The best foldable phones you can get in 2023

It’s taken a long time to get foldable phones into the hands of consumers. The idea of a smartphone that folded was something of a dream product for both users and phone makers. Now, phones with actual flexible and foldable displays are a reality. The big problem is that, most continue to be prohibitively expensive. This article will look at the current foldable phones on the market, plus a quick preview of what we might see in the future.

The pros and cons of foldable phones

Foldable phones are all the hype these days. Are they worth the higher price tag, though? The truth is we don’t believe they’ve quite evolved enough yet. And while foldable devices come with significant advantages, there are also plenty of downsides to look out for. Let’s help you decide by pointing out the pros and cons.

Pros

• Larger displays: This is an obvious advantage that comes with foldable phones. The inner displays can be so large that they start getting into tablet territory. This makes them much more functional and entertaining. Not to mention, the larger foldables have a serious advantage when it comes to multitasking. And let’s not even get started with editing and gaming.
• Smaller bodies: Regardless of the foldable you get, the body can be made much smaller and more portable. Flip phone foldables can often fit comfortably in a shirt pocket! And if you get one of the larger fold-out phones, these are essentially tablets that can fit in your regular pocket.
• The fun factor: Foldable phones are still novelty items, and they are downright the coolest gadgets mobile tech has to offer. Any foldable phone owner is at the forefront of mobile technology and is bound to turn some heads when using his device.
• Better selfie photos: We can all agree that rear-facing cameras are pretty much always better than front-facing ones. This is what makes foldable phones so enticing for selfie aficionados. You can use the rear-facing cameras to shoot selfies most of the time, and the external display can serve as a viewfinder.

Cons

• Water resistance is rare: While high IP ratings are standard in most other high-end devices, they are still relatively rare in the world of foldable handsets. So far, very few have water protection. And almost none of them offer dust protection. This makes sense, as these phones have more moving parts. It’s also important to note that dust resistance is even harder to achieve, and most foldables don’t have that.
• General durability is lacking: Furthermore, mechanical moving parts are yet another thing that can malfunction. Many of these devices are tested for about 200,000 folds, which is arguably more than enough. Still, having very reliable moving parts is always worse than having no moving parts.
• The crease!: Talking about moving parts, that typical crease that forms in the fold section is a serious eyesore. Manufacturers continue to improve this using advanced hinge mechanics, but very few have accomplished an unnoticeable crease.
• Thicker bodies: While foldable phones can be reduced in general size, all that material has to go somewhere. This is why foldables are thicker than other phones. As an example, a Samsung Galaxy S23 is only 7.6mm thick. Meanwhile, when folded shut, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is 15.1mm. There’s also the matter of uneven folds. Sometimes, the hinge makes it impossible to create a uniform fold, leaving annoying spacing between the flaps. This was more of an issue in previous-generation foldables, though.
• Foldable screens are still worse: Foldable smartphone screens can’t be made with glass, which is arguably much better than plastic. Glass isn’t truly flexible, a requirement when you have a screen that needs to be folded in half. Plastic screens have less clarity, don’t look as nice, and are more often to scratches and general damage.
• They are expensive: Foldable smartphones are still costly. Among the most affordable is the Motorola Razr 2023, which costs $699.99. This phone is exceptionally cheap for a foldable phone, though, and it’s pretty much the only mainstream foldable with such a low price. Pricing standards are generally higher in the foldable market. We consider the Galaxy Z Flip 5 “affordable,” and it launched at $999.99.

The best foldable phones

Editor’s note: We will update this foldable phone list as more devices hit the market.

Google Pixel Fold

After long anticipation and an onslaught of rumors, the Google Pixel Fold is finally here, and it’s busting doors with a heavy price tag. It costs $1,799 but is still one of the best foldable phones available.

It’s powered by the same Google Tensor G2 we’ll find on the Pixel 7 series, as well as the Pixel 7a. It also carries 12GB of RAM, and a 4,821mAh battery with 21W wired charging.

Additionally, you’ll enjoy a large 5.8-inch exterior display that’s much more usable than those in other foldable. It has a 2,092 x 1,080 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The larger interior display measures 7.6 inches and also has a 120Hz refresh rate. Other features include wireless charging, an IPx8 certification, a trio of high-end cameras, and 256/512GB of storage.

This is a high-end foldable phone through and through. We had very little to complain about during our Pixel Fold review. We wish battery life was better, as we struggled to get the phone through a whole day. The Tensor G2 chipset still has a tendency to get hot. Of course, the phone is also quite heavy, both literally and on your wallet.

Pixel Fold specs:

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is now the latest and greatest foldable device from Samsung, bringing a few improvements over its successor, including a brighter internal display, a better hinge that folds completely flat, and a design that’s now 10g lighter. You’ll also get the power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 12GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. There’s also a 4,400mAh dual battery.

The cameras remain the same as before, with a 50MP wide cam, 12MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 10MP telephoto lens. That’s not a bad thing, as the camera package is actually pretty decent, though not quite to the level as you’d find on phones like the Pixel 7.

The main display is quite big when unfolded at 7.6 inches, while the smaller one comes in at 6.2 inches. You also get an IPX8 rating, Android 12L, and wireless charging.

This is a great device, and definitely one of the best foldable phones, but it still suffers from most of the downsides we usually see in these devices. It is super expensive. As we mentioned in our Galaxy Z Fold 5 review, the weight and thickness are disappointing. We also weren’t convinced with the battery life, which we managed to push through for about a day.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 specs:

OnePlus Open

Do you feel like the foldables above are a bit too expensive? The OnePlus Open isn’t exactly cheap either, but it is slightly less expensive at $1,699.99. It is no slouch, either.

In our OnePlus Open review, we found that this device is quite capable, and we had very little to complain about. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 16GB of RAM offer great performance. Battery life is also among the best we’ve seen in a larger foldable; we would usually average close to a day and a half. 67W wired charging is also super fast, and surprisingly for OnePlus, these cameras are actually quite outstanding.

That said, the IPX4 rating is pretty disappointing, and the handset comes with no wireless charging.

Open specs:

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

So far, all the options on this list have been full-sized phones that turn into tablets, but what about foldable flip phones? That’s where the Flip series comes in.

The Samsung Z Flip 5 sees a major upgrade to its Cover Screen, now rebranded as the Flex Window. Jumping from 1.9-inches to 3.4-inches, the new screen has a unique folder-like shape and improved widgets. There are even ways to get full apps running on it, though they are basically dubbed experimental by Samsung.

In addition to the new outer display, the Z Flip 5 has a new gapless folding internal display and improved internals, including the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. Beyond this, you’ll find a lot of similarities to the Flip 4, including the same 3,700 mAh battery, same cameras, and same 8GB of RAM. The Z Flip 5 has dropped the 128GB storage variant, though, now offering just 256GB and 512GB configurations.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the most affordable folding option from Samsung in 2023, so it might just be the springboard the company needs to reach the masses. It is also made beautifully, and offers a great experience. In our Galaxy Z Flip 5 review, our only main complaints were that battery life is average at best, and sustained performance can be a bit iffy.

Galaxy Z Flip 5 specs:

Motorola Razr Plus

Motorola has been in the foldable game for a few years, but it’s never really made a mark until now. The Razr Plus takes on a design that’s not too different from devices like the Flip, though it was the first to bring a super-sized front display at 3.6 inches. It was also the first to officially support all apps on the front screen — though not all of them work perfectly on the scrunched display.

Razr Plus is also known as Razr 40 Ultra in international markets, though it remains the same device with the same Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor and 8GB of RAM. You also get 256GB storage, a 3,800mAh battery, and a dual camera with a 12MP wide and a 13MP ultrawide shooter.

The Razr Plus is sold in the United States starting at $999.99, making it a reasonably affordable option. During our Motorola Moto Razr Plus review, we found it to have great software, decent fast charging options, a great design, and solid performance. It also happens to have an IP52 rating, which makes it special because it actually has some dust protection.

Razr Plus specs:

Motorola Razr 2023

If you want to get into the foldable phone game, but don’t want to spend a small fortune on a smartphone, the Motorola Razr 2023 is your best bet. In fact, in our Motorola Razr 2023 review, we mention that it’s the phone that makes foldables mainstream. It costs only $699.99.

Of course, you have to make sure to keep your expectations in check. This is no powerhouse, but it is surprisingly capable for the price and form factor. You get a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor and 8GB of RAM. We had a hard time noticing performance slow-downs in day-to-day use.

The cameras could be better, there is no large external display, wireless charging is pretty slow at 5W, and you only get an IP52 rating. Otherwise, it is a pretty good phone. Especially at such a reasonable price.

Razr 2023 specs:

Are there any other options?

The foldable market has expanded a lot over the years, though the vast majority of options still remain mostly available in China, Europe, or other markets outside the states. Just be aware none of these can be currently purchased in the US:

• OPPO Find N3 Flip ($1199 at Giztop): If you want to have no crease, OPPO is the only manufacturer that has found the right solution. The advanced hinge in the OPPO Find N3 makes the crease nearly unnoticeable. Not to mention, it offers a great overall experience
• HUAWEI Mate X3 ($2319 at Amazon): This phone is pretty powerful, and actually comes with an IPX8 rating. It also has great cameras and a gorgeous design. The only reason we don’t recommend it is because it has no Google services.
• HUAWEI Pocket S ($1033.36 at Huawei): The Pocket S is a great flip phone if you can live without Google services, too. It comes with mid-end specs, but a great design.
• Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 ($1499 at Giztop): This is definitely one of the best foldables. It has amazing performance, great cameras, and an overall great experience. It is also one of the thinnest foldable phones at 10.9mm folded. The only downside is that it’s only officially available in China, and it has no IP rating.

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