What you need to know
- Rumors on Weibo suggest Vivo is developing a wide foldable with a "sub-6.5-inch display."
- Additional rumors claim this device could debut sometime in 2027, though a more specific timeframe hasn't been reported.
- Previous reports suggest OPPO is looking at a Q1 2027 release window for its wide foldable; however, both it and Honor are rumored to have a phone with a 7.6-inch inner display.
It's been a while since the last wide fold rumor, but they're back, and Vivo is in the spotlight this time.
Recent rumors were set in motion on Weibo by tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS), who claims Vivo has continued developing a "wide fold" (via GSMArena). DCS claims Vivo's wide foldable take could land on the smaller side. Allegedly, the device could debut with a screen "under 6.5 inches."
Additionally, DCS claims Vivo is seeking a date in 2027 to release its wide foldable. This is certainly different. For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 (which has continued to gain popularity) features a 7.6-inch inner screen. Another comparison: the iPhone Duo also features a 7.6-inch screen. Vivo opting for a sub-6.5-inch screen would certainly make it more "compact" in a space that's trying to go a bit bigger.
However, there's still a lot we don't know. DCS replied to one user, stating the majority of the hardware components have been "finalized." What's more, users don't appear phased by Vivo trying to go smaller. Many feel its internal components (its specifications, specifically) would carry the device.
An assortment of rumors
Vivo wants to be different, huh? We've already seen and experienced how popular Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 is. But to imagine a wide foldable with a smaller inner display—thin, too, most likely—what would that look like? I mentioned people on Weibo weren't too phased by the rumor, and maybe they're onto something. I saw people saying a phone of this size, thin, and with Vivo's classic tech might be worthwhile. Maybe they're right.
Several wide foldable rumors have circulated ever since Samsung's version took the market by storm. It was originally rumored that Vivo and Honor were developing wide-folding phones to compete with the South Korean OEM. Some claimed that Vivo could debut the device as the "X Fold 6," but that's not possible. Either way, this is the first taste of what could be possible for a Vivo wide fold.
We've seen other rumors concerning its would-be competitors, and Vivo is seemingly the only one going smaller. Honor's wide foldable rumors suggest it would feature a 7.6-inch internal display, a 5.5-inch cover, and a 7,000mAh or higher battery. Even OPPO's been in the rumors with a device sporting a 7.6-inch display, a 5.5-inch cover, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.
There's a chance OPPO is looking to debut its take in Q1 2027.
