Consider a Foldable Phone and Ditching Your Rectangular Touchscreen Slab

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Foldable smartphones began making their way into the mainstream in February 2019 when Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Fold. The premium Android phone hinted at the future by rocking a large display that folded in half and a smaller external screen for standard smartphone use.

The Galaxy Fold hit shelves a few months later. But its thunderous price, which was shy of $2,000, and iffy durability (its display hinge was prone to collecting debris and breaking) made it attractive only to hardcore Android tech enthusiasts with money to burn. Samsung launched a smaller and cheaper Galaxy Flip in 2020, followed by a significantly improved Galaxy Fold 2 with a much stronger hinge in the same year. Still, their hardware and durability weren’t on par with the leading smartphones.

In 2021, the foldable smartphone category leaped forward when Samsung introduced the Galaxy Z Flip3 and the Galaxy Z Fold3 — a duo of cheaper and more durable phones with official ratings for water resistance and stronger foldable display hinges. With a starting price below $1,000, the third-generation Flip made a serious case for itself over a standard phone. Its three-digit price tag and pocket-friendly design appealed to tech-savvy Android users who were on the fence about the new form. On the other hand, while undeniably expensive at $1,800, the S Pen-compatible Galaxy Z Fold3 turned heads for how it was capable of replacing a top-shelf phone and a premium compact tablet simultaneously.

Today, the foldable smartphone realm is vibrant. The fifth generation of Samsung’s devices is here, and Google now has the Pixel Fold. Motorola reintroduced the iconic RAZR as a foldable smartphone, while OnePlus is expected to unveil its first foldable smartphone in the weeks ahead. To help you find the best for yourself or to treat a dear Android enthusiast to a splurge-worthy gift, I put the leading offerings on the market through their paces over several weeks. Read on for quick info on the best foldable phones, aspects to keep in mind as you’re buying, and the full reviews.

The Best Foldable Phones of 2023

• Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

• Most Versatile and Feature-Packed: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

• Best Camera: Google Pixel Fold
  

What to Consider

Cost

The most important thing to know before beginning your foldable phone research is that, despite being cheaper than the originals, these products still cost a pretty penny. Set aside at least $1,000 as a lump sum or monthly installments to make the switch. Thankfully, device makers and wireless carriers also offer aggressive trade-in offers, so if you’re willing to part ways with your old phone, making the switch might cost a lot less.

Hardware Specs

As their prices suggest, all phones on this list are decidedly premium. You’ll get a powerful and future-proof chip, a gorgeous display with a high refresh rate, a jam-packed set of connectivity features, and a reliable battery that’ll get you a day of use between charges.

Not having to fret over the above essentials will allow you to consider other bits like design, camera, and unique product features. Regarding the camera, I want to warn you that spending top dollar won’t get you the absolute best on the market — those are still reserved for rectangular slabs. If you’re wondering why, it’s due to the unique interior hardware packaging that these phones require. Foldable screens, hinge mechanisms, and split batteries take more space, leaving less room for large image sensors and big-zoom lenses.

Durability

Even though it’s far from the questionable levels of the first devices that hit the market, the durability of today’s best foldable phones is no match for their standard-shaped counterparts. You can expect an official rating for water resistance but not a certification for exposure to dust that’s standard on regular phones.

And despite being sturdier than ever, the gadgets’ split displays have intricate hinges with moving parts. Therefore, careful handling and a protective cover are necessary.

How We Tested

I’ve been putting foldable phones through their paces since the Galaxy Fold’s arrival. For this guide, I focused on current-gen phones and spent at least a week using each of these as my go-to Android. (I couldn’t get my hands on the RAZR for testing yet but will update this guide when I do.) I scrutinized the design, ergonomics, and everyday performance. The latter included switching between multiple productivity and messaging apps as I worked, evaluating the screen quality indoors and under bright light, and keeping tabs on the battery life.

I can personally vouch for every phone on this list, so long as you are aware of the cost and shortcomings brought by its futuristic form. With that in mind, jump into a new world of interaction or gift someone the future of smartphones with one of these offerings from Samsung or Google.

Galaxy Z Flip5 Android Foldable Smartphone

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip5 is the best option for most upgraders looking to ditch their rectangular smartphone for something else. The gadget offers a striking design that’s a nod to the flip phones from decades ago while delivering the hardware and performance of a top-tier Android smartphone. With a starting price that’s typically a penny below $1,000, the fifth-generation Galaxy Z Flip is also reasonably priced for a foldable phone.

An updated hinge that folds flat and a much larger external display are the most important upgrades the Z Flip5 brings over the excellent Z Flip4. Dubbed Flex Window, the external screen is particularly noteworthy because it can serve helpful info or notifications and make common tasks like snapping selfies, controlling audio playback, taking calls, and replying to messages easier without flipping the phone open. I found that using it was more seamless than trying to field messages with one hand on a big-screen Android phone while walking to work. While using the Z Flip 5, performing these activities without unfolding it made my routine more seamless, taking me back to the beginning of this century when tiny cell phones were a thing.

When fully open, the Galaxy Z Flip5 is as fast and capable as any high-end smartphone. I was never wanting for speed during my testing — apps opened quickly, switching between many was fast, and high-powered gameplay was seamless.

I wasn’t surprised to discover that the dual camera of the Z Fold5, while solid overall, is no match with the multi-sensor unit of a comparably priced Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The phone can capture beautiful images in good lighting, but its smaller sensor and lesser optics will struggle in darker scenes. However, this isn’t a dealbreaker — the unique design and ergonomic benefits are why the phone should be on your wishlist.

More: A Guide to Samsung’s Entire Galaxy Smartphone Lineup

Galaxy Z Fold5 Android Foldable Smartphone

The Galaxy Z Fold5 is the one to get for those who prize having the most feature-rich, most powerful, and most future-proof foldable phone. This range-topping Galaxy, while undeniably expensive, makes a solid argument for splurging because of its ability to replace both a top-shelf smartphone and a compact tablet. And thanks to support for the iconic S Pen stylus, the Z Fold5 can do things its rival can’t.

Measuring 7.6 inches diagonally — a tad less than the screen of an iPad mini — the big interior display of the Galaxy Z Fold5, with the S Pen, significantly changed my workflow over my time testing. Jotting meeting notes on one side of the screen while participating in a virtual meeting on the other helped me cut down on my big-screen time without sacrificing productivity. However, I wish the stylus didn’t cost extra, considering the already steep Fold5 price.

Compared to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 it replaces, the Z Fold5 has a refined design, headlined by a hinge that folds without leaving a gap. The hard-to-notice upgrade makes the newcomer thinner and more pocket-friendly than the outgoing iteration. The Fold5 is also more durable and, thanks to a newer, more powerful Qualcomm chip, better at gaming and multitasking. I had no trouble instantly switching between the same work apps I use on my laptop — Google Chrome with multiple tabs, Microsoft Outlook, Slack, Apple Music, and Google Docs — while using the Z Fold5.

Pixel Fold Android Foldable Smartphone

The Pixel Fold — Google’s first shape-shifting Android smartphone — is the most formidable rival of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5. Designed and developed by the maker of Android, the Pixel Fold is worth splurging on for several reasons, with a clutter-free (think, no additional embellishments carriers and device makers add) Android interface and an outstanding camera setup being among the most notable.

The device’s three rear cameras and duo of front-facing snappers capture images and video more proficiently than its rivals — hardly a surprise given the track record of all Pixel phones that precede it. Google phones have always been among the best mobile photography platforms since the original’s debut in 2016. In a head-to-head comparison with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5, the Pixel Fold camera has a superior optical zoom range and the ability to capture clearer images and 4K video clips with more lifelike colors.

In addition, the external display of the Pixel has a more convenient ratio that makes it wider and more usable in scenarios when you don’t want to open the phone. The Z Fold’s exterior screen is larger diagonally and feels more cramped because it’s longer but much thinner.

However, the Pixel Fold is less powerful than its Samsung rival because its chipset is a generation behind. And Samsung crafted the competing Galaxy from newer and tougher Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and the S Pen also makes that phone capable of conquering more tasks like taking notes, editing images, and drawing, among others. I recommend the Google phone if camera quality is of the utmost priority for you.

Reviewed: Google Pixel Fold Android Smartphone

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