Remember the days when text messages and Snake on your Nokia 3310 were two of the most exciting things a phone could manage? We do, too. Fast-forward two decades and we have in-display fingerprint scanners, bezel-free displays, under-display cameras, plus a whole different take on slider and flip phones.
Flip phones were once slim, compact and hinged devices. Now, flip phones have morphed into these foldable phones with actual bendable screens. That tends to bring the potential for huge price tags, to get hold of a piece of this magic.
Here are the devices leading the foldable smartphone trend.
Our Top Picks: Best Foldable Phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Samsung's latest flip phone offers a stunning big cover screen, great cameras, and an improved, durable design plus all the flagship specs you'd hope for.
- Big, bright and customisable cover screen
- Waterproof and durable design
- Long-time software and security patch support
- Lots of different colour options
- Great cameras
- No zoom lens
- Charging could be faster
There are a few things that stood out when we tested the Z Flip 5 from Samsung, which - yet again - means the Galaxy Flip remains our top recommendation for anyone looking for a modern foldable clamshell phone.
Performance is top-notch in every possible way, and we were blown away with how much life we managed to get from the battery, despite the fact that capacity hasn't increased at all. The more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 inside helps, as well as ensuring that it feels really fast and responsive.
The aluminium frame feels sturdy, the cover display is big, bright and fun to interact with and the water-resistance rating means it's far more likely to survive accidental encounters with moisture than any other flip phone on the list. We still have concerns about how long the bending internal display might last the average user, but that's the same for any phone on this list.
Other foldable phones we recommend
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 won't be the phone for everyone, and there are plenty of other models and styles to choose from, with more manufacturers joining the flexible smartphone market all the time and each with their benefits.
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
(Also known as Razr+ in the US)
Motorola's latest Razr - known as the Razr+ in North America - has a big outer screen that's really useful, plus speedy performance, great battery and it's a sensible price.
- Big cover screen is really useful
- Clean, bloat-free software
- Great battery life
- Only IP52 water resistant
- Software could be better optimised for folding screen
We were really torn between the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Moto Razr 40 Ultra (Razr+) in first place, both have strengths, but in the end Samsung pipped it for its better software optimisation and better cameras in testing. With that said, we still like the latest flagship Motorola - a lot. The clean, bloat-free software is a breath of fresh air, and it has the flagship power and performance you'd want from a top-tier phone. What's more - for a clamshell foldable - the battery life is very good, comfortably lasting a full day even with a lot of screen usage.
The big draw is the large cover screen on the outside. It's great for taking selfies and surprisingly convenient for reading (and replying to) messages on the fly, meaning you don't have to open the phone for every interaction like you do with the regular Razr 40.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the latest folding phone from Samsung. It brings a refined design compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, along with some great internal upgrades.
- Great display quality
- Top tier power and performance
- Folding design and mechanism is solid
- High water resistance rating
- Great software optimisations
- External display is too narrow
- Samsung bloatware onboard
As is standard practice for Samsung, it didn't just launch a new clamshell foldable, it also launched a horizontal book-style folding phone: the Galaxy Z Fold 5. In this market, it stands above the rest thanks to a considered approach to design and great software optimisation.
It's a bit of an iterative upgrade on the Z Fold 4, but the increased power and efficiency from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 are worthwhile inclusions, as is the improved hinge design which sees the screen fold completely shut, with no gap at the hinge.
We still think the outer display is a bit too cramped and narrow - especially when compared to the likes of the Pixel Fold and the Oppo Find N2 - but as a complete package, it's hard to think of a better all-rounder.
Google Pixel Fold
The Pixel Fold takes Google's phones in a new direction, embracing the next-gen screen tech and presenting a premium PIxel option. It's a great quality phone, but it's clear there's still work to be done on app optimisation to enhance the experience.
- Great camera results
- External display is very usable
- Design is very premium, durable
- It's expensive
- Still waiting on some software optimisation
- Middling battery life
Despite owning the Android platform, it took a little while for Google to finally launch its own foldable. And when it did, it took a completely different approach to most other manufacturers. In a similar move to the Find N2, Google opted for a book-style foldable that was relatively short, but wide. It's very different to the long, narrow Z Fold 4 from Samsung. That does mean you get a big, usable screen on the outside though, and in our testing, it quickly became the one thing that set it apart from the others. We'd use it just as often - if not more so - than the internal display, because there really is no compromise. It's not cramped, it's easy to type on and even works for video and games.
The Pixel Fold also has a similar camera set-up to the Pixel 7 Pro, which is to say, that - as a system - the Pixel has the best cameras of any foldable on the market. It snaps shots easily, is quick and delivers sharp, colourful results in any condition, even nighttime. Its only real issue - apart from the fact it doesn't open completely flat - is that software optimisation isn't quite where it should be for the wide internal display. There's very much a sense that the UI experience is a bit rough around the edges. It's also really expensive.
Oppo Find N2 Flip
King of the flips
The Oppo Find N2 Flip gets a lot right, offering an interesting vertical cover display, a big, bright internal display and 44W fast charging in a neat, pocketable package that doesn't cost the earth.
- Big vertical display on the cover
- Main display crease is almost invisible
- Gapless design when shut
- Flagship power from Mediatek
- Cover display functionality is limited
- Ultrawide camera could be a lot better
- No IP rated water resistance
It's safe to say Oppo thought about things very differently from its competitors with the Find N2 Flip. Yes, you still get a portable, foldable clamshell that slips easily into a pocket, but you also get an unusual vertical display on the front which makes a lot of sense in specific scenarios. It's essentially a mini smartphone display and is great for lists, message inboxes and recording vertical videos.
Marry that with a phone that has a brilliant internal display, an almost invisible crease in the display and a gapless design, and it's a really tempting offering, especially at this price point. As an extra kicker - you get 44W wired charging - delivering a full charge in about an hour.
Honor Magic Vs
A no compromise folding phone
Honor's foldable flagship has powerful internals and two big, vibrant displays. It folds flush too, offering a very different experience to the Galaxy Z Fold.
- Big front screen
- Powerful flagship specs
- Big internal display that folds flush
- Fast charging
- No wireless charging
- Slight crease on the internal display
- It's a big phone
Honor's flagship foldable takes a similar approach to its former parent company, Huawei's. It's a really big device with a large flexible display on the inside and a full-sized screen on the outside. You get lots of screen real estate then, and both displays offer a great visual experience. It folds flush, which is a big draw, and has some impressive specifications. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 runs the show, and Honor's Android skin comes with all the proper Play Store compatibility. It's a great option for those who want a big screened foldable.
Huawei Mate X3
Sublime hardware and cameras
Huawei's flagship folding phone has incredible cameras and stunning hardware design. If it was based on hardware alone, it'd be our top recommendation.
- Stunning design - it's unbelievably slim
- Really good displays
- Probably the best cameras on any foldable
- No Google Play services
- It's really expensive
Let's get the two major elephants out of the room first: yes, it's expensive and no, it doesn't have Google Play Services. But there's many a reason we think the Mate X3 deserves a mention, even if it's just an honourable mention at the end of a list. The hardware design is - without doubt - the nicest we've laid our hands on. The slimness seems almost impossible and - combined with the fake leather back - make it really comfortable to hold. It's also got a wonderful pair of screens and - probably - the best camera of any foldable phone.
Lacking Google Play isn't the hurdle it used to be. Apps that aren't on the Huawei's App Gallery are available to download as APKs through Petal Search which now also informs you when there are updates available to download, so that process feels more user-friendly than it was. What's more, there's a suite of Microsoft apps, including Outlook and Edge, available in place of Gmail and Chrome. There are still some hurdles, and some apps you'll struggle to get hold of, so you still need to look into that to see if you're missing anything crucial.
Unlike standard smartphones, however, missing apps isn't the major inconvenience it could be. Plenty of services are available as web services, and accessible through the browser, and that method can be beneficial on the almost tablet-sized display on the inside.