The Best Folding Phones
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You May be scoffing as you read this. Folding phones? Really? Aren't those just gimmicks? I'm here to tell you they're pretty darn useful. And yes, there are now quite a few of them, so you have options to choose from. Folding phones are an evolution of the traditional single-screen slab of glass we've all been using for nearly two decades—and we might even see a folding iPhone in the future.
They predominantly come in two forms—a folding flip phone or a folding booklike phone—enabling you to either relive the glory days of small phones or expand your multitasking options while on the go. The best folding phone is going to be a personal decision—arguably even more than a traditional smartphone since it hinges on what style you prefer (heh). Regardless, I have tested almost all of these phones, and my colleague Simon Hill has helped test models specific to the UK and other markets. These are our favorites.
Check out our other mobile buying guides, including the Best Android Phones, Best iPhones, Best Cheap Phones, Best Google Pixel Phones, Best Motorola Phones, and Best Phones With a Headphone Jack.
Updated November 2024: We've added the Xiaomi Mix Flip and Mix Fold 4.
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Things to Know Before Buying
Folding phones are more fragile than normal phones. Folding phones have more parts than a traditional smartphone, not to mention a hinge. Companies advertise how many folds these devices have been tested for—usually around 200,000 or 500,000 folds—but a single drop can be incredibly damaging. They are not as dust-resistant and some aren't as water-resistant (almost none of them are IP78-rated), so you'll want to be especially careful. Use a case, and it might be worthwhile to invest in the manufacturer's device care policy.
Don't remove the built-in screen protector. Most of these folding phones have a film over the inner screen. You might be tempted to remove it, but don't—it can damage the display. There are usually instructions in the packaging instructing you not to remove it, and how to care for your device.
There's a small learning curve to the software. Flip-style folding phones are fairly straightforward, but booklike folding phones that double as tablets have new multitasking tricks that will take some getting used to if you want to make the most of them. I recommend taking some time to run through these features so you understand how they work.
They're expensive. Do you need one? Nobody needs a folding phone. If you think you're someone who will benefit from them, know that they're frequently discounted during big sale events like Black Friday, and you can also knock a few hundred dollars off if you trade in an eligible device.
Which Type of Folding Phone Is for You?
Folding flip phones are for people who want a compact device. Think of a normal phone you can fold in half. That's pretty much what you get, plus a screen on the front to monitor widgets and texts. This does mean you can flip the phone to answer a call and flip it shut to end one—super cool. You can put the phone at a 90-degree angle and some apps will adapt to show controls on the bottom, and important details at the top like in video calling apps, or when watching videos on YouTube, though this depends on the phone. Folding flip phones typically have mediocre battery life and the cameras are not as good as their nonfolding counterparts.
Folding booklike phones are for people who want the big-screen experience. Are you constantly watching full-length movies on your phone? Or do you always find yourself jumping back and forth between two apps? Then these are for you. They have good battery life and better cameras (though not as good as nonfolding phones), but they're far more expensive. They're thick and heavy, though we're seeing newer models that are surprisingly thin. Still, you may have a hard time fitting them in your pockets.
My Favorite Folding Features
Whichever style you go for, my favorite feature of folding phones is the ability to see the viewfinder on the external screen and snap a selfie with the high-quality rear cameras—just set the phone down slightly folded so it stays upright, and there's usually a button you can click in the camera app to send the preview to the external screen. You can usually trigger the shutter hands-free with a palm gesture. It's excellent when traveling and you want to take a photo of yourself next to a point of interest in the background.
Many of these phones offer similar functionality with translation—Samsung and Google, for example, both let you show your words translated on the external screen so the person you are speaking to can see it, and then they can tap a button on the screen to have the phone start translating their words, which you'll see on the internal screen. It's a much nicer system than using Google Translate on a single-screen phone.
- Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Best Flip Phone
Motorola Razr+ (2024)Motorola's Razr+ wins the Most Improved award. I didn't like the original folding flip phone back in 2020, but the company has turned things around. The latest Razr+ (7/10, WIRED Recommends) has overtaken Samsung's Flip series to be my favorite. The larger 4-inch OLED front screen is more functional than ever and handy for scrolling through some glanceable widgets, like weather, calendar, and even some fun mini-games that play well compact. Open it up and you get a traditional 6.9-inch screen when you fully need to use your smartphone. It has all the top amenities too, like a 165-Hz OLED display, an IPX8 water-resistance rating, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, which is a slightly lesser version of the flagship chipset powering most Android phones this year. Did I mention it comes in hot pink?
The camera system has been upgraded thanks to Motorola's new Photo Enhancement Engine, but it's still not a camera leader compared to its peers. These photos can also take a few more seconds to process than you might be used to. I've been generally happy with the results, though I wish Motorola didn't remove the ultrawide camera. Instead, there's a 2X optical zoom lens for portraits, and I dare say this is a rare instance where an ultrawide would've been a better choice, especially when you can use the cover screen as a preview to take a group picture. Battery life is better than before, but this phone still requires daily charging.
Specs External display: 4 inch, 165-Hz LTPO, AMOLED Internal display: 6.9-inch, 165-Hz LTPO, AMOLED Processor and RAM: Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 with 12 GB RAM Storage: 256 GB Battery: 4,000 mAh Cameras: 50-MP main camera, 50-MP 2X telephoto, 32-MP selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): Three Android OS upgrades and four years of bimonthly security updates Extras: Wireless charging, IPX8, fingerprint unlock, NFC Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks - Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Best Folding Phone
Google Pixel 9 Pro FoldIn hindsight, I may have been a little harsh in my Pixel 9 Pro Fold review (6/10, WIRED Recommends), but that was largely because I felt like $1,800 should get you hardware at least as good as that on the cheaper Pixel 9 Pro, which is an excellent phone. Brushing this aside, this is still the booklike folding phone I prefer using out of all the options sold in the US. The external screen is wider than what you get with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold6 and feels nearly identical to a normal smartphone. It's not the thinnest folding device out there, but it's pretty slim in its own right, which makes holding it more manageable than ever. Open it up and you're also getting one of the largest inner screens we've seen to date at 8 inches, which basically makes it an iPad Mini, right?
My main gripe is that there are some lesser features compared to the nonfolding Pixel 9 Pro series. For example, the triple camera system here is great, but the results from the telephoto and ultrawide are noticeably not as sharp as the photos captured on the cheaper 9 Pro devices. Separately, I also do not like that Gmail now requires you to flip the phone to landscape mode to show the more useful two-pane view; this wasn't an issue with the first-gen Pixel Fold. You might even have issues charging this thing on a wireless charging stand—it's not even supported on Google's own Pixel Stand Gen 2. These are on the whole just minor gripes, but they might matter to you when you're splurging this much cash on a phone.
Still, it's hard to stay away from this improved piece of hardware and the Pixel software, with all of the smart features that Pixel phones are known for. I just watched Call Screen block a spam call as I wrote this, and I'm constantly using Assistant Voice Typing to quickly send accurate messages without having to tap on the virtual keyboard. I've got more details about these features in our Best Google Pixel Phone buying guide.
Specs External display: 6.3-inch, 120-Hz OLED Internal display: 8-inch, 120-Hz LTPO, OLED Processor and RAM: Tensor G4 with 16 GB RAM Storage: 256 and 512 GB options Battery: 4,650 mAh Cameras: 48-MP main camera, 10.5-MP 5X telephoto, 10.5-MP ultrawide, 10-MP front camera, 10-MP inner selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): Seven years of software updates Extras: Wireless charging, IPX8, fingerprint and secure face unlock, NFC Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks
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- Photograph: Simon Hill
Best Folding Phone Outside the US
Honor Magic V3You can import it into the US and hope it works perfectly fine on your carrier, but the Honor Magic V3 is the best booklike fold for anyone in the UK, Europe, or other markets where the phone is sold (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It's the world's slimmest folding phone, and that means using the external screen feels pretty normal like a single-screen device (that's good!). Open it up and you get a 7.92-inch expansive screen. These displays are gorgeous, and Honor wins out on other basic functions too, like great battery life, a solid triple camera system, and amenities like wireless charging.
Where it falls short is software. Honor has made strides in improving it since its predecessors, but there are still some quirks like weird transitions between the front and inside screens. The software support on this phone also doesn't last as long as what Google and Samsung offer, which is a shame considering it's nearly as expensive.
Specs External display: 6.43-inch, 120-Hz LTPO, OLED Internal display: 7.92-inch, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED Processor and RAM: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 12 GB RAM Storage: 512 GB Battery: 5,150 mAh Cameras: 50-MP main camera, 50.5-MP 3.5X telephoto, 40-MP ultrawide, 20-MP front camera, 20-MP inner selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): Four years of Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates Extras: Wireless charging, IPX8, fingerprint sensor, NFC Carrier compatibility: Not officially supported in the US; available in the UK and Europe - Photograph: OnePlus
Best for Heavy Multitaskers
OnePlus OpenAre you constantly juggling between multiple apps? The OnePlus Open surprisingly has some of the best multitasking features I've ever seen on a folding phone to date. I was at the Google October Hardware event last year and had Gmail and X open in split-screen, and then Slack hidden away at the bottom—you can easily scroll down to see the full-size third app, or bring all three into view next to each other. There's a pretty good video demonstration of it in my review (7/10, WIRED Recommends). OnePlus has the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold6 beat when it comes to serious multitasking. (OnePlus has ported these multitasking features over to its new tablet too.)
The cameras are great, and the 6.31-inch front screen feels normal—so much so that sometimes I forgot I was using a folding phone. You can open it up for a spacious 7.82-inch display. The device overall is fairly thin and lightweight too, despite the giant camera module. The downsides? There's no wireless charging support. It also has only an IPX4 water-resistance rating, so I'd be really careful using this near a pool. Take into consideration access to repairability and customer service—Google and Samsung have a wider repair network (at least in the US), and fixing a broken OnePlus might be more troublesome. If it's any consolation, for the life of this device, OnePlus has a promotion where you can trade in any phone to get an automatic $200 off. Neat. Fair warning: There are rumors that a OnePlus Open 2 is on the way, likely in early 2025.
Specs External display: 6.31-inch, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED Internal display: 7.82-inch, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED Processor and RAM: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with 16 GB RAM Storage: 512 GB or 1 TB options Battery: 4,805 mAh Cameras: 48-MP main camera, 64-MP 3X telephoto, 48-MP ultrawide, 32-MP front camera, 20-MP inner selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): Four Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates. Extras: IPX4, fingerprint sensor, NFC Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks
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- Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
The OG Folding Phones
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6Samsung is the stalwart brand in the folding phone game, whether you opt for its Galaxy Z Fold6 or Flip6 (7/10, WIRED Recommends)—that's right, we're already on its sixth generation. If you're worried about durability and repairability, these Samsung phones are the safest choice on the market right now, with exceptional build quality and reliability, but they're unfortunately the most expensive.
The Fold6 has an improved wider front screen that feels more like a normal smartphone, but not as much as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold or the Honor Magic V3. At least it's decently lightweight. Open it up and the 7.6-inch screen is a treat. Samsung has stuffed a lot of AI features inside, my favorite of which is Sketch to Image, which lets you draw on your photos to have AI generate a picture based on your sketch. I don't find multitasking as easy as on the OnePlus Open, and the aspect ratio still restricts some apps from showing a multi-pane view, like Gmail, unless you rotate the phone to landscape. I also don't love the price jump.
The Flip6 is much easier to recommend to anyone. It folds well, and the improved hinge design feels more responsive and durable. I prefer the larger front screen on the Motorola Razr+, which generally feels easier to customize and use than Samsung's approach. Otherwise, the Flip6 remains a great folding flip phone with long software support, great cameras (better than Motorola's!), and excellent performance. Just remember to carry a power bank, as it won't last a full day of heavy use.
Specs Flip6 Fold6 External display: 3.4-inch, 60-Hz, AMOLED 6.3-inch, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED Internal display: 6.7-inch, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED 7.6-inch, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED Processor and RAM: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 12 GB RAM Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 12 GB RAM Storage: 256 or 512 GB options 256, 512 GB, or 1 TB options Battery: 4,000 mAh 4,400 mAh Cameras: 50-MP main camera, 12-MP ultrawide, 10-MP selfie camera 50-MP main camera, 10-MP 3X telephoto, 12-MP ultrawide, 10-MP front camera, 4-MP inner selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): Seven years of software updates Seven years of software updates Extras: IPX8, fingerprint sensor, NFC, wireless charging IPX8, fingerprint sensor, NFC, wireless charging Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks Works on all three major US networks - Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Best Budget Folding Phone
Motorola Razr (2024)Motorola's standard Razr (2024) doesn't have as large of a front screen as the Razr+, and its specs are a bit lesser—performance is noticeably more sluggish here and there. But you still get an OLED 6.9-inch interior screen with a 120-Hz refresh rate, and the ultrawide camera alongside the primary shooter means you can fold this baby up and get a wide-angle selfie view on the front screen. It also has a slightly larger 4,200-mAh battery cell and does last a tiny bit longer, but still firmly in the once-a-day charging category.
At $700, you'll be hard-pressed to find many other folding smartphones at this price, and that's what makes the Razr such great value. It's a great starting place if you're curious about entering the folding phone world. Just make sure to wait for a sale, because Motorola will likely start dropping the price to $500 soon if last year's models are anything to go by.
Specs External display: 3.6-inch, 90-Hz LTPS, AMOLED Internal display: 6.9-inch, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED Processor and RAM: MediaTek Dimensity 7300X with 8 GB RAM Storage: 256 GB Battery: 4,200 mAh Cameras: 50-MP main camera, 13-MP ultrawide, 32-MP selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): Three Android OS upgrades and four years of bimonthly security updates Extras: Wireless charging, IPX8, fingerprint unlock, NFC Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks
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Other Folding Phones to Consider
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 for $850: The 2023 fifth-generation Galaxy Z Flip5 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a polished flip-style handset with an IPX8 water-resistance rating and a silent hinge. It closes completely flat without leaving a gap in the middle, and this iteration has a larger cover screen on the front, which lets you look at large widgets like the calendar, weather, step count, and timer—plus notifications with the ability to respond to them via a full-size keyboard—without opening the device up. The newer Flip6 doesn't add many new features—the upgrades are in the software, and the Flip5 has received many of them. Just make sure it's decently cheaper than the Flip6.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 for $1,399: The Galaxy Z Fold5 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) from 2023 still shares many similarities with the newer Galaxy Z Fold6, though the front screen is not as wide and can be a little annoying to use (apps can feel a bit squished). It's still an excellent, well-built phone, but you should avoid paying anything near MSRP. Wait for a sale.
Xiaomi Mix Flip for £1,099: Xiaomi’s first flip phone has a lovely design with excellent displays inside and out, long battery life with fast charging, and flagship-level performance, which makes a nice change as flip phones often have middling specs. It also boasts a solid dual-lens camera, opting for telephoto instead of ultrawide alongside the capable main shooter, which is more useful for most folks. The software lets the party down a little, there’s no IP rating, and it is very pricey, but I had fun with this flip phone. —Simon Hill
Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 for $1,299: Launched only in China like its predecessors, Xiaomi has promised a wider release for the Mix Fold 4 at some point (though not in the US). It’s not much thicker than the Honor Magic V3 above, and the screen crease is more pronounced when you open it. Performance and battery life are impeccable, and it supports fast wired and wireless charging. There’s also a versatile Leica-tuned camera. But it doesn’t feel like a huge upgrade over last year’s Xiaomi Mix Fold 3. —Simon Hill
Motorola Razr+ (2023) for $550: The Razr+ (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is one of the nicer-looking flip phones thanks to the leatherlike material on the back. Plus it comes in ruby! The external screen isn't as large as the latest Razr+ (2024), but you can still open any app with no restrictions. The cameras aren't as nice, and the battery life is mediocre. Still, it's a smart buy at this price.
Motorola Razr (2023) for $350: This is a remarkable price for a folding phone, even if it's just a year old. It sacrifices a large cover screen, meaning the little display on the front is only useful for checking the time, weather, and some notifications. The hinge mechanism doesn't feel anywhere near as nice as the newer models (it's a little noisy), but you get a 6.9-inch OLED screen on the inside, a 144-Hz screen refresh rate, and perfectly good performance thanks to the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset.
Google Pixel Fold for $1,350: We've seen the Pixel Fold drop for as little as $1,200 at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, and that's a good price for it, especially since it has now been succeeded by the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Read our Pixel Fold review (8/10, WIRED Recommends) for more details on this wide and chunky device.
Oppo Find N3 Flip for $899: I used the Find N3 Flip for several weeks—including when I was moving—and it was an excellent companion. I don't find its elongated front screen all that useful (I prefer something like the Razr+ or Z Flip6), and it doesn't help that flipping it open makes a not-so-pleasant sound. It loses points on the IPX4 rating too. But it's plenty powerful, the screen gets decently bright, and the battery reliably lasts a full day with heavy use. The triple camera system is the highlight—it's a rarity on a flip phone and includes a 2X optical zoom. The results aren't going to blow you away but are more than satisfactory.
Nubia Flip 5G for $499 (£500): This supercute flip foldable has a stylish circular screen on the front. The Nubia Flip 5G (6/10 WIRED Review) is the most affordable foldable we have seen, outside of discounts for other models. Sadly, the front screen is not very practical, and this is a distinctly average performer with limited processing power and battery life. The software is also dated, and we have concerns about Nubia’s update policy. But for folks keen to try a foldable on a limited budget, the Flip 5G is a way to do it. —Simon Hill
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