The Vivo X5 Max handset was teased just last week, with many remarking how thin the device appeared. Well, today Vivo officially took the wraps off the X5 Max, and not only is it thin, but it's apparently the thinnest smartphone in the world.
The device comes in at 4.75 mm and begs the question of how thin is too thin? While some may like the slim profile, others suggest the device might be too slim to hold properly.
Previously, the thinnest phone was the Oppo R5, which came in at 4.85 mm and looks a lot like the X5 Max. Both devices have a similar design as the iPhone 5 and 5S, with a brushed aluminum backing and glossy white plastic strips at the top and bottom of the device.
The Vivo X5 Max includes a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a full HD resolution, as well as support for dual SIM cards, one with nano SIM support and the other with micro SIM support. The nano SIM card slot can also be used as a microSD card slot if the user is not using a non-SIM card.
A Qualcomm Snapdragon 815 processor that is 64-bit ready powers the device, however that 64-bit processing won't be usable until the smartphone gets updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop from its Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system. Users will get 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. It has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and a 13-megapixel rear camera with a bulge that goes beyond the phone's official thickness by almost 2 mm.
Another interesting feature is that it includes audio processing chips from both Sabre and Yamaha, with the Yamaha chip powering the device's "Karaoke mode," which allows the user to hear themselves and music they are listening to through headphones.
Some are comparing the device to the Oppo R5 because both held the title for the world's thinnest phone. Many suggest while the Oppo R5 felt a little heavy for such a thin device, the X5 Max is a little thinner. Not only that, but Vivo also managed to include a headphone jack. By contrast, Oppo R5 users had to plug in headphones through the microSD card slot.
The X5 Max will launch in China on Dec. 22 for around $490, and the company has not said it will come to the U.S. The Oppo R5 is set to make its way to the U.S. eventually, although there is no word yet on when it will arrive.
