Foldable phones, for one, have blossomed over the past three years, with Samsung’s Z Fold and Z Flip series leading the pack to mainstream acceptance. But while many consumers remain skeptical of the ambitious design of these foldables, reasonably worried about their durability, learning curve, and price of entry, there are now more market-ready offerings than ever before. And the options will only expand going into next year.
ZDNET’s team of mobile experts has rounded up the very best foldable phones on the market today, including our best entry-level pick and the best overall.
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We’ve tested a lot of foldables phones at ZDNET, but none come close to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4, which offers a unique tablet experience while being able to fit snuggly in your jean and pants pockets. The Z Fold 4 represents the fourth generation of Samsung’s industry-leading foldable, meaning you can expect incremental updates that add up to a well-rounded and polished foldable experience.
On the technical side, the Z Fold 4 finally comes with what we consider to be a flagship-level camera system, with its 50MP wide lens at the helm – the same one that delivers sharp and vibrant imagery on the Galaxy S22 Plus – putting it toe to toe with the industry best. Samsung has also trimmed down the framework from the inside out to make the newer Z Fold lighter and easier to handle.
Read the review: Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4
The new Galaxy Z Fold 4 may be the foldable champion, but last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 is no less worthy of your consideration. Like the Fold 4, the predecessor can expand from a narrow 6.2-inch outer screen into a wider 7.6-inch main screen. It’s quite a magical experience if you’ve never used a phone-to-tablet foldable.
In addition to the innovative form factor, Samsung packs a series of features like a triple-camera array for you to flex across different shooting modes, OneUI software to enhance your productivity and split-screen interactions, and a decent-sized 4,400mAh battery to keep the lights on. The Z Fold 3 is also the first foldable to support Samsung’s infamous S Pen stylus for precision input.
Read the review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 may represent the pinnacle of folding phones but it’s the Z Flip 4 that will appeal to a wider range of users. Not only does it hold remnants of the old-school, clamshell, flip phone, but Samsung offers the latest foldable with a variety of colors – including a Bespoke Edition that lets you customize the finish of the top and bottom plates and the hinge.
At a starting price of $999, the Z Flip 4 is an easier pill to swallow than the Z Fold 4 and there’s no shortage of useful and practical features, too. For example, ZDNET’s Jason Hiner put the flip phone to the test and found its compact shape beneficial for staying put in bags and pockets, as well as for being a portable hotspot hub.
Read the review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
While this year’s Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 has stolen all the thunder from the Z Flip 3, the latter is still a formidable pick-up if you’re in search of a less-expensive foldable. In fact, the Z Flip 4 only sees minor improvements to its predecessor, which explains Samsung’s strategy of pricing it the same as last year.
In turn, the Z Flip 3 can now be had for as low as $500, while still offering its durably-built, water-resistant design, Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 prowess, and whimsically addictive, clamshell form factor. It also has the same 1.9-inch Cover Screen on the outside of the device for quick access to toggles, widgets, and camera tools.
Read the review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
Huawei’s first big foldables, the Mate X and XS, were interesting in that they incorporated a foldable form factor with displays opposite of what Samsung tried with the Z Fold. Instead of folding inward, the displays expanded outward (like a 2-in-1 laptop) and were always exposed, but looked amazing. Fast forward to today, the latest Huawei Mate Xs 2 builds on that premise with a new Falcon Wing design.
The Mate Xs 2 is clearly a direct competitor to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and it certainly edges out the Galaxy in a few areas. For one, the main, large screen spans 7.8-inches diagonally, with a PPI of 424. It’s a high-resolution panel that, get this, has no noticeable crease, a problem that has plagued Galaxy foldables since the very beginning. The Mate Xs 2 also sees a larger 4,880mAh battery for better endurance.
Read also: Huawei Mate X2 hands-on
After figuring out your intention for the foldable, we can look at your use case. If you want water resistance, then you’re in luck because all four Samsung foldables are IPX8-rated. If you love using a stylus with your device, then the Z Fold 4 and Z Fold 3 are the clear choices.
Price is also a key factor, but with how many new entries we see from manufacturers each year, there will surely be a foldable – new or old – that fits in your budget.
If you can, keep your foldable protected with a reliable case.
Also: The future for foldable smartphones is looking bright
