Phones that fold cost more than those that don’t, and they’re not ideal for everyone—but there are some people this form-factor is perfect for. Are you one of them?
Do You Have Small Pockets?
Smartphones have grown exponentially larger since the days of the HTC Dream and the original iPhone, but our pockets haven’t. If anything, with the change in fashion tastes, they’ve actually gotten smaller!
If you’re unable to fit your phone in your pocket, it may be worth checking out a flip-style foldable. These are phones that flip open and close like flip phones of old. In the US, you have a choice between the Moto Razr series and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
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Motorola Razr (2024)
The Motorola Razr gives you new ways to interact, capture, and create. Featuring a larger external display, an upgraded folding mechanism, and powerful cameras, you can do it all without flipping the phone open.
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Motorola Razr+ (2024)
$799.99 $999.99 Save
$200The Motorola Razr+ powered gives you new ways to interact, capture, and create. Featuring the largest, most intelligent external display of any flip phone, you can do it all without flipping the phone open.
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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a sleek, foldable smartphone. Powered by the latest Snapdragon processor, it offers exceptional performance, a greatly improved dual-camera system, and Flex Mode for hands-free selfies and video calls.
Wish a Tablet Could Fit in Your Pocket?
I like tablets, but they are only marginally more portable than laptops. They still require a bag when leaving the house.
This is the issue book-style foldables solve. They’ve similar in size to traditional smartphones, except they open up to reveal a 7 or 8-inch tablet-sized screen.
There are three of these phones available in the US: the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and the OnePlus Open. Each earns its place among the best foldable phones.
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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a foldable smartphone that combines the functionality of a tablet with the convenience of a phone. It features a large, flexible internal screen that automatically picks up where you left off on the cover display.
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Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is powered by the Tensor G4 processor, offers 16 GB of RAM, and comes with advanced AI capabilities, making it a powerful and efficient device for creativity and productivity.
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OnePlus Open
The OnePlus Open is a tablet-like foldable phone. It features a phone-sized outside display and nearly square inside display, along with a massive camera array on the back.
Like to Write or Draw?
Whether you’re sitting down at a desktop or pulling out a laptop, both machines are made for typing. Tablets invite us to write notes or sketch designs by hand, especially when they come with a stylus.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 (and all previous models) support Samsung’s S Pen. While you do have to carry around the pen separately, unlike the Galaxy S25 Ultra, this is not unlike carrying around a small notepad and pen. I personally own a Z Fold 6, and I write on it all the time. I was surprised to find that using a stylus is one of my favorite ways to use a foldable phone.
Want a Regular Smartphone With a Bonus Screen?
Many people like the idea of a foldable, but they’ve grown accustomed to the dimensions of a traditional slab phone. They’re put off by the narrow size of the Galaxy Z Fold phones when closed.
If you like the idea of having a tablet-sized screen accessible, but you primarily want your phone to feel the same as any other smartphone most of the time, consider the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold or the OnePlus Open. When closed, they feel remarkably similar to the phone you’re already familiar with.
I’ve held a OnePlus Open, and I personally prefer the shape of the Z Fold 6. Increasing the width of the outer screen has the same effect on the inner screen, turning the phone into more of a two-handed device. I primarily use my phone unfolded with one hand, and I find the dimensions of the Z Fold 6 feel just right.
Think Smartphones Are Too Big?
Modern smartphones are big, and they’re getting bigger. Even budget phones now sport larger displays than the flagships of a decade ago. Phones with 4 or 5-inch screens are now a niche product.
If you long for a smartphone that still falls in that range, you may be surprised to find that you still have a modern option. Get a Moto Razr or Moto Razr+.
The cover screen on either version of the razor is around four inches large. The shape is more square than a conventional phone, but you can still run most apps. If you’re looking to use your phone less, a Razr’s outer screen is not as ideal for web browsing or social media, but it can handle calls, send texts, check email, manage music, and display navigation just fine.
Love Digital Books, Magazines, and Comics?
You can read a digital book in any form factor, ranging from your desktop monitor to the phone in your pocket. I generally like using a tablet, but since those still require a bag when leaving the house, I often opt to carry a physical book instead.
Book-style foldables are perfect for this. They are around the size of a Kindle, and there’s something novel about reading a book on a device that’s shaped like one.
Related
Why Having a Book-Shaped Phone Means I Read More Books
I like reading books on my phone, but only if it folds.
While I read plenty of books on my phone now, I find book-style foldables are just as good for comics and magazines. I source reading material from DRM-free sources so that I can read them in whichever app I want. All of these digital formats feel as perfect on a foldable as games do on a Nintendo Switch.
Foldable phones don’t sell as much as regular phones, and I’m not sure if they ever will. Many people like the regular smartphone just fine.
As for me, I didn’t read ebooks or write on my phone all that much before. Now that I have a larger screen, I do both all the time. It’s worth trying one out and seeing if they have the same effect on you. Don’t be put off the price—foldable phones aren’t quite as expensive as you might think.
