I have been writing about phones for a while now and honestly, I am always astounded by how foldable phones have changed in recent years. While they might have started as something of a gimmick they have shot up in quality over recent years.
However, this improvement is something of a double-edged sword, as it means that there are more and more models to choose from. This can make it harder than ever to find the best device for you and to know what to look for in the first place. However, I and the rest of the Tom’s Guide phones team have reviewed and tested all of these devices and have found it’s the little things that really make a great foldable phone.
When it comes to the best foldable there’s a lot to look at, but all our favorites share something that makes them special. Whether it’s the overall fantastic quality of the OnePlus Open, the wealth of features in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the value of the Motorola Razr 2024. Meanwhile, other devices impressed us due to more specific reasons like the overwhelming brightness of the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the cameras on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 or the style of the Motorola Razr Plus 2024. Each of these phones has something to love about them and all offer a generally great user experience.
I got my first foldable relatively recently, and frankly, I love it. While it might have taken some getting used to, it is undoubtedly the best in-between for a phone and a tablet. Honestly, I barely watch YouTube or Disney+ on my other standard phone as the experience on a foldable phone’s screen is just so much better. Not to mention the experience of using one to play games from the Xbox library and more.
We have compiled all our reviews and thoughts about all the foldable phones available to help you figure out which is the best for you.
The quick list
Best foldable overall
The OnePlus Open takes the foldable phone crown by offering the biggest screens at the lowest price for a notebook-style device. Its take on multitasking is the best we’ve yet seen.
Read more below
2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Runner-up
Samsung introduced a lighter, thinner design that makes the Galaxy Z Fold 6 the most portable Fold ever. But the real star of the show in this version are the Galaxy AI features that bring new smarts that are optimized for the Fold’s design.
Read more below
For
- Thinner and lighter design
- Durability improvements
- Improved displays
- Impressive AI features
- Strong Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance
Against
- Cameras are not S24 Ultra level
- Battery life only slightly better
- $100 more expensive
- Where’s the faster charging?
Best foldable phone value
Motorola gave the Razr 2024 a brand new design, ditching the small outer screen of its predecessor, and replacing it with a much larger one that unlocks more utility for the phone than ever before.
Read more below
For
- Gorgeous design
- Detailed external display
- Great for vloggers/content creators
- Sharp macro camera
- Speedy battery recharge
Against
- Underwhelming low-light camera performance
- Some apps don’t scale well on external display
4. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Best Display
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a much more satisfying foldable complete with AI features that make it a breeze to edit photos like a champ and the brightest screen in a foldable.
Read more below
For
- Gorgeous design
- Detailed external display
- Great for vloggers/content creators
- Sharp macro camera
- Speedy battery recharge
Against
- Underwhelming low-light camera performance
- Some apps don’t scale well on external display
5. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Best foldable camera
Samsung boosts the main camera on its flip phone foldable to a 50MP sensor that’s also capable of delivering 2x optical-quality zoom shots. As a result, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a great choice when you’re looking for a foldable phone with photo skills.
Read more below
For
- Durable design
- Excellent low light camera performance
- Speedy performance
- New Galaxy AI features
Against
- Costs $100 more
- Battery life could be better
6. Motorola Razr Plus 2024
Best flip style phone
With a new telephoto lens, the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is one of the few flip-style phones on the market that delivers better zoom to get you closer to subjects. And now you can do more with its larger outer screen as well.
Read more below
Load the next products…
Cheapest flip phone
The Nubia Flip 5G is the least expensive foldable we’ve seen to date, with a $499 starting price. While you make some trade-offs, you still get a fast-charging phone with an attractive flip phone-style design.
Read more below
For
- Incredible value for a foldable
- Fast charging
- Attractive and unique design
Against
- Photography is limited in scope and quality
- Lacks performance power
- Likely to receive few Android updates
The best foldable phones you can buy today
Best foldable phone overall
As our best overall foldable there is a lot to love about the OnePlus Open, which we hope to see recreated in the OnePlus Open 2. When Phones Editor John Velasco reviewed the OnePlus Open he stated that the phone should be “a wakeup call for everyone.” And I can only agree that the phone comes with so many amazing design choices that it should be the baseline for any future foldable phone.
OnePlus tried to put in as much as it could in this device, including some impressive cameras. If you want to go even further then you could grab the OnePlus Open Apex Edition. Compared to the base model the Apex Edition boosts the storage and adds pretty cool AI cutout features to make stickers from any photo you take. It also features a VIP mode that lets you turn off the camera and microphone for a little extra privacy.
Regardless of which model you pick the phone comes with everything you could want. Both models feature the same thin and light design, the Dynamic Open Canvas multitasking or the frankly amazing battery life (which is great when watching series on some of the best streaming services) and the chance for a pretty good trade-in deal. However, no phone is perfect as the lack of wireless charging might be a turn-off for some and the camera isn’t amazing in low light.
Read our full OnePlus Open review.
Most feature rich foldable
Samsung is probably the most well-known phone maker when it comes to foldable phones and it knows what it is doing. This is no more obvious than with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which builds and improves upon the prior Galaxy Z Fold 5 and stands as our most feature-rich foldable phone. When TG global editor-in-chief Mark Spoonauer reviewed the phone, he had a lot of positive things to say, especially about the new design, durability and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.
While there might be some disappointment about the cameras, as they are basically the same as the prior model, there’s a noticeable difference in actual image quality. If we look at the difference in quality during our 200 photo shoot out with the Z Fold 6 vs. Z Fold 4 we can see a marked improvement. While you might not buy a foldable for the camera, it’s certainly an addition that you want to see.
We also can’t talk about a new Samsung phone without mentioning the Galaxy AI features, including the Sketch To Image feature. This allows you to draw anything you want into the Samsung Notes app and then the Galaxy AI will turn it into anything from water art to a 3D cartoon. The results are, as Mark says, “pretty frickin’ impressive.”
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review.
Best foldable phone value
Motorola might not be the dominant force it was in the past, but it can still create a great phone for good value. This is obvious in the Motorola Razr 2024, which is upgraded in all the right areas compared to the prior Razr and is easily our best-value phone. In our review, we noted that the bigger screen offered far more functionality than before, while also being brighter.
Now, it should be noted that there are two variations of the Motorola Razr 2024, and both appear in this guide. What puts this foldable ahead of its larger cousin is the balance it strikes between features and cost. Everything from the design to the 50MP camera and 13MP ultrawide for as little as $699 is a real steal.
If that was the only change then it would be more than enough for a value phone, but there’s even more thanks to the outstanding battery life and surprisingly snappy performance. When John Velasco reviewed it he stated that even the Galaxy Z Fold 6 “faces a tough competitor.” However, there are some issues as there is no ultrawide camera, which might be a turnoff for some, as well as shorter software support compared to other Samsung devices.
Read our full Motorola Razr 2024 review.
Best display in a foldable
Google’s foldable game has made a massive leap in quality with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold after the Pixel Fold — despite Google’s new awkward naming conventions. There’s a lot to love about the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, especially the much bigger and brighter 8-inch main display which is the main reason why it’s managed to snag a spot on this list. When we tested the phone in the TG lab, the display was easily the best of any of the foldables we tested. However, that isn’t the only thing to love about the phone.
In his review, John Velasco mentioned that he loved the longer battery life, durable redesign and the host of AI features that help the phone to stand out from the competition. While it is a pretty great phone, there are a few issues namely the lackluster Tensor G4, although honestly, the average user wouldn’t notice that issue in everyday use.
Having used the Pixel 9 Pro Fold myself a little, I really can’t emphasize just how bright the screen is. When we tested it the screen reached as high as 2,319 nits. Now, normally I would expect this level of brightness to mean that the phone would have a pittiable battery life. However, when we tested the phone it reached 11 hours and 36 minutes, which is more than enough time to watch or play anything you please.
Read our full Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold review.
Best flip foldable for cameras
Samsung makes a second appearance in this guide, this time for the Galaxy Z Flip 6. There is a lot to love about this little device, firstly just the size of it. The Z Flip 6 looks like any other phone normally, but it folds horizontally across the middle, making it tiny when folded. That alone might make it a slam dunk for you, but there’s a bit more to be excited about.
In our review, we praised the overall durable design and the excellent low-light camera performance, not to mention the overall speed of the phone. Our biggest praise was easily for the upgrade from a 12MP main camera to a new 50MP main sensor. It offers brighter visuals, and the ability to simulate a 2x zoom. When we compared it in our 200 photo shoot out between the Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Motorola Razr Plus (2024) it pulled ahead with ease.
Obviously, we also need to mention the Galaxy AI features which, while missing some of the Fold’s AI abilities, are still pretty impressive. Finally, this is easily the flip foldable with the best camera options, and with the added AI, it’s a dream to shoot and edit images and videos. However, all this does come at something of a premium, as the phone is $100 more than the prior Galaxy Z Flip 5, and $400 more than the Motorola Razr 2024.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 review.
Best flip-style phone
While the base Motorola Razr 2024 might have been our best-valued phone, its larger cousin easily has the best style compared to the other phones here. Like other flip phones the Razr Plus folds into a compact little square, but where it stands apart is the outer screen, which is much larger than other devices. Not only is it larger, but it also offers way more functionality since you can run any app you like on it rather than simple widgets like the Galaxy Z Flip series. Plus you can even customize the screen to mimic the iPhone’s StandBy Mode with different images and backgrounds when the Razr is set to a tent position.
It’s not just the screens where the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 excels. It offers an improved camera array featuring a 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom and a 50MP main camera. This meant that when we compared it to its smaller brother in our 200 photo shoot out between the Razr Plus (2024) vs. Razr (2024) it blew it out of the water.
The design also has a smaller hinge, meaning that the crease in the phone is much less noticeable than on other foldable phones (primarily Samsung) and the performance is nothing to sneeze at. However, the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 has some of the same issues as the other Motorola Razr, including no ultrawide camera and a shorter-than-average software support window.
Read our full Motorola Razr Plus 2024 review.
Least expensive foldable phone
the Nubia Flip 5G is a bit of a surprise model from a lesser-known company, but it stands as easily the cheapest foldable you can currently grab for a staggering $499. It’s a great starter device for anyone who doesn’t want to drop hundreds.
When Tom’s Guide’s own Richard Priday reviewed the device he praised the stylish design and smudge-resistant matte texture. The overall look of the phone suggests you paid a lot more for this flip phone-style device than you did. You’ll also appreciate the 6.9-inch display that’s available when you open up the Nubia Flip 5G.
Battery life seemed so-so in our everyday use, but at least the Nubia Flip 5G offers peppy 33W charging that can top off the phone’s battery quickly. If you want a foldable phone, but can’t afford a more premium model, you certainly won’t feel short-changed by this option.
Read our full Nubia Flip 5G review.
What to look for in a foldable phone
Before you buy a foldable phone, you’ll need to consider what that kind of device will be able to do for you that a standard phone can’t. With the exception of the $699 Motorola Razr, most foldables still cost $1,000 or more. Unless you really need the extra screen real estate, you may be better off with a phablet or one of the other best big phones that we’ve tested.
If you do think a foldable phone will help you get more done, though, be sure to pay attention to the device’s construction. Early foldable phones like the Galaxy Fold and original Motorola Razr had design quirks that led us to pan those handsets. With the Galaxy Z Fold 2 in 2020, though, Samsung made some critical changes that made the phone more likely to withstand everyday use, and that work has continued with subsequent models. After adding water-resistance to the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Samsung worked on a lighter, slimmer hinge for its latest foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5.
There are two screens to consider when buying a foldable phone — the larger internal display and a secondary screen, usually on the outside of the device. Find out just what you can do with that exterior screen — can you run full apps or is it just there for notifications and a few other features? And does the screen support something like Samsung’s continuity feature where the app you’re using on the cover screen is waiting for you when you open the device?
Apart from size — you’ll want to make sure a closed foldable phone is something you’re comfortable carrying around — you’re looking at a lot of the same criteria you’d use to judge conventional phones. That includes the processor, cameras and — especially — the battery life. After all, there are usually multiple screens to keep powered up on a foldable phone.
How we test foldable phones
We test for the best foldable phones the same way we review any smartphone. (See our look at how Tom’s Guide tests and review smartphones for a more detailed explanation of our process.) We conduct lab tests, including synthetic benchmarks as Geekbench 5 and 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited to measure graphics performance. We also run a real-world video transcoding test on each phone using the Adobe Premiere Rush app and time the result.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Geekbench (single-core / multicore) | 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited (FPS) | Adobe Rush Premiere (minutes, seconds) |
| OnePlus Open | 1,087 / 4,203 | 84.8 | 1:08 |
| Galaxy Z Fold 6 | 2,172 / 6,901 | 112.3 | 0:40 |
| Motorola Razr 2024 | 1,055 / 2,999 | 18.97 | 0:54 |
| Pixel 9 Pro Fold | 1,956 / 4,813 | 55.72 | N/A |
| Galaxy Z Flip 6 | 2,091 / 7,022 | 113.4 | 0:46 |
| Motorola Razr Plus 2024 | 1,834 / 4,848 | 73.74 | N/A |
| Nubia Flip 5G | 1,074 / 3,074 | 4.99 | 1:44 |
To measure the quality of a phone’s display, we perform lab tests to determine the brightness of the panel (in nits), as well as how colorful each screen is (DCI-P3 color gamut). In these cases, higher numbers are better. We also measure the color accuracy of each panel with a Delta-E rating, where lower numbers are better and a score of 0 is perfect.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Brightness(nits) | DCI-P3 (%) | Delta-E |
| OnePlus Open | 1,158 | 79.2 (Natural), 76.6 (Pro), 120.2 (Vivid) | 0.14 (natural), 0.17 (Pro), 0.29 (Vivid) |
| Galaxy Z Fold 6 | 2,317 | 96.6 (Vivid) | 0.24 (Vivid) |
| Motorola Razr (2024) | 2,104 | 134 (Vivid), 81.7 (Natural) | 0.4 (Vivid), 0.28 (Natural) |
| Pixel 9 Pro Fold | 2,319 | 125.9% (Adaptive), 111.4% (Natural) | 0.33 (Adaptive), 0.19 (Natural) |
| Galaxy Z Flip 6 | 1,942 | 96.2 (Vivid), 84.9 (Natural) | 0.24 (Vivid), 0.24 (Natural) |
| Motorola Razr Plus 2024 | 2,158 | 69.5 (Natural) | 0.23 (Natural) |
| Nubia Flip 5G | N/A | N/A | N/A |
We run a custom battery test in which we have the phone surf the web over cellular with its screen set to 150 nits of brightness. We then time how long it takes the phone to run out of power. For foldable phones, we conduct this test on the phone’s main display.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Battery Life (hours:minutes) | Recharge level at 15 minutes (%) | Recharge level at 30 minutes (%) |
| OnePlus Open | 12:07 | 50% | 85% |
| Galaxy Z Fold 6 | 10:35 | 28% | 56% |
| Motorola Razr 2024 | 14:37 | 33% | 58% |
| Pixel 9 Pro Fold | 11:36 | 18% | 38% |
| Galaxy Z Flip 6 | 11:01 | 27% | 55% |
| Motorola Razr Plus 2024 | 14:13 | 27% | 48& |
| Nubia Flip 5G | N/A | N/A | N/A |
We also test the cameras on each foldable phone, taking them out into the field to perform comparative shots, usually with another device that features comparable specs. In some cases, that’s a foldable phone or another device in the same price tier.
Is it worth getting a foldable phone?
It entirely depends on what you look for in a device and your average use. For the most part, foldable phones don’t do much differently from other devices when it comes to communication, they still call and text like any other phone after all. However, their strength comes from the larger display and the opportunity that presents. So, if you are someone who likes to watch a lot of videos or read on your phone, then it could be a solid investment, but the price might turn away the average user. Flip phones are a bit more complicated, as they usually have the same size inner display as your average phone. Their strength comes from how small they can be, so if you want a space saver that’s still got all the modern features, then this is the type for you.
Do foldable phones still show a crease?
The simple fact is that the crease is just a part of any device with a flexible screen, especially in Samsung phones. However, they’re not nearly as noticeable as people say. In my experience, you only really notice the crease in very specific circumstances, and it doesn’t really affect everyday use.
Are foldable phones less tough than other phones?
There’s a common misconception that foldable phones will over-bend and break with ease, I know I used to have that concern. However, the hinges are designed in such a way that you will really have to push to break the phone in half and there’s no chance of doing it by accident. However, the flexible inner screens are more likely to get damaged than a typical smartphone screen since they’re made of softer materials, so keep the phone folded up when you’re not actively using it.
Does the hinge on a foldable phone get damaged easily?
While the phone isn’t likely to just break in half, the hinge can get detritus in it, which makes the folding action crunchier and can lead to permanent damage. But new hinges are better designed and, as such, are much less likely to break or get damaged with everyday use. Many manufacturers rate their foldable as being able to withstand millions of total folds – more than you’ll likely ever do during your time with the phone – before breaking.
