Top 5 Foldable Phones in 2024, Which Model Comes Out on Top?

In this review, we will present the best folding phones 2024 that are available for purchase right now. Foldable smartphones still come with a higher price tag and are relatively delicate. However, users are increasingly paying attention to them, and nearly every well-known manufacturer has a similar model in their lineup. 

If just a couple of years ago, new fold phones resembled exotic toys with a hefty price tag, now they are becoming more reliable thanks to improved hinges, and their specifications are approaching those of flagship models. Moreover, the devices themselves are getting thinner, which is attracting an increasing number of buyers.

How to choose the best flip smartphone?

You will find two form factors of such gadgets available for sale:

1. Compact clamshells, resembling small folding mirrors or puff-boxes. They typically feature a small external display where the user can see notifications. Inside, there is the main screen, and when unfolded, such a phone is identical in size to the smartphones we are accustomed to.
2. Foldable phones-tablets. Unlike flip designs, they unfold like a book. When closed, such a gadget looks like a regular phone but is thicker, and when unfolded, it becomes almost the size of a tablet screen. These models are more advanced and come at a higher cost. Both screens on them are functional, allowing full interaction.

Before making a purchase, you should be aware of the drawbacks of such phones. You will definitely encounter a fold on the screen, and everything depends on your preferences. Some find it bothersome, while others stop noticing it literally after a couple of hours. Additionally, the displays here are covered with a plastic film, not tempered protective glass (this film should never be removed, or you will damage the display).

The design also has its limitations – it is challenging to fit a large battery and efficient cooling into the body of such a gadget, so in terms of performance, the phone may lag behind flagship models.

If these compromises don't scare you, and you're ready to buy a phone, pay attention to the following characteristics.

• Dimensions and functionality of the external display. As we mentioned earlier, it can only show notifications and be small, or it can function fully.
• Durability of the body and reliability of the hinge. The design of a foldable smartphone is still more vulnerable than regular cases, and the hinge technology has a certain lifespan. It's worth considering before buying, so not only review the specifications but also read or watch reviews from bloggers you trust.
• Battery life. As we've already pointed out, the form factor doesn't allow equipping the phone with a large battery, so exceptional autonomy should not be expected. Pay attention to the battery capacity, and also look for autonomy tests online for the model you are interested in.
• Size and weight. Flip phones are very compact, especially when folded. Book phones, on the other hand, weigh more and are usually quite thick - carrying them in the pocket of jeans will be inconvenient.

So, we've covered the main parameters, and we can move on directly to the list of the best foldable phones.

Samsung Galaxy Fold5

This phone-book is unequivocally the best foldable phone 2024  in terms of its capabilities and specifications. And it's not surprising, as the company was a pioneer in the market for this form factor, so they managed to refine the gadget. Thanks to innovation, it has become lighter and thinner than before, almost eliminating the gap between the two parts when folded.

The phone comes equipped with functional Dual-Screens at 6.2 and 7.6 inches. However, the first one is still inconvenient for messaging: it is elongated and narrow, and the keyboard on it is small. The main display, on the other hand, allows for a full 100% unfold – it is very convenient for gaming, watching movies, and you can even work on it. The Multitasking Capabilities mode is also available here – you can simultaneously open three applications and use them fully. The phone also supports a task panel and works with a stylus, which is sold separately.

At the heart of the phone is the best chip of the past year — the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 12 GB of RAM, and the capacity of the internal storage can reach 1 TB. The phone is equipped with three main cameras (50.0 MP + 12.0 MP + 10.0 MP), and also has an external 10 MP camera and a 4 MP under-display camera. The battery capacity is 4400 mAh — the manufacturer claims that one charge is enough to watch videos for 21 hours or browse web pages for 17 hours.

Finally, the phone's hinge is designed for 200 thousand cycles, and the body is Waterproof with an IPX8 rating — it is stated that it can withstand half an hour in fresh water at a depth of up to one and a half meters. The device is available in three colors — beige, blue, and black. The cost of the device starts at $1800.

Google Pixel Fold

This gadget has the same design as the previous one, and its body is made of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus with a satin finish and has an aluminum chassis.

The external screen of the phone has a smaller diagonal than that of Samsung, but it is wider, making it appear larger and more functional. The internal display also looks larger than that of the Fold 5, but in reality, they have the same diagonal, and the remaining space is occupied by quite wide bezels. The fold on the screen is quite noticeable, but the mechanism looks reliable — it operates with sufficient resistance and securely holds the halves both in fully unfolded and angled states.

The company has employed its proprietary Google Tensor G2 processor in the phone. It is important to note that the chip is manufactured by Samsung based on the Exynos processor, and it handles all tasks well — the device's performance is up to par. The RAM size is 12 GB, and storage options are available for selection — 256 or 512 GB. The battery life here is worse than the previous model, but it generally lasts through a workday. There is fast charging, but wireless charging is not available.

As for the user experience, the width of the gadget makes one-handed operation impossible — otherwise, you may drop the device. However, in terms of thickness, it is slightly smaller — 5.8 mm compared to 6.1 mm for the Fold when unfolded and 12.1 mm compared to 13.4 mm when folded. Regarding the weight, this is the heaviest model among the best folding phones – it weighs 283 g. Buyers can choose between models in black and porcelain casing.

Among the drawbacks of the model, it's worth noting the absence of Waterproof and noticeable heating of the phone's casing during operation. The starting price of the phone is $1800.

OnePlus Open

The flagship killer couldn't stay aside and also introduced a model that can rightfully claim the title of the best folding smartphone. The phone stands out with a decent set of features and can compete with other gadgets in this lineup.

Let's start with the fact that the device looks premium. The lightweight chassis is made of a cobalt and molybdenum alloy, and the back panel is made of glass or eco-leather, depending on the chosen model. If we believe the manufacturer, the hinge here is more than reliable, designed not for hundreds of thousands but for a whole million folds. As for the gap between the folds, it is almost nonexistent. There are two color options to choose from — green with glass or black with artificial leather.

The external screen of the phone features a 6.31-inch panel with a resolution of 2484 x 1116 pixels and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The internal AMOLED display has a diagonal of 7.82 inches (2440 × 2268 pixels, 1-120 Hz) and provides a full Tablet-like Experience. As for the fold, it is completely imperceptible to the eye but may be slightly felt tactilely – a very good solution.

The device runs on the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and boasts a whopping 16 GB of RAM. While it may seem like a lot, such an amount of memory appears excessive even for a multitasking gadget. There is only one storage option available — 512 GB.

The phone is equipped with a solid triple main camera and two front-facing cameras (external and internal). Powering all this is a 4805 mAh battery. It's worth noting that the gadget has a decent battery life – in tests, it played video for 18 hours on the internal screen (19 hours on the external). Among its strengths is also the fast charging capability of 67 W, which can fully charge the battery from zero in just 50 minutes. The price for this gadget is $1700.

Motorola Razr+

This new flip smart phone is also contending for the title of one of the best gadgets in this category. The metal-plastic body of the phone still resembles the iconic RAZR V3 but looks much more modern compared to its predecessor. Users note that the construction is reliable, and the phone is comfortable to hold and use. When folded, it is extremely compact, although its thickness is 15.1 mm, and when unfolded, it is slightly elongated compared to regular gadgets (170.83 mm).

There are, as tradition dictates, two screens here. The external one has a diagonal of 3.6". Despite its small size, it is a full-fledged display capable of showing anything, and it responds well to touch. The large internal screen has a diagonal of 6.9", a refresh rate of 165 Hz, and a brightness of 1400 nits. It is bright, with vibrant colors, and the crease does not interfere with its use at all.

The hardware here is also of high quality — the phone is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage (unfortunately, there is no choice of memory). There are two cameras here — 12 MP + 13 MP, and the front sensor has a resolution of 32 MP. In terms of autonomy, it's not so rosy — the 3800 mAh battery for two screens may seem a bit small, but the gadget's form factor didn't allow for a larger component. However, the device provides a day of work. There is both fast and wireless charging, but neither of them is exceptionally fast. For example, a full charge will take about two hours.

Among the advantages of the gadget is stereo sound (hello, the world's first phone with stereo speakers, Motorola E398!). The phone's launch price was from $1000 — it is the cheapest model in the selection.

HUAWEI Mate X3

In the race for smartphones with flexible screens, Huawei was among the first to enter and finally managed to create a new foldable phone that embodies the best features available on the market. 

The device is quite thin and lightweight, with a minimal distance between halves; it easily opens and has a premium appearance. Additionally, it is IPX8 Waterproof, which is still a rarity in this segment. Like its OnePlus competitor, the phone offers two options for the back cover – glass and artificial leather. There is a considerable choice of colors here, including black, purple, and white (for the glass models), as well as green and gold (for the leather ones).

The external 6.4" OLED screen is curved at the edges and has very thin bezels. The external display, with a size of 7.85", is perfect for consuming content and supports Multitasking Capabilities. The fold is almost invisible, except perhaps under direct sunlight. It's worth noting that both screens are convenient to work with due to their width, but using the phone with one hand in tablet mode might be challenging.

The phone's performance is powered by the top-tier 2022 chipset, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. The RAM capacity is 12 GB, and for internal storage, users can choose from 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB options. The phone offers excellent photographic capabilities with its main camera setup. It features three sensors: 50 MP + 13 MP + 12 MP, resulting in detailed and well-crafted images. The front camera has an 8 MP resolution, sufficient for regular photos but not extraordinary.

The total capacity of the dual batteries reaches 4800 mAh, and the 66 W fast charging allows for a full recharge in just 40 minutes – an impressive feat. In user tests, the gadget operates for up to 5 hours in screen-on mode. This duration might seem modest, but the presence of two bright displays inherently hints at such an outcome. The price for this device is approximately $2000.

Specs Comparison

Conclusions

If you are ready to accept compromises and appreciate this design, confidently purchase the best smartphone flip phone. These gadgets offer a unique user experience and allow you to stand out.