Folding smartphones have come a long way since the Samsung Galaxy Fold arrived in 2019. They’re smaller, more durable and even though they’re not exactly budget-friendly phones, they’re now more affordable too. While you might not have considered a foldable phone for your everyday use five years ago, they’re a much more viable option today – and you have plenty of options to choose from.
If you’re struggling with the idea of switching to a folding phone, or you’re ready to upgrade the foldable you already have, we at Engadget can help you with your decision-making process. We’ve spent hundreds of hours and many days testing and reviewing the best foldable phones on the market right now – here’s everything you need to know before choosing one.
Note: For this guide, we’re focusing on devices that are widely available in North America and Europe. That’s because while there are even more options for those living in Asia (particularly China), they’re often harder to buy from abroad and may not be supported by your local carrier.
The small but mighty improvements Google has made to its new second-gen foldable have put it at the front of the pack. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold turns the somewhat unfinished original Pixel Fold into a solid handset ready for prime time. Google has refined its design to deliver an aspect ratio that mimics the standard Pixel 9 smartphones, with a familiar 6.3-inch, 20:9 outer display that’s both easy to use and hold.
The inner display has a bit more screen real estate than before as well as a more square aspect ratio. Overall the handset has a more premium feel and definitely a more polished look thanks to its matte back and satin metal frame. With solid performance (and battery life) and an upgraded design to match, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold still has the best cameras of any foldable handset we’ve tried, even with no hardware upgrades from the original version.
Plus, Google’s AI image editing tools like Magic Editor give you more control over your photos and Pixel-only software support like Made You Look make Google’s handset a more appealing foldable.
While we would have liked to see some more big design changes, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 is one of the most versatile and best examples of a big, premium foldable phone.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s cover display is bigger and more usable than its competitors, and its new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip delivers strong performance and better power efficiency while its Enhanced Armor aluminum chassis is noticeably lighter than before (and a little more durable, too).
There’s a new ultra-wide angle camera sensor and a slew of AI-powered features on the phone. Plus, the Z Fold 6 is one of the few foldables with native stylus support, though you’ll have to pay extra for one of Samsung’s S Pens. Perhaps the biggest drawback is that Samsung’s latest flagship now costs $100 more than its predecessor.
More affordable flagship foldable phones
For those who want a larger foldable phone that isn’t quite so expensive, the OnePlus Open is a very interesting option. Starting at $1,700, its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip offers similar performance to the Z Fold 5, but the Open has slightly bigger and brighter displays.
It’s also thinner and lighter, while it has a bigger battery and its Open Canvas software offers an innovative tile-based UI for multitasking, allowing you to manage apps and widgets seamlessly.
Sure, its triple rear camera module is bulky, but image quality is slightly better than the Z Fold 5 (though, still less than the Pixel Fold). But the best part is that, thanks to OnePlus’ trade-in deal, you can exchange any old phones you have lying around for a discount of $200, bringing the final price of the Open down to $1,500. That’s still not cheap, but it does move the Open closer to being somewhat affordable.