Best Folding Phones for Every Budget

Ready to move on from traditional glass screens? Bring a hinge into your life and enter the world of foldable smartphones. Here are our favourite foldable phones.

You might laugh as you read this. Folding phones? Really? Aren’t these just attention grabbers? But I have to say, these phones are quite practical. Yes, there are now plenty of them to choose from. Folding phones are an advancement over the traditional single-screen phones we’ve been using for nearly two decades—and we might even see a folding iPhone in the future.

Folding phones primarily come in two styles: the flip phone and the book-like foldable. These designs allow you to reminisce about the days of compact phones or enhance your multitasking capabilities on the go. Choosing the best folding phone is a highly personal decision—arguably more so than selecting a traditional smartphone, as it depends on your preferred style (pun intended). Nevertheless, I have tested nearly all of these phones, and my colleague Simon Hill has assisted in evaluating models specific to the UK and other markets. Here are our top picks.

Explore our other mobile buying guides, including the Best Android Phones, Best iPhones, Best Budget Phones, Best Google Pixel Phones, Best Motorola Phones, and Best Phones with a Headphone Jack.

Important Considerations Before Purchasing

Folding phones are more delicate than regular smartphones. With additional components, including a hinge, they are more complex. Companies often advertise the durability of these devices, stating they can withstand around 200,000 to 500,000 folds, but a single drop can cause significant damage. They are less dust-resistant, and many aren’t highly water-resistant (few are IP78-rated), so extra caution is necessary. Using a case is advisable, and investing in the manufacturer’s device care policy might be a wise choice.

Avoid removing the built-in screen protector. Many folding phones are equipped with a protective film covering the inner screen. Although it might be tempting to take it off, doing so can cause damage to the display. Typically, the packaging will include instructions advising against removing this film and providing details on how to properly care for your device.

There is a minor learning curve associated with the software. While flip-style folding phones are relatively simple to use, book-style folding phones, which function as both a phone and a tablet, come with advanced multitasking features that may take some time to master. I recommend investing some time to explore these features to fully understand how they work and maximize their benefits.

Folding phones come with a high price tag. While they’re not a necessity for anyone, they can be valuable if you believe they suit your needs. Keep in mind that these phones are often discounted during major sales events like Black Friday, and you can also save a few hundred dollars by trading in an eligible device.

Top Flip Phones

1. Motorola Razr+ (2024)

Motorola’s Razr+ earns the award for Most Improved. I wasn’t impressed with the original folding flip phone from 2020, but the latest Razr+ has made significant strides. With a rating of 7/10 and a WIRED Recommends endorsement, it has surpassed Samsung’s Flip series to become my top choice.

The Razr+ features a larger 4-inch OLED front screen, which is now more functional than ever, making it easy to check widgets like weather, and calendar, and even play compact mini-games. When opened, it reveals a spacious 6.9-inch screen, perfect for full smartphone use. It also boasts high-end features such as a 165-Hz OLED display, IPX8 water resistance, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, a slightly scaled-back version of the flagship chip used in most high-end Android phones this year. And yes, it even comes in a striking hot pink.

The camera system has seen improvements with Motorola’s new Photo Enhancement Engine, but it still lags behind its competitors. Processing times for photos can be slower than expected. While I’ve been generally satisfied with the results, I miss the ultrawide camera that was removed. Instead, there’s a 2X optical zoom lens for portraits, but in this case, an ultrawide lens would have been more useful, especially for group shots using the cover screen as a preview. The battery life has improved, but it still needs to be charged daily.

2. Google Pixel Fold

Google is set to unveil the Pixel 9 Fold on August 13, so I wouldn’t recommend purchasing the original Pixel Fold (8/10, WIRED Recommends) unless you can find it on sale for under $1,200. Nonetheless, it remains my top choice among book-style folding phones.

These devices feature an external front screen that you’re likely to use about 70 per cent of the time and open up to reveal a 7.6-inch inner screen that functions more like a tablet.

Many of these front screens have been criticized for being too narrow and uncomfortable to use. However, the Pixel Fold addresses this with a shorter and wider design, making the 5.8-inch AMOLED front screen more akin to a traditional smartphone experience. Apps no longer appear excessively narrow. The device is also relatively slim for a folding phone, though it remains one of the heavier options in this category.

Pixel phones are among our top picks for Android devices, and the good news is that the Pixel Fold includes all the standout features we love. From the intuitive software (which we’ve explored in detail here) to the impressive cameras, it stands out as the best in the folding phone category. Although the camera system isn’t quite on par with the new Pixel 8 Pro, it comes very close and includes a 5X optical zoom lens.

Multitasking on the large screen is straightforward—just use the taskbar to drag apps into place, and you’re set. Google has also updated many of its apps to optimize for this display, so you’ll benefit from features like Gmail’s two-pane view, which helps manage unread emails efficiently.

3. OnePlus Open

Do you often find yourself juggling multiple apps at once? The OnePlus Open surprisingly offers some of the best multitasking features I’ve encountered on a folding phone. At last year’s Google October Hardware event, I had Gmail and X open in split-screen mode while keeping Slack minimized at the bottom. With a simple scroll, you can view the full-size third app or bring all three apps into view side by side. My review includes a detailed video demonstration of this feature (7/10, WIRED Recommends). In terms of serious multitasking capabilities, the OnePlus Open surpasses both the Pixel Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold6.

The cameras on this device are excellent, and the 6.31-inch front screen feels quite natural—so much so that I sometimes forgot I was using a folding phone.

When opened, it reveals a spacious 7.82-inch display. The overall design is thin and lightweight, despite the large camera module. However, there are a few drawbacks: it lacks wireless charging support and only has an IPX4 water resistance rating, so you should be cautious around water, like near a pool.

Additionally, consider repairability and customer service; Google and Samsung have more extensive repair networks (at least in the US), which makes fixing a OnePlus device potentially more challenging. On a positive note, OnePlus is currently offering a promotion where you can trade in any phone for an automatic $200 discount on this device.

4. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6

Samsung remains a leading name in the folding phone market, with its Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) representing the sixth generation of these devices. If durability and repairability are your primary concerns, these Samsung phones are currently the most reliable option available, thanks to their outstanding build quality and robustness. However, it’s worth noting that they are also the most expensive options on the market.

The Fold6 features a significantly improved, wider front screen that feels much like a conventional smartphone, making it comfortable for everyday use. The device itself is lighter and slimmer compared to its predecessors. When opened, the 7.6-inch display is impressive, offering a great viewing experience.

Samsung has integrated numerous AI features, with my favourite being Sketch to Image, which allows you to draw your photos and have the AI create an image based on your sketch. However, I find multitasking less intuitive compared to the OnePlus Open, and the aspect ratio still limits some apps, such as Gmail, from displaying a multi-pane view unless the phone is rotated to landscape mode. Additionally, the price increase is notable and may be a drawback for some.

The Flip6 is a more straightforward recommendation for most users. It folds smoothly, and the upgraded hinge design feels both more responsive and durable. While I prefer the larger front screen of the Motorola Razr+, which offers a more customizable and user-friendly experience compared to Samsung’s design, the Flip6 still stands out as a top-tier folding flip phone. It offers excellent performance, superior cameras (better than those on the Motorola Razr+), and long-term software support. However, keep a power bank handy, as it may not last a full day with heavy use.

Top Affordable Folding Phones

1. Motorola Razr (2024)

The standard Motorola Razr (2024) features a smaller front screen compared to the Razr+, and its specifications are slightly lower, resulting in noticeably less smooth performance. However, it still boasts a 6.9-inch OLED interior screen with a 120-Hz refresh rate. The inclusion of an ultrawide camera along with the main shooter allows for wide-angle selfies even when the phone is folded. It also has a slightly larger 4,200-mAh battery, which provides a marginally longer battery life but still requires daily charging.

Priced at $700, the Razr offers exceptional value, especially considering how rare it is to find folding smartphones at this price point. It’s an excellent option for those looking to explore the world of folding phones. However, it’s wise to wait for a sale, as Motorola is likely to reduce the price to around $500 soon, following the trend of last year’s models.

Alternative: Consider the 2023 Motorola Razr, priced at $400. This is an impressive deal for a folding phone, even if it’s just a year old. It lacks a large cover screen, so the small front display is limited to showing the time, weather, and basic notifications. The hinge mechanism is not as refined as the newer models and can be a bit noisy. However, it features a 6.9-inch OLED interior screen with a 144-Hz refresh rate and solid performance powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset.

2. Honor Magic V2

Incredibly slim when folded, the Honor Magic V2 is so compact it might be mistaken for a regular phone. It’s remarkably light and easy to handle. The front features a 6.43-inch OLED display, while it opens up to reveal a nearly square 7.92-inch screen. One significant advantage over the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 is that there is a European version of the Magic V2 that includes the Play Store and support for all your favourite apps. It offers fast performance, a decent camera, and good battery life, and supports multitasking with up to four split-screen apps and floating windows. However, it lacks an IP rating and wireless charging, and its software can be quirky and somewhat unrefined.

More Great Foldable Phones

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