The best foldable phones to buy in 2024

If you're wondering what is the best foldable phone right now, you've come to the right place. We will be updating this list as soon as new foldable phones come out, as long as they qualify as the best ones, of course.

A summarized list of the best foldable phones at the moment:

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OnePlus Open

The best camera system on a foldable phone

OnePlus took the foldable phone market by surprise with its first foldable phone, the OnePlus Open. Not only is it super slim and overall a leight one for this form factor, but it also comes with arguably the best cameras on a foldable phone so far.

OnePlus has used new tech to achieve this feat, more specifically with the main 48MP camera that manages to achieve levels of image quality comparable to those seen with Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra! The 64MP 3X telephoto camera is also very impressive, including the 6X sensor crop that it is used for.

On top of all of this, you get fast 67W charging, good battery life, great performance and thermal management, and awesome displays. OnePlus truly impressed us with this one.

Google Pixel Fold

Everything you love about the pixel but with a power-user twist

This year was an exciting one as far as the foldable phone space is concerned, and one of the main reasons we can afford to say that is Google's first jab at it with the Pixel Fold! Now, no first attempt is perfect, or even great, but a first attempt can be inspiring, and we think Google's Pixel Fold is exactly that.

Essentially, we are talking everything you love about Pixel phones in the foldable phone format, including Google's software smarts adapted to make use of that folding screen. That said, one of our favorite quirks of the Pixel Fold is its cover display which, unlike the Z Fold 5, comes with a size that is closer to that of a regular phone.

Of course, the Google Pixel Fold still falls in the niche spectrum so it is more suited for early adopters and people who would really make use of that larger screen. Nevertheless, this is a great start for Google, with a solid base upon which it can improve in the future. We hope to see some more affordable options to rival the Motorola Razr and Galaxy Z Flip in the future too!

Motorola Razr Plus (2023)

The best flip phone right now

The Motorola Razr Plus from last year stands out as an impressive foldable device. Its slim chassis creates a sleek, flat form factor when closed, complemented by rounded edges for a comfortable grip. Powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, it delivers strong performance and efficient battery life, ensuring a smooth user experience throughout the day.

One of the most impressive parts about the 2023 Razr Plus is its cover display, which is highly convenient and practical as it has virtually all the functions of the main screen, and it even fits a full-sized keyboard so you can easily type on it. We found this to be important as you don't always want to unfold the phone for every single task.

For the most part, it is exactly because of the Razr Plus' cover display usability that we think it is the best flip phone at the moment. The rest of the phone is very similar to its main competition, such as the Z Flip 5, apart from the somewhat weaker (but still very capable) chipset.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

The safe choice

By now, you probably know all about the Galaxy Z Fold series from Samsung, and if you missed the recent announcement of the latest iteration, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, it probably won't take you too much time to learn everything new about it. Why? Well, because Samsung has mostly stuck to very incremental changes with this year's generation.

That is not necessarily bad news though, as the Galaxy Z Fold series was already one of the best book-like foldable phones on the market. The lack of any major changes also means that it is a rather safe choice for buyers, especially if you are upgrading from an older generation like the Z Fold 2 or Z Fold 3.

Honestly, the only reason the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is on this list is because it is newer, but it could easily swap places with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and still keep the same position for the same reasons. If you find a much cheaper Z Fold 4 then you should probably get it instead.

Motorola Razr (2023)

The best affordable foldable phone

The 2023 Motorola Razr, now priced at just $500, brings foldable technology within reach for many, offering an affordable alternative to pricier options. Despite its budget-friendly tag, this phone surprises with its solid performance in various aspects.

Despite the fact that it is a more affordable foldable phone, it feels premium to hold, with a more unique design than most featuring silicon (vegan leather) back panel. The silicon makes it much harder for the phone to slip out of your hand or pocket.

Admittedly, the cover display is nothing as impressive as the flagship flip phones, but it can still offer useful at-a-glance information.

The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset on board is not the most powerful out there, but it can still handle games like League of Legends Wild Rift, for example, so you won't have trouble with titles that are not too demanding. The chip is also very power efficient, which helps the battery life on the budget Razr quite a bit.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

A flip phone with higher performance

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 introduces notable upgrades, including a full-size outer screen for enhanced usability and software features. Its new hinge design eliminates gaps, improving durability, and providing a more robust feel.Samsung leverages the form factor to enhance the camera system, offering a full-size selfie viewfinder and innovative app interactions. Performance matches the Fold, with improved battery life due to a more efficient chip.

Despite refinement, one-handed operation may be challenging, and there's room for improvement in battery life and charging. If you value Samsung's One UI, the Z Flip 5 is a compelling choice in the flip phone market.

It depends on the case, but generally, yes. We can definitely say devices like the Z Fold 4 (all in all, the best foldable phone right now) are worth the cost given the stellar performance, improved durability and multitasking abilities. However, you need to really think about why do you need a foldable phone.When determining for yourself whether or not getting a foldable is worth it, think about the following things:

• A foldable in a folded state is much thicker than a regular smartphone (won't really be comfortable in jeans pockets)
• They tend to be heavier
• There is a display crease where the screen folds. Some models have refined that to be almost invisible, but it is still there for now

If you don't mind the above and you would really use a bigger screen of a Z Fold or the clamshell portability of a Z Flip, then it will be worth it.

Are foldable phones durable enough?

The foldable tech has been improving in the last couple of years. Foldable smartphones were somewhat fragile in the beginning. Now things have changed and current foldable phones are way more durable. For the Z Fold 4, Samsung promises the device is durable enough to survive a minimum of 200,000 folds – more or less 5 years if you fold and unfold it 100 times a day. Americans check their phones on average 344 times per day, according to a survey by Reviews.org on smartphone usage for 2022. That's around 122,000 checks a year. But checking doesn't mean interacting with it – you can check the outer screen of the Samsung foldable for notifications, texting, or even a brief scroll through social media, without ever unfolding the phone.

The moral of the story – a foldable phone like the Z Flip 4 and the Z Fold 4 should survive for around five years of regular usage. Good enough for today's standards.

Is battery life affected in foldables phones?

Yes, battery life seems to be a bit lower than regular flagship phones. When comparing a foldable phone to regular flagship devices, we see some differences in the battery department, including when pinning them against the best Android phones. As you may know, we at PhoneArena perform extensive tests for all the phones we review. Check the table below to see for yourself what the battery life results for foldable phones vs regular phones are.

Are there any differences between foldable and traditional phones' camera quality?

It depends on which foldable vs which traditional phone. The camera has no interaction whatsoever with the folding mechanism, and is like any other smartphone camera. If it has a higher megapixel count and better features, image processing and color calibration, it will be better no matter if it's on a foldable phone or a standard smartphone. The only thing is that some folding phones may lack the space for a periscope lens or some other special lens though. If we talk about selfies, some foldable phones like the Z Fold 4 can deliver even better results given the fact that you can use the phone's rear camera to take a selfie.

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