These are the best foldable phones you can buy right now

(Image credit: tomsguide)

Over the past year, the greatest foldable phones have changed significantly. Samsung’s former dominance has been challenged, and some of the new options are great.

Our top foldable phone is the OnePlus Open, even though the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 have arrived. While a follow-up may not arrive until 2025, OnePlus will release a new Open in August with AI-powered picture editing to compete with Samsung.

Another phone is expected this month. Google has confirmed the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, a followup to its folding phone. August 13 marks the device’s launch.

Despite the craze surrounding foldable phones, we can help you choose the best one for your needs based on our rigorous testing.Over the past year, the greatest foldable phones have changed significantly. Samsung’s former dominance has been challenged, and some of the new options are great.

Our top foldable phone is the OnePlus Open, even though the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 have arrived. While a follow-up may not arrive until 2025, OnePlus will release a new Open in August with AI-powered picture editing to compete with Samsung.

Another phone is expected this month. Google has confirmed the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, a followup to its folding phone. August 13 marks the device’s launch.

Despite the craze surrounding foldable phones, we can help you choose the best one for your needs based on our rigorous testing.

QUICK LIST

• BEST OVERALL : OnePlus Open
• BEST AI FOLDABLE : Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
• BEST VALUE : Motorola Razr 2024
• BEST FOLDABLE FOR CAMERAS AND USABILITY : Google Pixel Fold
• BEST CAMERA : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

(Image credit: cnn)

1. OnePlus Open

The best foldable phone you can buy

SPECIFICATIONS

Main screen size: 7.8 inches (2440 x 2268)

Secondary screen size: 6.3 inches (2484 x 1116)

CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

RAM/Storage: 16GB/512GB

Size, opened: 6.03 x 5.63 x 0.22 inches

Size, closed: 6.03 x 2.88 x 0.46 inches

Weight: 8.4 ounces

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

The OnePlus Open is the greatest foldable due to its large screen, great performance, and pricing. Being $100 cheaper than Samsung and Google’s notebook-style foldables is a good thing given their hefty costs.

OnePlus didn’t cut shortcuts to lessen the Open’s price, and its images are mostly good. Low-light situations are an exception. Open Canvas’s multitasking features enable you run many apps in any size window, which we like. OnePlus understands that foldable phones should work as tablets and are desirable as such.

The OnePlus Open’s 7.8-inch main screen is the largest foldable currently available, yet its hinge keeps the phone thin and light. This amazing invention advances the foldable market. Better yet, the OnePlus Open Apex Edition will launch in August with optimized storage, AI photo editing, and a sleek red design.

(Image credit: techadvisor)

2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Smartest foldable phone

SPECIFICATIONS

Main screen size: 7.6 inches (2160 x 1856)

Secondary screen size: 6.3 inches (2376 x 968)

CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

RAM/Storage: 12GB/256GB, 512GB, 1TB

Size, opened: 6 x 5.2 x 0.22 inches

Size, closed: 6 x 2.7 x 0.48 inches

Weight: 8.4 ounces

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

While slimmer and lighter than its predecessors, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a lot to enjoy. Its 8.4-ounce weight is comparable to many conventional big-screen phones, a major improvement for Samsung. This improved portability didn’t compromise durability, since the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has tougher glass and dust resistance.

Galaxy AI features draw people to the Galaxy Z Fold 6. You receive the same features as the Galaxy S24 series, but there are some new ones that take advantage of the Fold’s design. Google Gemini appears on the Fold’s cover display, and Sketch to Image uses the increased drawing surface to stylize your sketches. Note Assist excels at meeting note transcription and summarization.

We prefer the OnePlus Open’s multitasking to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Samsung’s greater pricing can be off-putting. If you’re worried about folding durability, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 addresses those issues and adds AI skills.

(Image credit: phonearena)

3. Motorola Razr 2024

Best flip phone-style foldable

SPECIFICATIONS

Main screen size: 6.9 inches (2640 x 1080)

Secondary screen size: 3.6 inches (1066 x 1056)

CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 7300X

RAM/Storage: 8GB/256GB

Size, opened: 6.74 x 2.91 x 0.28 inches

Size, closed: 3.46 x 2.91 x 0.62 inches

Weight: 6.63 ounces

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

Motorola returned strong with the Razr 2024, partially because it’s a very different phone than its 2023 foldable phone. In particular, the company replaces the little exterior screen with a 3.4-inch one.

Its price-feature ratio puts the Razr (2024) ahead of the Razr Plus 2024. First, its 50MP main camera and 13MP ultrawide make it easier for content makers to record themselves.

Second, the larger outside screen allows you use complete programs for notifications or social media scrolling. The outer screen lets you use those apps instead of opening the phone.

Finally, its $699 price makes it the most affordable foldable phone. This price is unmatched for flip phones.

(Image credit: techadvisor)

4. Google Pixel Fold

The best foldable for cameras and usability

SPECIFICATIONS

Main screen size: 7.6 inches (2208 x 1840)

Secondary screen size: 5.8 inches (2092 x 1080)

CPU: Tensor G2

RAM/Storage: 12GB/256GB, 512GB

Size, opened: 6.2 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches

Size, closed: 5.5 x 3.1 x 0.5 inches

Weight: 10 ounces

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

Although Samsung’s latest foldables have eclipsed the Google Pixel Fold, it’s impressive that Google got so much right on its initial folding phone. We’re excited to see if the Pixel 9 Pro Fold builds on that success in August.

The Pixel Fold has a big 5.8-inch front display that’s comfortable to use (and type on), the thinnest foldable design, and a natural hinge.

A excellent camera system with a 48MP primary sensor, 5x telephoto zoom, and low-light performance are among strengths. The easy split-screen multitasking software, tabletop and tent modes, and many programs tailored for the 7.6-inch internal display are also appealing. This ultra foldable phone is worth the premium price, although the Tensor G2 CPU might be faster and the bezels smaller.

(Image credit: tomsguide)

5. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

Best foldable camera phone

SPECIFICATIONS

Main screen size: 6.7 inches (2640 x 1080)

Secondary screen size: 3.4 inches (720 x 748)

CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

RAM/Storage: 12GB/ 256GB, 512GB

Size, opened: 6.5 x 2.8 x 0.27 inches

Size, closed: 3.4 x 2.8 x 0.58 inches

Weight: 6.6 ounces

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

After falling behind Motorola’s foldable Razrs, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 returns with enhancements. The Flip’s 50MP main camera, up from 12MP in earlier generations, is the best update. Sharper images, 2x zoom simulation, and low-light performance are all benefits of the Z Flip 6 cameras.

Another benefit of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is its improved durability and Galaxy AI. We love how an interpreting tool uses two screens to show your conversation partner a real-time translation. Portrait Assist stylizes your Galaxy Z Flip 6 photographs.

It costs $100 more than the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and battery life only improved modestly in our testing. It’s a good sign for Samsung’s flip phone that the Galaxy Z Flip can handle the Razr.

What to look for in a foldable phone

Before buying a foldable phone, examine what it can accomplish for you that a regular phone can’t. Except for the $699 Motorola Razr, most foldables cost $1,000 or more. If you don’t need the extra screen space, a phablet or one of our other top big phones may be better.

If you think a foldable phone will help you get more done, pay attention to its structure. We disliked early folding phones like the Galaxy Fold and Motorola Razr due to design flaws. Samsung made significant adjustments to the Galaxy Z Fold 2 in 2020 to make it more durable, and that work has continued with future versions. Samsung made the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5’s hinge lighter and smaller after adding water-resistance to the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

When buying a foldable phone, consider the larger internal display and the secondary screen, usually on the outside. Can you run apps on that outer screen or is it solely for alerts and other features? Can the screen support Samsung’s continuity feature, which keeps the app on the cover screen active when you open the device?

Other than size—you’ll want to make sure a closed foldable phone is easy to carry—you’re judging it by the same standards as conventional phones. That includes CPU, cameras, and—mostly—battery life. After all, foldable phones have several screens to power.

How we test foldable phones

We evaluate the best foldable phones like any smartphone. (See Trusty Picked smartphone testing and evaluation methodology for further details.) We use Geekbench 5 and 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited to test graphics performance in the lab. Each phone is tested for real-world video transcoding using Adobe Premiere Rush and timed.