Best folding phones 2025: Jump Menu
00. The list in brief ↴
01. Best for most: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
02. Best premium: OnePlus Open
03. Best affordable: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
04. Best cover display: Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
05. Best if priced right: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
06. Best wide display: Google Pixel Fold
07. Best slender design: Honor Magic VS
08. How to choose
09. How we test
Lately the best foldable phones have gone from being unreliable and expensive to dependable and more affordable (well, in some cases anyway!). The technology has improved rapidly thanks to research and development efforts – and now a lot more people can actually consider buying a folding handset as a viable alternative to the typical best phones of today.
You'll find a couple of different form factors to choose between: book-like ones that open up to reveal a bigger tablet-sized screen; and clamshell-like ones, which typically house an at-a-glance cover display, but then can be flipped open (hence 'flip phones') to form a more regular-sized screen in a more traditional phone-shaped design. They're very different propositions, both of which we'll get into in this guide.
If you're in the market for one of the best folding phones in the world then you've come to the right place. Here are the handsets genuinely worth considering, as tested and rated, so you can find the best foldable phone for you – and across a wide range of budgets from genuinely affordable to top-tier luxury!
T3 Top Picks
Best overall flip phone
Samsung's 2023 flagship flip phone is the best designed of its kind, and ups the cover display ante with a new, larger panel than its Z Flip 4 predecessor. Its Motorola key competitor (below) has a larger and more functional cover display, but it's not as well-built a device.
Best premium foldable
Taking the previous Samsung Z Fold 5's winning spot, the OnePlus Open is a no-turn-missed foldable. It's got incredible cameras, the best folding mechanism with least crease, and it looks particularly impressive. The larger front screen than many competitors will appeal to many buyers too.
Best affordable flip phone
It might have a far smaller cover display than its two follow-up devices (Z Flip 4 & Flip 5), but it's also got a much smaller price tag as a result. The internal display is the same across all three models, so no compromise there if that's what matters most to you.
Best cover display
A strong Samsung Z Flip 5 competitor (above), this Razr has the largest cover display of any flip phone right now. It's also the most functional of any clamshell too – with full app access as you please – making it a most versatile foldable option.
Best if priced right
Samsung's flagship foldable will be considered the best of any foldable to many, given its accessible software. Its established design adds even brighter screens than its Z Fold 4 predecessor. Its price is naturally higher, though, so unless money is no object then, for now, the OnePlus or its predecessor will serve you splendidly.
Best wide display
If the Samsung Z Fold series' skinny front display isn't ample for you then Google's take in its first foldable is for a much larger, more traditional display – which many users may prefer. It doesn't come cheap, and the panels aren't as bright, but it's a great first try.
Best overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Buy it if
✅ You want the best flip phone design: the build quality is a step beyond any other clamshell foldable out there; you can just feel it in use over the Motorola (or Oppo) competition
✅ A big cover display is a must: unlike the previous Z Flip 4's 1.9in display, the Z Flip 5 ups this to 3.4in – which fundamentally changes how you'll use the device for at-a-glance notifications and interactions.
✅ A larger foldable is too much for you: sure, the Z Fold (not Flip) 5 looks nice, but it's approaching twice the price of this and it's way, way larger – which won't suit all pockets and purses!
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want to do more up front: the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra's cover display has more app availability and interactivity than this Samsung, meaning greater versatility.
❌ You don't need a large cover display: sure, a 3.4in screen is nice, but if smaller serves your at-a-glance purposes then save a load of cash and get the Z Flip 3 or 4!
❌ You're big into photography: the cameras here are functional, sure, but they're a long way from the best-of-best that you'll find in the best flagship phones (the ones that don't fold, typically speaking).
The bottom line
🔎 The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the best all-round flip phone thanks to a great build, larger cover display than its predecessor, great software, and a battery life that lasts surprisingly well considering the size. It's pricier than its Z Flip 3 & 4 predecessors, but that new cover display makes it worth it. ★★★★
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 certainly has plenty of competition from the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra elsewhere in this guide, but that's a slightly different proposition.
Where the Z Flip 5 earns its stripes is in the overall build quality, which is better than that main competitor, plus Samsung has significantly upped the cover display size (from 1.9in to 3.4in) compared to its Z Flip 4 predecessor.
Design: As noted in our review (full link below) there's a much better feel to the Z Flip 5's hinge mechanism than any other flip phone. That might sound minor, but in a device you'll be flipping open and closed dozens of times a day (and it's kinda satisfying) it's a major part of this design. Add lots of somber yet attractive colour options and this Samsung looks the part too.
Displays: The 3.4in cover display on the exterior is far larger than the 1.9in one in its Z Flip 4 predecessor, which is far better for at-a-glance use for notifications and interactivity. It's responsive to use, although Samsung is less open with app access than Motorola is, so there's not quite as much you can do in terms of functionality (yet anyway). The 6.7in internal display is great, although like any folding phone suffers from reflections and that central 'crease'.
Performance: With a top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor at its heart, which is tuned for Samsung devices (i.e. it's overclocked) the performance here is second to none, and whether you're using the cover display or flipping open so apps continue on the larger interior one, everything runs super smooth.
Battery: With a small battery (3,700mAh, so around 1,300mAh less than many flagships) don't expect the best longevity ever – our review quotes around 80% used in 14 hours – but as you'll be using the smaller cover display more, this small cell holds up well. Charging, at 25W, isn't the fastest ever, but it's speedy enough to provide 50% battery in 30 minutes.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 review
Best premium
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Buy it if
✅ You value cameras: The triple camera setup on the rear (48MP for main and zoom, 64MP for 3x zoom) isn't mucking about. Indeed, it's a best-in-class setup.
✅ You want more battery life: With more capacity and faster-charging than the mainline competition, you'll get better longevity per charge and faster top-ups here.
✅ You want the best folding feel: The hinge mechanism in the Open is extra smooth, yet extra 'snappy', giving a satisfying feel – but also less of a main screen 'crease' issue.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You don't like massive camera bumps: That rear projection is, well, it's massive isn't it? That makes this a less pocket-friendly device as consequence.
❌ You're software fussy: While Android is behind the scenes, OxygenOS doesn't have precisely the same feel. At least it's got more bespoke options than Google's Pixel Fold though.
❌ You won't use the internal screen much: Seems obvious, but the Open's front display is so great, so 'normal phone-like' that if you don't unfold this device enough as a result then, well, is it worth buying at all?
The bottom line
🔎 The OnePlus Open is a surprise winner, outsmarting its most obvious rivals with a better balance of screen sizes, the most satisfying hinge mechanism, least visible crease, and great battery life too. It's still pricey, and that camera bump is huge, but it's an impressive package. ★★★★
If it's a book-like foldable that you're after then here's the best option right now. It's a bit of a surprise entry, especially given the longer-standing nature of Samsung's Z Fold competitors, but OnePlus' first entry is a fine product – that even won the T3 Award 2024 for Best Folding Phone.
Design: You're not going to confuse the OnePlus Open with any other device on the market: the massive camera bump on the rear being a big part of the reason why. Still, it looks good and importantly feels good to use too.
Displays: A key sell of the Open is its large dual displays: the front one is similar to a 'normal' flagship phone, while the massive 7.82-inch one inside is bigger than its rivals. You might find you don't open the handset quite enough, however, given just how usable the device is in its folded position! Still, it's a more logical proposition for a foldable phone, compared to the even wider front panel of the Google Pixel Fold.
Performance: Featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor under the hood, and with a compulsory 16GB RAM, there's no shying away from the power on offer here. That means it can multi-task apps like a daemon – and OnePlus' sometimes finicky software is otherwise very advanced in the way it offers split-screen setups.
Battery: As said in our review, while the 4805mAh battery isn't as substantial as some flagship devices right now, it's bigger than what you'll find in most big-screen foldables by comparison. And the 67W fast-charging is most welcome too. If the 18-ish hours of use per charge won't get you to the end of a day anyway!
Read more: OnePlus Open review
Best affordable
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Buy it if
✅ You like money: The Z Flip 3 is so, so much cheaper than its Z Flip 4 or 5 follow-ups that, while it's a different device altogether, it's superb value for money.
✅ You're fine with a small cover display: Okay, so the 1.9-inch cover display is among the smallest out there right now, but it's still very useful for at-a-glance notifications – which is one of the main reasons to buy this device.
✅ You're curious about flip phones: Not bought a flip phone before but thinking about taking the plunge? This price proposition will give you that experience for less.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want a larger cover display: As the Z Flip 5 ups the cover display to a far bigger 3.4in, the small 1.9in offering here may feel insubstantial for your wants.
❌ You're a power user: With lower battery capacity than the Z Flip 4 or 5 models, don't expect this flip phone to last the longest per innings (unless you're very much a cover display user who's looking to use your phone less anyway).
❌ Cameras are a key feature for you: Like with most flip phones, the camera arrangement here isn't as stellar as you'll find in a Galaxy S series. Still perfectly acceptable, but not revelatory.
The bottom line
🔎 The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is where it's at if you want the best yet cheapest flip phone on the market. Sure, that'll mean you've got to cope with a small cover display as a result, but for at-a-glance notifications that still works just fine – and might actually be your preference. ★★★★
Everyone's got to start somewhere and, for many people, the idea of a flip phone is hugely appealing – but the price point might feel like too much of a hurdle. That's where the Z Flip 3, the now two-generations older flip phone from Samsung, fills a perfect gap. If you've been curious about trying out such a device, this is your perfect inroad – and for less money.
Design: Visually speaking the Z Flip 3 looks a lot like the newer Z Flip 4 and 5 models, except it has a smaller cover display on the front. In terms of a clamshell and highly pocketable product, however, there's no drama here – this is an ideal choice for pockets and purses, and you'll protect that internal screen from scratches as a result too.
Displays: Inside the Z Flip 3 features a 6.7in display that's largely of flagship level, albeit with reflective qualities and that 'crease' where the fold is – something that's an issue for every folding phone right now. If that doesn't faze you, however, then the Z Flip 3 is a viable alternative to many current flagships. The cover display is far smaller, at 1.9in, but a large part of the reason for its existence is so you can not use your phone – simply glance at notifications, a bit like a smartwatch would notify, and go from there as applicable.
Performance: Just because it's a couple of years old doesn't mean a great deal in terms of capability either – which is testament to just how far Qualcomm's chipsets have come, given their slowly slowly upgrades year on year. The Snapdragon 888 chip here does get a little hot, however, as noted in our review, but it can slice through larger apps and games no problem.
Battery: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 has a 3300mAh battery inside, which is a lot smaller than most smartphones these days – but it actually lasts okay, at over 14 hours per charge. That is a consideration if you're a power user though: the Z Flip 4 and 5 have larger battery capacities and greater longevity per charge, but will also cost you a little more cash too.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review