Best foldable phone 2024: next-gen flip phones reviewed and rated

With enough force, almost every phone can fold in half – not even the best smartphones on sale are immune from brute strength. But only a few can do it without suffering terminal damage. Think folding phones are just a hinged gimmick? Think again: the best foldable phones are about as versatile as handsets get these days.

From retro clamshell revivals to smartphones that transform into sizeable tablets, all but one of the blowers below feature bendable screens. And besides the obvious wow factor, each offers innovative flexibility that could change the way you use your mobile.

But with price tags that make other flagships look cheap, is it worth buying a folding phone? Or should you wait for a next-gen foldable which might iron out some of the compromises? We’ve tested the best options to find out, as well as highlighting the upcoming foldable models to look out for.

The best foldable phones you can buy today:

1. OnePlus Open

It feels like OnePlus came out of nowhere with the Open, schooling much bigger companies with a simply brilliant form factor and clever software tweaks that make multitasking a breeze on its large internal screen. That’s partly because parent company Oppo had a helping hand in its design, and sells it as the Oppo Find N3 in certain territories.

Whichever version you buy, you’re getting a trio of very capable cameras, rapid performance courtesy of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU and a heady 16GB of RAM, and a sizeable 512GB of internal storage. Battery life is very good for a foldable, and both wired and wireless charging is far speedier than anything Google or Samsung offers right now.

Add in the fact it’s cheaper than the both Z Fold 5 and Pixel Fold, and it’s comfortably the best folding phone money can buy today.

• Read more: OnePlus Open review

2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

There’s no escaping its astronomical price tag, but Samsung’s latest foldable flagship fixes a lot of the flaws seen on its previous efforts. While staying visually the spit of its predecessor, the Z Fold 5 eliminates the hinge gap completely, making it sturdier and more stylish than the outgoing model. It’s still a skinny thing, though, which won’t be to all tastes.

Performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor is predictably impressive, delivering rapid speed even when multitasking. Longevity gains are great too, with increased chip efficiency squeezing more life out of the same 4400mAh cell as before.

Productivity features borrowed from desktop software make a return: the in-app taskbar means side-by-side multi-tasking is effortless on the bright, sharp main display. That panel now suffers from a less noticeable crease as well – although it’s still there if you go looking for it.

The camera setup hasn’t really evolved this generation, meaning there are foldable rivals that have the edge – especially on zoom. The Fold 5 can still take a superb snap, though, with impressive consistency across all lenses. Low-light results are stand-out, too.

• Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review

3. Google Pixel Fold

The Pixel Fold is an impressive debut effort from Google. It offers a more compact design compared to its competitors, and its rear cameras are outstanding. Perhaps the best thing here though is how the optimized version of Android takes full advantage of the internal display. Even when folded, the Pixel Fold retains all the functionality of a regular phone, without any compromises.

It’s not perfect, though, with the Pixel Fold falling short in terms of battery life and charging speeds, which are not particularly impressive compared to other flagship smartphones out there. It also lacks some of the advanced photography capabilities found in the Pixel 7 Pro, which costs half the price. While it comes close, it doesn’t quite match the outgoing Galaxy Z Fold 4 in terms of features and price (it’s missing the optional stylus support and reverse wireless charging).

Nevertheless, for those enamoured with the idea of a folding Pixel smartphone, the Pixel Fold is a very impressive first attempt worth considering.

• Read more: Google Pixel Fold review

4. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Sorting some its predecessor’s biggest snags while retaining the same pocketable proportions, the Z Flip 5 looks like a winning foldable for the mainstream. It remains a well-made, water-resistant clamshell – only now the gap between the two halves has been banished, and the much larger external display is a whole lot more useful.

Flipped open, the main 6.7in OLED panel is sharp, detailed and bursting with colour. Its multi-tasking potential mains good with a two-finger swipe opening multi-window. A Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU keeps pace with 2023’s flagships, and battery life is decent for a clamshell foldable.

Camera hardware hasn’t seen any major upgrades, so it remains behind the best traditional phones in terms of image quality – but the gulf isn’t huge. Samsung’s software does a lot of heavy lifting to make up the difference, so can usually be relied on to take a stellar snap. That combo could be enough to make the Z Flip 5 one of the best foldable phones for anyone on a sensible budget.

• Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 review

5. Motorola Razr 40 Ultra

Motorola’s first effort at reviving the iconic Razr handset in 2019 had its fair share of foibles. The second-gen attempt addressed a few of those and the 2022 edition properly raised the bar. The latest Razr 40 Ultra further streamlines the throwback design, with a giant cover screen making it much more useful before you flip the clamshell open.

The internals haven’t been upgraded a huge amount over the previous generation, with last year’s flagship chip not quite keeping pace with today’s best traditional phones. Waterproofing is a modest IP54, but the addition of wireless charging helps it match rival clamshells.

Its cameras remain a step behind the likes of Samsung and Oppo, but if you prefer a more stock Android experience, this foldable should be near the top of your list.

• Read more: Motorola Razr 40 Ultra review

6. Oppo Find N2 Flip

Oppo wasn’t in a rush to bring a foldable phone to foreign markets, but its first attempt already looks set to shake up the market. The Find N2 Flip clamshell is a very close rival to the Galaxy Z Flip series, yet costs a fair bit less.

It has a gorgeous design, giant external display and a pair of decent (though not class-leading) rear cameras. Add in one of the biggest batteries you’ll find on a flip phone and rapid 44W wired charging, and you’re looking at a near-complete package.

The lack of wireless charging is a bit of a downer, and Oppo’s version of Android can be a little too aggressive when it comes to power management, but otherwise, clamshell customers need to think long and hard over who deserves their cash.

• Read more: Oppo Find N2 Flip review

Are there any other folding phones available?

The best foldable phones above aren’t the only models in production – just the ones we’ve tested and rate highly. Most of the alternatives aren’t officially available in the UK, with China having the lion’s share, but there are a few of note:

Honor’s first UK-bound foldable, the Magic Vs, was really just a minor upgrade on the original Magic V, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU powering felt a little old hat by the time we got our hands on it. The three 50MP rear cameras weren’t quite as impressive as the pixel count suggested either – but Honor did at least get the price right.

Huawei has the Mate X3, an ultra-slim foldable with a trio of rear camera lenses, including a periscope telephoto – which is pretty munch unheard of in the category. It’s a seriously special smartphone – one which proves that foldables can be both awesome and durable. It’s well-made and has stunning screens, but it’s also crippled by a lack of Google software support, making it difficult to justify the expense outside of China.

Tom Morgan-Freelander Deputy Editor

About

A tech addict from about the age of three (seriously, he's got the VHS tapes to prove it), Tom's been writing about gadgets, games and everything in between for the past decade, with a slight diversion into the world of automotive in between. As Deputy Editor, Tom keeps the website ticking along, jam-packed with the hottest gadget news and reviews.  When he's not on the road attending launch events, you can usually find him scouring the web for the latest news, to feed Stuff readers' insatiable appetite for tech.

Areas of expertise

Smartphones/tablets/computing, cameras, home cinema, automotive, virtual reality, gaming