Fold 3 series incorporated ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensors.
Vivo X Fold 4 specifications and design
Rumours suggest that the Vivo X Fold 4 will not have a Pro variant this year. Instead, it will focus on being ultra-light and thin while maintaining flagship features. The device is expected to house a 6,000mAh battery with wireless charging support and an IPX8 water resistance rating.
The foldable phone will retain dual ultrasonic fingerprint sensors, one on the cover screen and one on the inner foldable display. It is also said to feature a redesigned camera module with three 50MP sensors, including a primary camera, an ultra-wide lens, and a 3x periscope telephoto lens. Additionally, it is expected to introduce a pressure-sensitive three-stage button, a first for Vivo smartphones.
Our opinion
Axing the two in-screen fingerprint sensors for a side-mounted one will help Vivo save some money, but it is unlikely that the X Fold 4 will arrive with reduced pricing. Vivo’s shift to a side-mounted fingerprint scanner aligns with the industry trend of making foldable devices thinner and lighter. While some users may miss the in-display fingerprint feature, the improvements in design and durability could make up for it.
Upcoming foldable phones
According to the tipster, four major foldable devices are set to launch this year: the Oppo Find N5, Honor Magic V4, Vivo X Fold 4, and Huawei Mate X7. This suggests that Xiaomi has likely postponed the launch of its book-style foldable to next year. Additionally, to achieve extreme thinness, all large foldables this year have adopted side-mounted fingerprint sensors, allowing them to reduce the thickness to the 8mm range.
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