Best foldable phones 2024: amazing folding phones and flip phones

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!

A folding phone could be a hugely appreciated (and premium) gift this holiday season, but if you want to find a less expensive option you should head to the T3 Christmas hub. It has all our best gift recommendations and seasonal deal spotlights.

T3 Top Picks

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Best overall

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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

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Best premium

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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

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Best affordable

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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

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Best cover display

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If Samsung doesn't catch your eye then Motorola makes the flip phone with the current largest cover display, which is the major appeal of the Razr 40 Ultra – otherwise known as the Razr+ for those readers in the USA. It's not only the biggest display, however, it's got a more advanced specification and is much more user-centric than the competition thanks to the addition of apps.

Design: Motorola's Razr line is a classic, right? The originator from back in the day, the company was the first to really kick things up a notch when the new-gen Razr re-launched in 2020. It's come on in leaps and bounds since, too, with a design that's now more modernised, a little similar to the Samsung Z Flip line in some ways, and is a dainty little clamshell product.

Displays: Where this Razr goes beyond its competition is in the screens department: the exterior, at 3.6in, is larger than any other on the market in this design format; the interior screen, meanwhile, at 6.9in, is also large. Not only that, with high refresh rates, these are advanced panels. Sure, there's still the 'issues' with reflections and the 'crease' in the middle of the unfolded display, but that's part and parcel of living with a folding phone.

Performance: With the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 under the hood, the Razr has plenty of power to draw upon. And indeed it does – sometimes to its detriment as it can get a bit too hot. In order to avoid this, Motorola also clearly throttles sustained use, so if you like a long gaming session rather than a casualdabble then this probably isn't the flip phone for you.

Battery: As quoted in T3's Moto Razr 40 Ultra review, the battery life from the 3800mAh battery on board – which really isn't all that much by today's standards – held for a surprisingly long time per charge. After 14-15 hours of use it'll be in the 15-20% area, but that's without making any concessions to typical use. So this battery can last well for both these large displays.

Read more: Motorola Razr 40 Ultra review

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Best if priced right

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Design: You're not going to confuse the Z Fold 5 with a Samsung Galaxy S 24 Ultra, as it's a two-panel device that folds up nicely – and, importantly, with a hinge mechanism that just feels great in use. There are plenty of fun colour options to add some pizzazz to proceedings too.

Displays: The key sell of the Z Fold 5 is its dual displays: the front one is tall and narrow, which may mean you're more often inclined to open up and use the massive 7.6-inch one inside. That's a logical proposition for a foldable phone, though, otherwise you'd just rarely open it up. That said, if a wider panel would suit you better, then the OnePlus Open or even Google Pixel Fold are more sensible options.

Performance: Featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor under the hood, plus a whopping 12GB RAM so multi-tasking apps is a breeze. And with Samsung's software being truly standout in bettering its competition, if you're familiar with the brand's OneUI style that adds further appeal.

Battery: As said in our review, while sceptical about a 4400mAh battery being substantial enough for a device such as this, it holds out just fine – delivering close to 20 hours of use per charge. That's a solid innings from a great device.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review

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Best wide display

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The first Google folding phone may split opinion: yes, it's got the largest front display, so it's more like a traditional flagship in that way; but having a larger front display largely negates the need to unfold it – and when you do that internal display doesn't fold flat (whereas the Samsung Z Fold's panel does and the OnePlus Open's is even better, with minimal crease visible). This being Google, of course, expect stellar software updates to come down the pipeline, so theoretically this device will only become more accomplished over time.

Design: The Fold doesn't quite mirror Google's Pixel line from the front or inside, as its screen bezels are rather large overall, but on the rear there's that classic 'camera bar' design that has a point of distinction – making it very recognisably 'Google'. It's a large and heavy folding phone, inevitably, but is still comfortable to use.

Displays: The reason most people will look to the Pixel Fold as being the book-like foldable of choice is down to the displays arrangement – the front panel, at 5.8in, is wider and less tall than the competition, but this makes it feel more like using a 'normal' phone much of the time. That may often mean you don't open to use the 7.6in internal panel, though, but when you do and it's on point with some great content things do look pretty amazing – except in the case of lots of ambient light, as the panel doesn't fold flat and light catches that crease (as is the case in all foldables, though).

Performance: Unlike the Qualcomm norm, Google does things its own way, employing the Tensor G2 processor to power the Fold along. Generally it does a grand job too, although in our review we found some stutters and app crashes which surprised – especially from Google, the inventor of Android. The software should improve over time, though, and here's hoping – as right now Samsung is much better at multi-tasking handling, and also offers S Pen stylus support for which this Google doesn't deliver an equivalent.

Battery: The 4820mAh cell in the Pixel Fold sounds substantial enough, and often lasts well, but as said in T3's review of the handset, it's often below par because things run too hot too often, resulting in diminished battery life. Expect to reach for the charger before the day is out if you're a power user, but more idle use will see you through a 14 hour day easy.

Read more: Google Pixel Fold review

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Best slender design

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Could it be Magic now? If you're looking for a landmark design then Honor's Magic VS might be the extra little spark you need, as it's a little skinnier than much of the competition.

Design: With a side-aligned camera lump to the rear, the Honor looks like many a flagship phone – except, of course, that it can open and close thanks to its folding design. The hinge ensures a nice and tight closure, although there's no IP rating here like you'll find in some rivals.

Displays: The Honor's front display is a 21:9 aspect ratio, so it's tall and skinny compared to the Google Pixel Fold, but not as super-skinny as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series. It sits nicely in the middle as a result. The internal display, meanwhile, is a well specified and large panel – but, like the Google, it doesn't fold fully flat, so the crease is visible.

Performance: The hardware is largely an echo of what you'll find in equivalent 2022 Samsung devices, thanks to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and a decent chunk of RAM to ensure multi-tasking is easy. The software, which is Honor's Magic UI over Android 13, isn't going to be loved by all – but it's perfectly accommodating.

Battery: With a 5000mAh cell on board, the Honor's battery capacity is similar to a typical flagship phone – and greater than what you'll find from many of the small-cell competition. T3 hasn't fully tested this device yet, however, so can't put a specific figure on it, but we have handled the phone as you can see from the piece linked below...

Read more: Honor Magic VS review

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How to choose the best folding phone for you

When it comes to picking a folding phone there's a whole lot of questions to ask yourself, especially if it's your first time in buying such a device as a typical user of more traditional phone formats. Here are the big questions to ask yourself:

Flip phone or foldable? As said up top: there are two main types of folding phones. If you're after something small and pocketable, where the idea of a smaller cover display appeals to act as a preview/alert mechanism to help you lay off so much use of your device, then a clamshell or flip phone is likely to be your best option. But if you find using a traditional phone always leaves you wanting more, then a book-style foldable is the more appropriate option, as it can open out to tablet-like proportions which can help you be more productive with multiple apps or simply enjoy the big-screen experience when it comes to consuming media.

Does brand name matter? At present all folding phones are based around Google's Android system, there's no folding iPhone from Apple. As such, typically all the base operating system stuff behind the scenes is one and the same, so you'll need to be comfortable with Android, or if you're coming from Apple's iOS at least be prepared to get used to it. Manufacturers do add their own software skins over Android, however, which can add various ease-of-use features or additions, and you may have a preference as to which you prefer – this is hard to know without practical testing, of course. Samsung is often seen as the most thorough. Motorola is the closest to Google's stock Android (bar Google itself, of course) with lots of open access features. Oppo does things a little more iPhone-like overall. And then the big exception to the rule is Huawei, as this doesn't permit access to Google Play Store and, therefore, apps via this route are largely restricted (making it a niche proposition in the West for most people).

Display sizes: The other obvious question when it comes to foldables is what sort of display size are you looking for? A clamshell flip phone is obviously more pocketable, but the screen isn't bigger than a traditional phone as a result when unfolded. Larger book-like foldables obviously offer much larger internal displays, but consider whether you truly need this or not. Also consider the screen's aspect ratio, especially on the exterior, as Samsung takes the skinnier option, while Google goes more traditional in a wider panel. Whichever you choose, however, keep in mind that in folded form either choice will be about twice as thick as a traditional phone, which isn't going to suit everyone.

Other key features: In addition to the software there are other key features to consider. Is there waterproofing? Will the operating system deliver what you need? Can you cope with the smaller battery life of a foldable compared to a traditional phone? In the case of Samsung, too, the Z Fold series is the only mainstream foldable to offer stylus support via its sold-separately S Pen, which makes it a whole different proposition for some users – and that's very much worth keeping in mind.

Price point: Then, of course, there's price. Are you ready to take the plunge in spending more to jump into the land of folding phones? Can you see on in store first to get a feel as to whether it'll feel right for you to spend so much cash? A clamshell flip phone is likely to cost you less overall, but folding phones still come with a premium that needs serious consideration.

Compromises: Lastly, there's a few points to take note: all folding phones need to use different materials and screen coverings compared to traditional devices. As such you'll often find fingerprinting is more visible and distracting. Furthermore, folding displays unavoidably present some degree of 'crease' across the fold, some of which are more prominent than others. Certainly something to keep in mind, as some people find these irks too bothersome to live with, whereas others barely notice them as issues at all.

How we test the best folding phones

There's a lot to consider when reviewing one of today's best folding phones, but key to T3's testing is that our reviewers live with the device as if they're their own, to get a full understanding of day-to-day living with these products.

In addition there are key areas that we test. Firstly, we judge the phone from a build quality perspective. How does it feel, has it improved generation to generation, is there water-proofing and other such features? The kind of features you'll want to know about, in particular context to 'what's new?' if it's an updated product in a given line-up.

Next we review the display, or in the case of folding phones, displays plural. How do they look? Do they fold flat? Are there prominent crease issues? Any other nitpicks to be aware of after extended use both inside and out? What about in context to other folding phones on the market when it comes to best of the best?

Then we test out the hardware. Beyond benchmarking this is down to how things perform in the real world. From user experience, to battery testing, to software highs and lows, and how this all fits into the overall package compared to what else is out there.

The last part of the puzzle is usually the product's cameras. This is more and more important for users, so that's why we live with these handsets as if they're our own, shooting in various conditions to test out the features and the overall results. If there are areas to improve upon we'll shout it out.

Only then, once we've given each device a true lived-with test over some days or even weeks, will we award a score to a phone, with the elusive 5-stars being the highest rank a product can get.

Reviewer Panel

Mike Lowe

I've been testing folding phones since their inception and there's not a single one in this best-of list that I've not handled in person. Most I've lived with for some time as my own and then reviewed, so I've got the inside line on what's good, what's not, and which you would (or, indeed, wouldn't) want to buy.