Foldable phones are likely to be the future of the phone form factor, though they're not quite at the point where they can entirely replace the slab phones we're all used to. That doesn't mean that there aren't many excellent models as things are right now.
In fact, there are many really awesome foldable phones that you could get today, and to save you the stress of having to dig through all the marketing materials and spec sheets, I've got five of the best options for you right here.
Summary Of The Best Foldable Phones
- Best Overall: Vivo X Fold 3 Pro
- Best Design: Honor Magic V2
- Best Budget: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
- Best Cameras: Google Pixel Fold
- Best Battery: OnePlus Open
Vivo X Fold 3 Pro
Pros
- Large high-resolution foldable and cover displays
- Massive battery with very fast charging
- Extremely capable camera setup
- Plenty of storage and RAM
Cons
- Hard to purchase internationally
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Foldable Display: 8.03-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 2200 x 2480, 4500-nit peak brightness | Cover Display: 6.53-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 4500-nit peak brightness, 1172 x 2748 | RAM: 16GB | Storage Options: 512GB, 1TB | Rear Camera: 50MP wide with OIS, 64MP 3x periscope telephoto with OIS, 50MP ultrawide, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, 8K/30 support | Front Camera: 32MP + 32MP, FHD/30 support | Battery: 5,700mAh, 100W wired charging, 50W wireless charging
If there's a foldable that can go head-to-head with the best flagships out there, it has to be the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, which is my absolute favorite foldable on this list. I think bar the fact that it is only officially available in China, there's nothing quite like it.
This device is a proper flagship and it maxes out the numbers in essentially every category there is. You get the best Snapdragon chip on the market; big, bright, high-resolution, high-refresh-rate displays on both the inside and outside; a massive 5,700 mAh battery with 100W fast wired charging (even some slab phones can't match), and plenty of RAM and storage. Plus, the cameras can hang with some of the best flagships out there.
If you can get your hands on the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, you won't be disappointed with it, and you definitely won't be afraid to show it in public, because it is sleek and it looks great. Again, if you can manage to get your hands on it. You can get it on Amazon, but the markup is massive, and that's the major downside of this device.
Honor Magic V2
Pros
- Very thin and lightweight design
- Good camera setup
- Plenty of storage options with 16GB RAM for all
- Great screens on the inside and outside
Cons
- No wireless charging
- Relatively expensive
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Foldable Display: 7.92-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced, 2156 x 2344, 1600-nit peak brightness | Cover Display: 6.43-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2500-nit peak brightness, 1060 x 2376 | RAM: 16GB | Storage Options: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Rear Camera: 50MP wide with OIS, 24MP 2.5x telephoto with OIS, 50MP ultrawide, 4K/60 support | Front Camera: 16MP, 4K/30 support, OIS | Battery: 5,000mAh, 66W wired charging
Honor was the company to make it clear that foldable phones didn't need to look like two smartphones taped together. They could be slim and good-looking on their own, and even lightweight at that. The Honor Magic V2 is a looker, that much is certain.
You get big screens on the outside and inside, a 5,000 mAh battery, a pretty nice camera setup, and good performance. Plus, with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, there isn't much to be desired on that front. Perhaps one of the few places the device is deficient is that it doesn't have wireless charging and it costs quite a bit, but apart from that, nothing.
If you're big on your phones looking cutting edge, this is the foldable to go with.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Pros
- Clamshell design is fashionable
- Rather affordable for a foldable phone
- Big cover display for a clamshell foldable
Cons
- Relatively slow charging
- Camera configuration could be better
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Foldable Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080 x 2640, 1750-nit peak brightness | Cover Display: 3.4-inch AMOLED, 720 x 748 | RAM: 8GB | Storage Options: 256GB, 512GB | Rear Camera: 12MP wide with OIS, 12MP ultrawide, 4K/60 support | Front Camera: 10MP, 4K/30 support | Battery: 3,700mAh, 25W wired charging
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is certainly the most popular clamshell foldable on the market, off the power of Samsung's great build quality, design, and brand power. It is also more affordable as a clamshell foldable than most book-style foldables are, but for many people, that's enough to make it win.
The device has good specs generally speaking, with a large cover display and a better foldable display. You get a flagship chip and an okay battery and cameras. It's the budget device on this list for a reason. Don't expect it to go head-to-head with the others, specs-wise.
Google Pixel Fold
Pros
- Comes with that gorgeous stock Android experience
- You get the famous Pixel camera experience
- The battery is a decent size
Cons
- Very slow charging
- On the more expensive side
- Performance might leave a little to be desired
Processor: Google Tensor G2 | Foldable Display: 7.6-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1840 x 2208, 1450-nit peak brightness | Cover Display: 5.8-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 1550-nit peak brightness, 1080 x 2092 | RAM: 12GB | Storage Options: 256GB, 512GB | Rear Camera: 48MP wide with OIS, 10.8MP 5x telephoto with OIS, 10.8MP ultrawide, 4K/60 support | Front Camera: 8MP + 9.5MP, 4K/60 support | Battery: 4,821 mAh, 21W wired charging
When you hear the name Pixel, you know that you're getting what is perhaps the very best software experience in the Android world, and when it comes to dual display devices like the Pixel Fold, that remains true. Another thing you get with the Pixel name is amazing cameras, so if you're looking for a foldable that will more than deliver on the camera front, this is the one.
However, Google does make some oddly deficient choices in some aspects of the spec sheet. For instance, UFS 3.1 storage and only 21W fast charging. You do get wireless charging at least. However, going with Google's Tensor G2, don't expect as much raw performance as the competition.
OnePlus Open
Pros
- The design is one of the more unique ones
- The camera setup is very impressive
- Battery performance and charging are very good
Cons
- It is relatively costly
- Only has splash resistance (IPX4)
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Foldable Display: 7.82-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, 2268 x 2440, 2880-nit peak brightness | Cover Display: 6.31-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, 2800-nit peak brightness, 1116 x 2484 | RAM: 16GB | Storage Options: 512GB | Rear Camera: 48MP wide with OIS, 64MP 3x telephoto with OIS, 48MP ultrawide, 4K/60 support | Front Camera: 20MP + 32MP, 4K/30 support | Battery: 4,805 mAh, 67W wired charging
OnePlus might have the very best pioneer launch of a foldable of any company out there, because for a relatively new company, the OnePlus Open hit all the right marks, especially in the battery category. You get a 4,805 mAh cell with 67W fast charging that will get you from 0 to 100 in just 42 minutes, and it's hard to hate that.
The device also nails most of the other points you want from a flagship foldable, whether it is the screen, the cameras, the performance, or the build quality. Sure, it launched for quite a lot, but it does its best to make its price point worth it. Plus, it looks really really good, if you ask me.
