The Best Foldable Smartphones: Which 2024 Foldable Comes Up Top?

The best foldables phones to buy in 2024 compared

• Things to consider before buying a foldable
  • What types of foldables are available?
  • Who is the target market?
• Best foldable in 2024: OnePlus Open
• Best flip foldable: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
• Best foldable alternative: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
• Best passport foldable: Google Pixel Fold
• Best flip alternative: Motorola Razr+ (2023)
• The most affordable option: Motorola Razr (2023)

Here's what to look out for when buying a foldable

Different types exist:

Basically, we can distinguish two types when it comes to foldable devices:

• Clamshell models like the Z Flip, which offer a normal smartphone-sized display when fully opened
• Foldables in a book or booklet form factor, where the usual smartphone screen's surface area is almost enlarged to a tablet form factor

Clamshell devices are much more compact, folding horizontally like how the first foldable phones once did. Meanwhile, they also come with external displays like the Galaxy Z Flip 5, on which you can control music or read notifications.

Foldables like the OnePlus Open, on the other hand, are folded vertically and offer significantly more multitasking possibilities due to the larger display area. Moreover, they are fully usable even when folded due to a generous outer display.

Who are foldables suitable for?

Foldable smartphones are still expensive for many models, giving companies a chance to try new things. So, the people buying these phones are usually those who can easily spend a lot of money. They also need to be patient since some of the new features and parts might not be perfect yet.

• Also read: Foldable phones are still too expensive and for good reason

The big booklet design is great for people who work while traveling. It has a big screen that's good for office apps, and some even support a stylus. A cool thing about the clamshell style is that you can prop it half-open. This is handy for content creators who want to record videos without holding their phone.

OnePlus Open: The best foldable to buy in 2024

Foldable phones are all the rage now, aren't they? We've come a long way from when they were just a cool, futuristic idea. But, let's be real, not all foldables hit the mark. They either tug at your wallet a bit too hard or have those niggling issues. This is where the OnePlus Open shines bright.

OnePlus got things right. The phone looks good, works even better, and the best part? It's "cheaper" than the other competitors. While its initial price tag reads $1,699, there's a neat little trade-in offer that could bring it down to $1,499—OnePlus Store only.

• Read the OnePlus Open review to get to know more about the new foldable

Now, let's talk about features. The OnePlus Open feels like a close cousin to the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in terms of design, but it brings its own flair to the table. Charging speeds? It's like the sprinter who always finishes first. The multitasking tools it offers, especially the nifty 'Recent fold' and OnePlus Canvas, are like a magic trick for productivity.

And for all the shutterbugs out there, its Hasselblad 48 MP camera is like the cherry on top. Some might say it's marketing magic that makes us rave about it, but our team has been using it for a while now, we're smitten. Simply put, if you're in the market for a foldable this year, the OnePlus Open should be at the top of your list. It's friendly on your pocket, packs a punch in features, and, honestly, it's just a joy to use.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: The best compact model

Samsung delivered some important updates in 2023 for the Galaxy Z Flip 5. First and foremost is the 3.4-inch cover display, which is almost fully functional. South Korea has also been able to improve the hinge design and reduce the gap between the two display halves that lie on top of each other to almost zero.

In our detailed review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, we appreciated the fact that not only was the storage space doubled, but the base prices also remained consistent with those of previous generations. That is also worth mentioning in times when everyone is tightening their budgets.

 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: The best foldable alternative

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 looks much like the previous model and offers fewer new features than the Z Fold 4 did in 2022. If a smartphone is perfect, that would not be a criticism at all, but the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 also lacks an integrated garage for the productive accessory, the S Pen, in 2024.

Last year, Samsung could still rest on their monopoly position—but this year, there is much more serious competition. Of course, there is the new OnePlus Open and the Google Pixel Fold. Nevertheless, we cannot deny the South Koreans their experience and competence with five generations of foldables, which is why it was still enough for four out of five stars in our rating.

Google Pixel Fold: The best passport foldable

The Pixel Fold is the first foldable smartphone from Google. That alone brings with it certain first-generation risks and its typical flaws. In addition, Google wants to set a milestone with the unusual form factor—similar to the Oppo Find N.

To make matters worse, the price is a whopping $1,800, which probably restricts the potential customer base even more. Nevertheless, Google is the Android benchmark in terms of software, AI support, and photography, so the rating is still equal to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 in the end. For more details, read our detailed review of the Google Pixel Fold.

Motorola Razr+ (2023): The best flip alternative

After a couple of missteps in the foldable category—like leaning too heavily on nostalgia—Motorola started 2023 on fire with two foldables launched not much after a strong showing with the Razr (2022) we reviewed last year. And the Razr+ (aka Razr 40 Ultra) came ready to dethrone the competition with the biggest external display ever used on a flip phone: A crisp 3.6'' OLED.

With a release so soon after the Razr (2022), the new model kept the same capable and efficient Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, but resorted to an unfortunate downgrade in the main camera, with a smaller sensor than its predecessor (1/2.55'' vs 1/1.55''), that particularly hurt its light capturing performance at night.

The new Razr+ (2023) is the first flip phone that can claim its external display is actually useful, and Motorola even managed to start offering a decent update policy of three Android versions and four years of security updates. And despite not quite taking down the Galaxy Z Flip 4 from this list, it indicates that Motorola is definitely back to the fight.

Motorola Razr (2023): The most affordable option

Motorola has made a return to this list—quite unexpected! Released in October 2023, the Razr (2023), globally known as the Razr 40, builds on the 2019 and 2020 Razrs. It features a decent mid-range processor and good cameras. It addresses the main issues of the original Droid Razrs by offering a practical design and, most notably, a price that's more competitive than rivals.

The "cheap" Razr impressed us in our review that it got a score better than the Razr+. The Razr (2023) goes back to a mid-range SoC but keeps a big 6.9'' OLED internal display, offers good memory options, and, surprisingly, a bigger resolution main camera and bigger battery without sacrificing wireless charging.

With an attractive bang-for-the-buck proposition, the Razr (2023) was launched at a lower price than its competitors in the US.

Short take

Foldable phones are becoming increasingly popular, and according to the Counterpoint Research team, this smartphone category has seen the most significant growth in recent years. This is welcome news for an industry that seemed to have reached its peak in the last 12 months.

The popularity of foldable phones can be attributed largely to the novelty of the butterfly variants' expansive screens and the compactness of their flip options. Moreover, the hinge mechanism has now been established as a reliable feature, and the software integration has become more user-friendly with wider update policies, adding to its appeal.

Please let us know in the comments which model is your foldable favorite and if you agree with our picks.

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Our selection of the best foldable smartphones has been updated as of January 2024, previous comments were kept and may appear out of context.