The best foldable phones you can buy right now

Motorola’s latest premium flip phone has a different name in the UK and US, but one fact remains true: this is the best foldable phone on the market right now, bar none.

The compelling experience centres on that cover screen, which is larger than before at 4-inches and can run any app without any complicated workarounds (unlike Samsung). It’s a phone that you’ll actually want to use while closed a lot of the time, with improved rear cameras doubling as excellent selfie shooters.

But the 6.9-inch internal display is just as good, while the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and 12GB of RAM offers ample power for them both. Despite only having a 4000mAh battery, battery life is solid, while 45W charging is decent enough.

However, the cameras simply aren’t as strong as the Z Flip 6’s, while you should avoid the internal selfie lens if at all possible. It can also get noticeably hot at times.

Nonetheless, this is still a stellar flip phone that deserves its place in your pocket. It’s compact nature means even small pockets should have no problem accommodating it.

The Z Flip 6 is undoubtedly Samsung’s best flip phone to date, but that’s not enough for it to replace Motorola as our go-to flip phone.

Its cover display is the main reason for that, with an awkward smaller design and unnecessary workaround to get all apps to run. The combination of underwhelming battery life and slow charging

However, there’s still a lot to like here. A long-awaited meaningful camera upgrade makes the Z Flip 6 a potent shooter of both selfies and the world around you. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers genuine top-tier performance, even if there is some heat build-up.

The main display, with its subtle crease, is a joy to use, while no other flip phone can match Samsung’s 7 years of both OS and security updates.

However, with a higher price tag than the Razr and some clear downsides, we can’t recommend it over the Motorola model.

The Open is a very impressive first foldable from OnePlus, though less surprising when you consider parent company Oppo’s experience with them.

Its 6.31-inch cover display can easily be used as a regular smartphone, or opened to reveal a 7.82-inch internal screen. Both are 120Hz OLED panels, with a barely noticeable crease giving it an advantage over Samsung.

But it’s the rear cameras that really make this the best book-style foldable you can buy. Each of the Open’s three sensors (main, ultrawide and 3x telephoto) deliver great photos, and you can easily use them for selfies instead of the less impressive front-facing lenses.

Build quality and performance are strong, while OnePlus has added some genuinely useful multitasking features to Android – if only more Android apps were optimised for the big display. Battery life could also be better, but there’s still a lot to like about the OnePlus Open.

Samsung has made only minor changes to the Z Fold 6, but they help make it a better foldable than ever, even if it can’t quite overtake the OnePlus Open as the best book-style device.

Nonetheless, this is a foldable that’s definitely worth considering. Refinements to the cover display and design make it feel more slick and modern, with both the 6.3-inch outer and 7.6-inch internal screens undoubtedly looking the part.

Performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset is excellent, while the main rear camera is up there with the best non-folding phones. Slick software includes useful Galaxy AI features, plus a class-leading commitment to seven years of OS and security updates.

However, the Z Fold 6 lacks the polish of the OnePlus Open, and when you’re paying this much for a device, that matters.

When it comes to design, there’s no better foldable out there than the Magic V2. At just 9.9mm thick and 231g, it’s the thinnest and lightest out there, and more in like with regular smartphones.

Alongside a premium build and impressive cameras, Honor has nailed the hardware. Despite a slightly older chipset, performance is still very strong, while both the outer and internal displays are a joy to use.

However, it’s not all good news. Honor’s MagicOS Android software is cluttered and few apps are optimised for the bigger screen, while the chipset will soon be two generations out of date. Alongside that high price tag, there are enough reasons to hesitate before buying one.

But if you can find a model with a steep discount, it’s one of the few book-style foldables that we can genuinely recommend.

When buying a flip phone new, Motorola has the edge over Samsung. But if you’re coming to a model a year late, the Z Flip 5 has the edge over the Razr 40 Ultra/Razr+ (2023).

It all comes down to software support, with the Z Flip due to get an extra year of both OS and security updates.

You miss out on the performance, camera and seven years of updates on the Z Flip 6, but all three are good enough for most people here. And the robust design, complete Samsung’s armour aluminium sides and tough Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back, will hold up well over time.

That cover display is its main limitation, but there are plenty of reasons to still buy the Z Flip 5, though probably only if you see a significant discount.

A year on from its launch, the Razr 40 Ultra – also known as the Razr+ (2023) in the US – is still a very good flip phone. It might be outshone by the newer Razr 50 Ultra/Razr 50+ (2024) now, but you shouldn’t rule out this older model.

The cover display is still more functional than any Galaxy Z Flip. You can use this for notifications, widgets, and selfies, but also to play games and even run full Android apps – though the more squished interface on this model affects the experience while using some apps.

You also miss out on the camera improvements Motorola delivered on the newer model, though the solid battery life and decent performance remain.

If you can find a nice discount, it’s still worth picking up, with two more Android version updates and security patches until 2027 expected.

Price is still the main thing that counts against foldables, preventing them from being a realistic option for many people. But with a starting price of just £799/$699.99, the regular Motorola Razr 40 (or Razr (2023) in the US) is cheaper than many regular phones.

There are two key downgrades compared to the Razr 40 Ultra/Razr+ (2023). It has a much less powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor, plus a smaller and less useful cover display. The device is less exciting as a result, but these might be compromises you’re happy with.

And with a larger 4200mAh battery, and slightly better 64Mp main rear camera, it’s not just price that might sway you towards the cheaper model. But if you want a great flip phone without the usual high price tag, this is the device to go for.

However, you may now prefer the newer Razr 50.

It’s no real surprise that Google’s first foldable delivers more on the software side than the hardware.

The company has worked to optimise many of its own apps for the foldable format, and combined with the Pixel OS experience the user experience here is arguably the best around right now.

Unsurprisingly the cameras are excellent too, with a triple rear camera including a 5x telephoto lens. Good display quality and a gapless hinge help to round out the package.

Still, there are downsides. Battery life seemed a little unreliable in our review, and it’s hard to deny that the thick and chunky Pixel Fold looks a little clunky compared to other big-screen foldables. It also lacks the stylus support of its main Samsung rivals.

Regardless, if you’re a fan of Google’s usual software prowess and can afford the steep asking price, this is an excellent option. You may prefer the newer Pixel 9 Pro Fold instead, though.

With a starting price of just £499/$499, the Nubia Flip 5G is the flip phone many people have been waiting for. It means you no longer have to pay flagship prices for a device that folds in half.

And despite its mid-range price, the Nubia Flip 5G gets a lot right. A statement design includes unique circular cover display, while the main display is one of the best around. You also get decent battery life and solid performance.

However, compromises have inevitably been made to keep it so affordable. That’s most obvious when it comes to cameras, which tend to struggle in environments where the light isn’t good. Relatively slow 33W charging and a lack of any official water resistance are also concerns.

But the big thing that’ll stop most people buying one is the software. Nubia’s MyOS Android skin is cluttered and bloated, and there’s no specific commitment to updates from the company.

It’s still impressive value for money, but there are enough downsides for most people to look elsewhere.