– OnePlus Open is the best overall foldable phone with great performance, design, and cameras
– Google Pixel Fold is the best alternative book-style foldable phone with premium features
– Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the best clamshell foldable phone with a larger cover screen.
The best foldable phones for most people are the tablet-hybrid design rather than the clamshell-style flip phone. Tablet-hybrid foldables offer greater functionality, performance, and battery life but are significantly more expensive. Clamshell foldables are fashionable statement pieces but are expensive. The OnePlus Open is the best foldable phone overall, offering performance, premium design, solid battery life, and excellent cameras. The Google Pixel Fold is an alternative option, providing an excellent experience as a phone and a small tablet. For those looking for a flip phone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the top choice, offering a large cover screen, powerful chipset, and a redesigned hinge. The most affordable foldable option is the Motorola Razr (2023), running on a mid-range processor with a small cover display and a lower price tag.
The OnePlus Open stands out for its comfortable cover and large tablet display, performance, build quality, and cameras. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, has high-resolution OLED displays, and takes impressive photos. However, it lacks wireless charging and AI features compared to competitors. The Google Pixel Fold offers a premium experience with high-end OLED panels, a smooth refresh rate, and Google’s Tensor G2 processor. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 features a large cover screen, powerful chipset, and quality cameras, while the Motorola Razr is a budget-friendly foldable option.
While there are benefits to foldable phones, their higher prices need to be justified by their unique features. Book-style foldables offer a hybrid experience between a phone and a tablet, while clamshell foldables provide compact portability and fashion appeal. Apple is rumored to be exploring the idea of a foldable iPhone, but there is no official announcement about its release date.