Summary
Best Foldable Phones in 2024.. Since the technology’s introduction a few years ago, additional firms have released foldable phones, giving consumers more feature and cost options. Even though foldable smartphones have several disadvantages, such as being significantly more expensive than their non-folding counterparts, their ingenious flexible screens provide an entertaining experience that standard smartphones just cannot match. Samsung is the market leader, and its Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 provide distinct folding forms to entice you to part with your money. However, Samsung isn’t the sole business involved.
Best Foldable Phones in 2024
Google’s first foldable phone is the Pixel Fold. It’s a good debut attempt in spite of a few oddities. In our evaluation, Motorola’s 2023 folding Razr Plus flip phone received high marks, and its less expensive Razr model is the most reasonably priced foldable phone to date. Additionally, we approve of OnePlus’s debut foldable phone endeavor. Alternatively, there are foldable phones from Honor and Oppo that aren’t available in the US but are good choices for folks in Europe.
The iPhone folding is still a ways off. I apologize to Apple enthusiasts.
Best foldable phones
There are two primary types of folding phones: phones that resemble candy bars and unfold to reveal larger, tablet-sized devices (such as the Galaxy Z Fold 5) or phones that resemble candy bars and fold in half to make them more portable (such as the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Moto Razr 2022). All foldable smartphones are more expensive than their standard smartphone counterparts because to the relatively new technology, making them a luxury choice for those with larger budgets. However, they’re worth looking into if you want to draw attention when you bend your phone in half and pull out your foldable display.
These are our selections for the top foldable phones currently on the market.
What’s the best foldable phone?
Due in large part to its affordable pricing for a foldable phone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is ranked #1 on our list of the best foldable phones. Although it is still pricey at $1,000, we think it offers a lot for that amount of money. Four years of Android version support is included, the software is well-executed, and the phone feels well-built and well-designed. Moreover, its clamshell design and large cover screen make it one of the most entertaining and portable phones available.
Best for productivity and entertainment
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
With the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Samsung’s large-screened folding becomes even better, little by little. The Z Fold 5 is our best pick if you’re seeking for a phone that can also function as a tablet to watch movies, use numerous applications at once, or read work-related papers. The Z Fold 5’s brilliant screen outperforms the Pixel Fold’s cameras for the primary function of the phone—that is, giving you a large display that fits in your pocket.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is still prohibitively expensive at $1,800, making it unaffordable for the majority of customers. However, the Z Fold 5 is the greatest version of Samsung’s phone-tablet combination to yet, assuming you can afford it.
Best foldable for Google lovers
Google Pixel Fold
With its first try at a folding phone, Google got a lot of things right. The phone’s thin design keeps it from sticking out of your pockets, and its huge outside screen makes it a terrific tool when closed. When snapped shut, it may be used as a standard phone since it folds completely flat. When needed, the 7.6-inch internal screen can still be accessed.
It’s an excellent all-arounder if you want to explore the fascinating world of foldables because of its strong overall performance and excellent cameras.
Best compact foldable phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 represents the greatest advancement in flip phones from Samsung in recent memory. Samsung has increased the size of the cover screen on the outside of the phone, allowing you to snap pictures, send messages, and seek up directions without ever opening it. This, together with the Z Flip’s strong build and long battery life, make it a great choice.
Even though the Z Flip 5 is our best flip phone, it still has several shortcomings. It’s pricey for a phone without a telephoto camera at $1,000. Furthermore, not every software functions as seamlessly on the front screen as it does on the Motorola Razr Plus.
Best compact Samsung alternative
Motorola Razr Plus
The standard for what a flip phone should be in 2024 was raised by the Motorola Razr Plus. You can use almost any app on it without opening the phone thanks to its 3.6-inch cover screen, and its lengthy battery life will last you through a busy day. It may be the best option for those who value mobility in a phone since it is slimmer than the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
The Razr Plus is a phone to take into consideration if you want a slimmer design and want to utilize more applications on the phone’s front screen without much additional hassle, even if I think the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the greatest flip phone overall. In testing, the Razr Plus felt more brittle than the Z Flip 5, but it is undoubtedly thinner, which makes it a fantastic option for anyone who value compactness above everything else.
Best foldable for budget buyers
Motorola Razr 2023
With a price tag of $700, which is much less than those of clamshell foldable phones like the Samsung Galaxy Flip 5 and Razr Plus, the Motorola Razr 2023 is the most reasonably priced foldable phone that has been publicly distributed. In order to remain affordable, Motorola made several clear concessions, such as trading in the full-front screen of its rivals for an external display that is only 1.5 inches in size.
The most serious shortcomings are less evident: 128GB of non-expandable storage (you’ll have to depend on cloud storage if you go over) and just three years of Android OS upgrades. The Razr 2023 is a fantastic phone with a sleek design, a huge 6.9-inch internal display, and a crisp 64-megapixel primary camera (the less said about its secondary ultra-wide lens, the better) if you can live with those concessions. This phone caters to a certain market segment: those who want to test foldables for a few years but aren’t ready to commit a large sum of money if they’re still not sure whether this “flexible display” gimmick will catch on.
Best flip phone with a telephoto camera
Oppo Find N3 Flip
The Find N3 Flip phone from Oppo is special for two reasons: In contrast to the Motorola Razr Plus and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, it has a vertical cover screen and a telephoto camera. For those who like closer zoom images, this might make the Find N3 Flip a great option. However, this phone also stands out for its quick charging, elegant appearance, and quick performance. Moreover, the internal screen’s wrinkle is very delicate. Having said that, there are drawbacks. The Find N3 Flip is limited to specific areas and does not support wireless charging; the US is not one of those markets.
Best foldable to stand out from the crowd
OnePlus Open
OnePlus’s first foldable is called the Open. With gorgeous hardware that feels high-end and sets the Open apart from its rivals, it’s not a terrible first attempt. We found the quick wired charging and decent battery life to be appealing in our evaluation. You may watch films on the move with its 7.82-inch inner display, which expands from its spacious 6.3-inch exterior display.
However, the Open seems a little shaky in comparison to Samsung’s Z Fold 5, and we’re not too impressed with the camera performance or any of the software improvements. It’s difficult to suggest the Open above Samsung’s foldable at $1,700, but if you’re looking for a phone that few people own, it’s definitely something to think about.
Factors to consider when buying an Android phone
Shop Black Friday: Pay attention to bargains and promotions leading up to holidays, particularly Prime Day and Black Friday on Amazon.
Think about the models from last year: Retailers and carriers give their older phones a discount when a new model is released in order to clear out their inventory.
Examine the phone in person: It’s good to visit a shop and test out possible phones. The way it feels and looks may make you love it or detest it.
Set aside money for a case: Although modern foldable phones are more robust than those from even a few years ago, it may still be a good idea to shield your phone with a cover to preserve its best condition.
How we test phones
We put every phone through real-world testing, paying close attention to the features, build quality, battery life, cameras, and general value. In order to compare our results against new phones from rivals like Apple, Samsung, Google, and OnePlus, or to record our findings in an initial review that is updated frequently when new software upgrades are available, we do so.
Snapshots
These days, most phones have a strong photography feature, so we shoot images and videos of different topics in a range of environments and lighting conditions. We test out all the new camera settings, such Action mode (which was introduced with the iPhone 14 series) and Unblur (which was introduced with the Google Pixel 7 series).
Life of the battery
Numerous methods are used to test batteries. We evaluate a phone’s endurance over the course of a regular day of usage and observe its performance during concentrated periods of gaming, video calls, and media streaming. In addition, we do a video playback test, which is a straightforward, repeatable indicator of pure battery life that is sometimes introduced in an update after the first evaluation.
Performance evaluation
For our evaluation, we assess each phone’s performance using benchmarking tools in addition to our own anecdotal use experiences. The appearance of the animations and images is most notable. Do they have a smooth texture? Do they stumble or lag? We also examine how quickly the phone flips between portrait and landscape modes, as well as how quickly the camera app launches and prepares to snap a picture.
