Best Foldable Phones 2026

The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold creates a new device category: pocket tablet. Two hinges transform a 6.5" phone into a 10" display that rivals the iPad mini. Samsung finally delivered the promise foldable skeptics said was impossible.

The engineering achievements compound. 3.9mm unfolded thickness. Titanium hinge housing. Gorilla Glass Victus Ceramic 2 protection. The 200MP camera system matches the Galaxy S25 Ultra. None of these specs existed together in any foldable before.

Snapdragon 8 Elite with 16GB RAM handles three-app multitasking that makes book-style foldables feel cramped. The 5,600mAh tri-cell battery distributes weight while providing genuine all-day usage. 45W charging recovers quickly.

The Z-fold configuration enables stand mode for video calls and content consumption. Keyboard mode splits the screen for tablet-style typing. Samsung's One UI 8 optimizes apps intelligently across the three panels.

Best For: Productivity enthusiasts who've wanted iPad capability in phone form, content creators needing the largest mobile display, and Samsung ecosystem users willing to invest in next-generation hardware.

Trade-offs: $2,899 pricing positions this as ultra-premium. The 309g weight and 12.9mm folded thickness require adjustment. IP48 water resistance trails standard flagship ratings.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 eliminates the compromises that made earlier Folds feel like prototypes. At 8.9mm folded and 215g, this is finally thinner and lighter than phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The crease? Nearly invisible.

Samsung's ArmorFlex hinge uses a water droplet design that reduces visible folding marks. The titanium lattice underneath the display panel adds durability without bulk. Seven years of foldable iterations culminate in hardware that handles confident daily use.

The 8" internal AMOLED hits 2,600 nits with 120Hz smoothness. The 6.5" cover display now uses a 21:9 aspect ratio that makes single-handed use practical. The 200MP camera matches Samsung's flagship imaging quality.

Snapdragon 8 Elite powers everything with 12GB RAM standard, 16GB on the 1TB model. Samsung DeX transforms monitor connections into desktop computing. Multi-window productivity feels natural rather than cramped.

Best For: Book-style foldable enthusiasts who want the most mature implementation available, professionals needing genuine mobile productivity, and users upgrading from earlier Fold generations.

Trade-offs: $1,999 starting price remains premium territory. S Pen support was sacrificed for the thinner design. The 4,400mAh battery is smaller than some book-style competitors.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE proves foldable phones don't require flagship budgets. At $899, Samsung delivers the core flip phone experience that makes these devices compelling: pocket-friendly compactness that unfolds into a full smartphone.

The 6.9" internal display maintains 120Hz smoothness. The cover screen handles the quick interactions that make flip phones practical: notifications, replies, camera viewfinder, and widgets. The 50MP dual camera captures quality photos without the extra telephoto.

Samsung's software runs efficiently on the Exynos 2500 processor. The hinge mechanism feels refined. Build quality doesn't scream "budget option." Daily battery life holds up with moderate usage patterns.

For users who've watched foldable prices and waited, this is the entry point that finally makes sense. The flip phone form factor delivers genuine utility rather than requiring compromise.

Best For: Budget-conscious buyers curious about foldables, users prioritizing compact design over maximum specifications, and anyone upgrading from traditional phones who wants something different.

Trade-offs: Smaller cover screen than the premium Z Flip 7 reduces cover-closed functionality. 128GB base storage fills quickly without microSD expansion. Exynos processor may trail Snapdragon in demanding games.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold delivers Google's computational photography advantage in foldable form. The Tensor G5 processes images with AI intelligence that raw megapixel counts can't replicate. For photographers, this distinction matters more than spec sheets.

The 48MP main camera captures macro detail that competing foldables miss. The 10.8MP 5x telephoto reaches distant subjects. Google's processing transforms casual shots through Magic Eraser, Best Take, Photo Unblur, and Night Sight into images that look professionally edited.

The 8" internal display provides editing space that book-style foldables lack compared to tablets. The 6.4" cover screen handles quick captures. IP68 rating makes this the first book-style foldable rated for submersion, enabling photography scenarios competitors can't survive.

Android 16 with Material 3 Expressive theming feels cohesive. Seven years of guaranteed updates provide longevity. Qi2 wireless charging adds MagSafe compatibility.

Best For: Mobile photographers who prioritize image quality over benchmark scores, Google ecosystem users wanting Pixel software in foldable form, and buyers who value IP68 water resistance for real-world durability.

Trade-offs: Tensor G5 doesn't match Snapdragon 8 Elite in gaming or intensive processing. The 258g weight feels noticeable. Two color options limit personalization versus Samsung's variety.

The Honor Magic V5 offers flagship foldable capability at pricing that exposes Samsung's margins. At 4.1mm unfolded in the Ivory White model, this is the world's thinnest book-style foldable. Full Snapdragon 8 Elite, 16GB RAM, and premium displays at roughly £1,699.

The 7.95" internal OLED hits 5,000 nits brightness, bright enough for direct sunlight use. The 6.43" cover screen provides comfortable single-handed operation. Both displays support stylus input, 120Hz refresh, and Dolby Vision.

The camera system includes a 50MP main sensor, 50MP ultrawide, and 64MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom. DXOMARK ranks the Magic V5 cameras first among foldables. The 5,820mAh silicon-carbon battery provides all-day runtime with 66W wired and 50W wireless charging.

IP58/IP59 dual ratings provide flexibility. The Super Steel Hinge handles 500,000+ folds. Seven years of software updates match Samsung's commitment.

Best For: Value-conscious buyers wanting top foldable specs without top pricing, users comfortable with MagicOS instead of stock Android, and design enthusiasts who appreciate the thinnest possible profile.

Trade-offs: MagicOS 10 requires adjustment from Samsung or Pixel software. Global availability varies by market. Honor's ecosystem integration trails Samsung's cross-device features.

The Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 redefines flip phone expectations with Snapdragon 8 Elite and a 4" cover display that runs full apps. This isn't about quick glances at notifications but using the phone without unfolding it.

The 7" internal display hits 165Hz refresh with a crease so subtle it's nearly invisible. Gorilla Glass Ceramic protection on the cover display delivers 10x the drop resistance of standard glass. The titanium-reinforced hinge handles aggressive daily flipping.

Performance matches or exceeds book-style foldables. 16GB LPDDR5X RAM runs smoothly. The 4,700mAh battery provides more runtime than competitors with 68W charging that recovers a full day in 8 minutes.

The 50MP main camera pairs with a 50MP ultrawide. Using the cover screen as a viewfinder enables high-quality selfies with the main camera. The camera module integrates cleanly into the external display design.

Best For: Users who want the most capable flip phone regardless of price, power users demanding flagship performance in compact form, and anyone frustrated by the limitations of smaller cover screens.

Trade-offs: $1,299 pricing exceeds Samsung's Z Flip 7. Three years of software updates versus Samsung and Google's seven years affects longevity. Moto AI features feel early-stage.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 transforms Samsung's flip phone with an edge-to-edge 4.1" FlexWindow that adds 2.2 inches of usable cover screen. Notifications, widgets, replies, and apps work without unfolding.

Samsung's first foldable Exynos 2500 uses 3nm manufacturing for efficient performance. The redesigned waterdrop hinge shrinks 30% while adding titanium reinforcement. At 188g and 13.7mm folded, this is Samsung's thinnest flip yet.

The 6.9" internal AMOLED maintains 120Hz refresh that drops to 1Hz for battery efficiency. The 50MP dual camera with OIS captures quality images. The cover screen works as a viewfinder for main camera selfies.

Seven years of software updates match Google's commitment. One UI 8 on Android 16 optimizes for the flip form factor. The 4,300mAh battery handles full days with 25W wired and 15W wireless charging.

Best For: Samsung users who want the most refined flip phone with maximum update longevity, upgraders from Z Flip 5 or 6 who'll appreciate the expanded cover screen, and buyers who prioritize ecosystem integration.

Trade-offs: $1,099 starting price is premium for flip phones. Exynos 2500 may trail Snapdragon 8 Elite in demanding games. The dual camera lacks telephoto for optical zoom.