Foldable phones are making a comeback, but these are not the flip phones of yesteryear. Offering the features of a smartphone with the retro feel of a flip phone, these devices are rapidly becoming the phone of choice for many customers.
With an ever-growing number of foldable phones to choose from, finding the best foldable phone on the market can take a little work. We think the best overall foldable phone is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4. However, this device is incredibly expensive, so budget-minded customers should look at the Motorola Razr. Read on to learn more about these devices and our other top picks.
How we picked the best foldable phones
- Price & value We ensured you’re getting the most bang for your buck without sacrificing on the essentials to keep you connected.
-
Processing power
We looked at whether the device's processor is worth the sticker price. -
Battery life
There's nothing worse than running low when you're on-the-go. We tested whether the handset will last through the day. - Display Sure it folds, but is it going to crack? We're focused on durable, pristine screens.
Best Foldable Phones
| Phone | Best for | Price | Shop this phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 | Overall | $1,799 | Go to phone |
| Motorola Razr 5G | Budget | $599 |
Go to phone |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 | Compact | $999 | Go to phone |
Best Overall Foldable Phone
Samsung | Z Fold4 | $1,799—Best overall foldable phone
The Samsung Z Fold4 is the pinnacle of foldable phone technology and is perfect for any smartphone task. This is one of the top phones for anyone interested in photography. With a 50MP main camera and tri-camera setup, it takes great photos in all circumstances. For mobile gamers, the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor and massive 7.6-inch display will give you a leg up on the competition and let your games run as smooth as butter.
However, all these perks do come at a cost. The Z Fold4 is one of the most expensive phones on the market coming in at $1,799. While you can probably find a solid deal on one from a carrier, it’s a steep price for anyone looking to buy this device unlocked.
- Pros: 7.6-inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 50MP main camera
- Cons: Extremely expensive
Best Budget Foldable Phone
Motorola | Razr 5G | $599—Best budget foldable phone
Customers looking for a foldable phone at an affordable price should look no further than the Motorola Razr 5G. This smart flip phone includes great features while coming in at a kinder price point than the devices made by Samsung.
The Razr 5G includes a 48MP main camera, which is good. However, the lack of a multi-camera array and limited editing software put its photography abilities behind products made by Apple, Samsung, and Google. But, as long as you aren’t taking complicated photos, you’ll still get a good picture.
The phone also features a capable processor and decent battery life. However, this device isn’t built for intensive, long-term processing tasks like mobile gaming. Simple mobile games should be fine, but you may notice performance issues with multiplayer games.
All said, this is a great device for a budget foldable phone. It will do most average smartphone tasks well and give you the portability of a flip phone, but don’t expect anything spectacular from this Motorola phone.
- Pros: Low cost, 48MP camera, 6.2-inch display
- Cons: Average processing power, Lackluster photo features
Best Compact Foldable Phone
Samsung | Z Flip4 | $999—Best compact foldable phone
One of the perks of any foldable phone is that you get a larger screen that can still fit comfortably in your pocket. This is a feature the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 does extremely well. While the Z Fold4 opens and closes like a book, the Z Flip4 is designed like a classic clamshell cell phone. While open it offers a standard 6.7-inch smartphone screen, but when closed it becomes half its size for easy portability.
The Z Flip4 also offers all the standard features you’d expect from a Samsung smartphone. It has a 12MP main camera with excellent photographic abilities and uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor as the Z Fold4.
Where this device pales in comparison to the Z Fold4 are the screen size and camera array itself. A smaller screen size makes it a winner for this category, but it also limits capabilities that could benefit from a larger screen, like mobile gaming or drawing. The Z Flip4’s camera array is also only two cameras, so it’s smaller than the tri-camera Z Fold4. It still takes great photos, but it does suffer in low-light conditions.
Overall, the Z Flip4 is a great device. While it doesn’t have all the features of the Z Fold4, its kinder price point at $999 and compact portability should put this on your radar if looking for a foldable phone. That said, it’s still more expensive than regular smartphones with similar features.
- Pros: Lower cost than the Galaxy Z Fold series, 12MP camera, 6.7-inch display, Compact
- Cons: Fewer camera features, More expensive than regular smartphones with similar specs
Foldable Phones Pros and Cons
Wondering if making the leap to foldable phones is the right choice for you? Check out our guide to the quirks nobody tells you about foldables. There’s a lot of variety in the kinds of foldable devices available, so you’ll have plenty of features and price options. However, there are some general pros and cons that can be applied to most of them.
On the positive side, most modern foldable phones are easily portable and have the same features as regular smartphones. However, foldable phones have also shown issues with durability and can be some of the most expensive options out there.
To flip or not to flip? Pros and cons
- Portable
- Smartphone features
- Durability issues
- Pricey
Portable
One of the best features of foldable phones is how portable they are. Devices with massive screens like the Galaxy Z Fold4 fold into the size of a regular cell phone, while average-sized devices like the Galaxy Z Flip4 fold even smaller. This technology is the biggest selling point for owning a foldable cell phone. Otherwise, many of the actual components and features of the phone are similar to their non-folding counterparts.
Smartphone features
As we just mentioned, modern foldable cell phones are just as good as non-folding smartphones. They are not the flip phones of the mid-2000s. These are powerful devices with the same cameras, processors, and operating systems as any other phone by companies like Samsung or Motorola.
Durability issues
One potential issue with foldable phones is that they aren’t as durable as non-folding phones. The big culprit here is the phone screen. For the phones to fold, the screen itself has to be ultra-thin and flexible. Some users have reported that these factors also make it more susceptible to scratches. Additionally, in some cases, the screens have also broken at the folding point. This was usually after some extreme event, like the phone being opened too wide or being used in extreme cold, but it is something to keep in mind.
Pricey
The price of foldable phones is the most significant factor that makes potential customers think twice. Simply put they are extremely expensive. The Samsung Galaxy ZFold 4 is $1,799. That’s more expensive than all the devices from the new iPhone 15 series and Google Pixel 7 series, but for a phone that has similar capabilities. It sometimes feels like you’re paying extra just for a phone that can do a retro party trick.
Hopefully, the price of foldable phones will start to come down as more enter the market. For now, customers on a budget will struggle to get the newest models.
Foldable Phone Plans
Most foldable phones can be used on any network, but you might be able to score them at a cheaper price from certain carriers.
The Big Three
The Big Three carriers (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) offer your best shot at getting a foldable phone at a good price. They frequently have phone deals on some of the top devices on the market, including foldable phones. Plus, these carriers also offer installment plans that let you pay for your device over a period of months. Check out the most popular unlimited plans from the Big Three below:
MVNOs
While the plans from the Big Three are popular, they are also expensive. Luckily, companies called MVNOs offer plans on the Big Three networks at a fraction of the cost. You can score an unlimited plan that runs on T-Mobile’s massive 5G network for as low as $15/month from Mint Mobile. Or you can snag unlimited data on Verizon’s network for $25/month with Visible. Check out the most popular MVNO unlimited plans below:
|
#1
|
Visible
$25 Visible Plan
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
|
|
#2
|
Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$25.00/mo
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
|
#3
|
US Mobile
Unlimited Starter Plan
$25.00/mo
$20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter
|
|
#4
|
Twigby Mobile
Unlimited Talk, Text and 2GB Data
$5.00/mo
for the first 3 months then $15.00/month
|
|
#5
|
Cricket
Supreme Unlimited Plan
$55.00/mo
with AutoPay; $60 for the first month.
+ $9.99 Upfront
|
The issue with MVNOs is that they often do not include installment plans. So, you will either have to pay for the foldable phone in full or through a third-party financial service for an installment plan.
Best Foldable Phones: FAQs
FAQs
Related Articles: Google Pixel Fold Specs | Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review | Galaxy Z Fold6 Review
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
Find a better phone plan
Thousands of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
.png?w=280&h=280&usm=20&usmrad=0.8&fit=crop "Best Cell Phone Deals for June 2026: Get the New iPhone 17 for Free")
