Vivo Previews “Seamless” Car Integration For Upcoming X Fold5 Foldable Smartphone

Vivo will launch its X Fold5 smartphone in China on June 25, and it’s expected to come to India in less than a month. The company has been teasing information and specifications for some time now, and from what we know so far, this could be the thinnest and lightest foldable phone yet. It will also have up to an IPX9+ rating for water resistance, three 50-megapixel cameras and up to 3X zoom with Zeiss optics, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen3 SoC, and a huge 6,000mAh battery.

On the software front, Vivo’s OriginOS 5 software already allows for windowed app multitasking, to take advantage of a foldable phone’s large inner screen. Taking that to the next level, the company has now outlined its vision for car integration and hands-free operation. Vivo Product Manager Han Boxiao has posted a video to his Weibo social media page, showing off some surprising capabilities. 

The one-tap “smart casting” feature allows the phone’s display to be mirrored on a car’s large central infotainment screen. The image expands and reduces when the foldable device is open or closed, and can rotate to match its orientation. Users can therefore access any app that’s on their phone, including ones for navigation and music streaming. Steering wheel controls can be used to perform actions in apps. Vivo intends to pitch this as an alternative to holding your phone while driving, or having it mounted in an inconvenient or distracting place. 

Users can even conduct video conferences using the car’s central screen. The UI is designed to present information in a glanceable format to minimise distractions. Conversational voice interaction will also be possible, using vivo’s “Blue Heart” AI assistant. In China, navigation instructions can include real-time updates based on road conditions. OriginOS also allows easy multitasking workflows such as the ability to send an address to the Maps app. 

A “minimalist mode” appears somewhat like Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay, taking up the car’s entire screen and offering a tiled interface with sections for navigation, music control, the weather, and more. The promotional video clarifies that some functions will only be available when the car is not in motion. 

Vivo has confirmed that the BYD Denza Z9GT, Z9 and N9 as well as the Leapmotor B10 will support its software at launch time, with more models and other major local car manufacturers including Xiaopeng, Great Wall Motor, and even Audi set to offer integration in the future. It is not yet clear whether or how much of this functionality will be supported outside of China, since OriginOS has typically only been seen on devices there, with the company’s FunTouch OS used on international units.

The Vivo X Fold5 will be available in green, white, and titanium finishes in China. Other features teased online so far include a surprising integration with Apple’s iCloud online service and easy interoperability with Macs, iPhones, AirPods and Apple Watches.