Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
April 14, 2026: With this update, we added the TCL Flip 4 5G. Our remaining recommendations are unchanged and have been vetted for currency and availability.
- Exceptional hardware
- Excellent displays
- Solid performance
- Powerful software
- Strong radios
- Outlandishly expensive
- Only average battery life
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 features two brilliant displays: an 8.0-inch inner screen and a 6.5-inch external one. It’s the thinnest, lightest Fold yet. In fact, it is thinner and lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Its combination of a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and 12GB of RAM means it can take on any task, while multitasking software tweaks (including the desktop-like DeX mode) make the device a productivity powerhouse. It costs a lot of money, but Samsung justifies the cost with lots of features, the latest 5G and Wi-Fi radios, a 200MP camera, and new Galaxy AI features.
Tablet lovers: If you want a larger screen while working with the Z Fold 7, just open it up, and you’ve got a tablet to work with. It’s a great option for those looking to do more with one device (though it costs as much as two).
Design buffs: Somehow, Samsung made the Z Fold 7 so thin that it resembles a regular (non-folding) smartphone while closed. Opening up the Z Fold 7 reveals its remarkable thinness, measuring just 0.17 inches. The refined hinge feels sturdy, while its excellent build quality showcases Samsung’s capabilities.
Operating System
Android 16
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
Dimensions
6.24 by 2.87 by 0.35 inches folded, 6.24 by 5.64 by 0.17 inches open
Screen Size
8 inches
Screen Resolution
2,184 by 1,968 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
200MP, 12MP, 10MP; 10MP, 10MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
13 hours, 10 minutes
Learn More
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Review
- Bright displays
- Category-leading battery life
- Powerful performance
- Fun folding form factor
- Middling cameras
- Mediocre AI
The Motorola Razr Ultra makes the most of its generous external 4.0-inch display, letting you run virtually any app you want. Meanwhile, the high-resolution, 7.0-inch inner pOLED display provides plenty of real estate for typical smartphone tasks. The Razr Ultra also sports an IP48 rating, which means you can submerge it in water up to 1.5 meters deep for up to 30 minutes. Most importantly, the phone has a huge battery that lasts longer than any other folding phone on the market.
People who want something different: The Razr Ultra’s compact clamshell body makes it small enough to easily fit into pockets, and yet it unfolds to reveal an enormous OLED screen—so you don’t skimp out on the modern smartphone experience.
People who put style first: The Razr Ultra is available in daring finishes that include Cabaret (pink), Mountain Trail (a wood-like finish), Rio Red, or Scarab (dark green). Motorola selected these colors in collaboration with Pantone, which scouts fashion trends to identify what is popular now and what will be in the future. Whether it’s the folding design or the color, the Razr Ultra turns heads.
Operating System
Android 15
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform
Dimensions
6.75 by 2.91 by 0.28 inches open, 3.47 by 2.91 by 0.62 inches closed
Screen Size
7 inches
Screen Resolution
2,992 by 1,224 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
50MP, 50MP; 50MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
22 hours, 3 minutes
Learn More
Motorola Razr Ultra
Review
- Appealing design
- Larger and brighter outer display
- Excellent main screen
- Good network performance
- Galaxy AI with Gemini Live
- Decent cameras
- Only average battery life
- Limited functionality of outer screen
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 folds without a gap and lets you access quick bits of information, widgets, and key notifications right from its larger 4.1-inch outer screen. And when you do open it, the internal 6.9-inch screen provides a full Samsung Galaxy experience. The phone has plenty of power thanks to its Exynos 2500 processor and 12GB of RAM; it also offers 256GB of storage by default, which is plenty for most people, and Galaxy AI-assisted photo editing features. We also like the modern set of radios, the solid speakers, and good camera.
People who prioritize size: If you want a big Android phone in a tiny package, this device should appeal to you. It folds down to a small square that easily fits in your pocket while still providing access to a full-size screen.
Creative camera users: The Z Flip 7 is great for taking creative selfies because the folding screen works as a tripod. It also features a dedicated video camera mode for recording high-resolution footage.
Operating System
Android 16
CPU
Exynos 2500
Dimensions
6.56 by 2.96 by 0.26 inches unfolded, 3.37 by 2.96 by 0.54 inches folded
Screen Size
6.9 inches
Screen Resolution
2,520 by 1,080 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
50MP, 12MP; 10MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
31 hours
Learn More
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
Review
- Excellent cameras
- Fantastic screens
- High-quality, durable hardware
- Gemini AI
- Bigger and heavier than competing foldables
- Expensive
Google’s third-generation foldable is a hardened version of last year’s model. Thanks to Google’s in-house Tensor G5 SoC, it packs an excellent bag of tricks, including AI-assisted image editing, offline transcription, and even offline translation. The hardware is elegant, with a bright outer display and a pleasing 8.0-inch inner screen that makes reading and multitasking feel natural. It doesn’t have as many software productivity tweaks as Samsung’s Z Fold 7, but it has much better cameras and Google’s Gemini Live for your personal assistant.
Those who put cameras first: If you want the best cameras available on a modern foldable, the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the one to get. It packs all the power of the standard Pixel 10 phones and includes some expanded camera tricks thanks to the folding design.
Those who prefer Google’s software: Don’t care for Samsung’s One UI? The Pixel 10 Pro Fold has Google’s version of Android and the best available AI you can get at the moment.
Operating System
Android 16
CPU
Google Tensor G5
Dimensions
6.11 by 3.00 by 0.43 inches folded, 6.11 by 5.92 by 0.20 inches open
Screen Size
8 inches
Screen Resolution
2,152 by 2,076 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
48MP, 10.5MP, 10.8MP; 10MP, 10MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
13 hours, 42 minutes
Learn More
Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold
Review
- Long battery life
- Excellent displays
- Affordable
- Average performance
- Mediocre cameras
- Unimpressive software update commitment
The Moto Razr packs an enormous 6.9-inch display into a compact package. Its 3.6-inch outer screen lets you run full apps and easily frame selfies with the 50MP camera. Although this device uses a MediaTek Dimensity 7400x chip to keep the cost down, it still performs adequately. Last but not least, the 4,200mAh battery provides over 21 hours of battery life on a single charge.
Style-conscious buyers on a budget: The Razr has many of the features of the Razr Ultra, including the fun flip design and powerful outer display, but for hundreds less.
Operating System
Android 15
CPU
MediaTek Dimensity 7400X
Dimensions
3.47 by 2.91 by 0.62 inches closed, 6.74 by 2.91 by 0.29 inches open
Screen Size
6.9 inches
Screen Resolution
2,640 by 1,080 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
50MP, 13MP; 32MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
21 hours, 35 minutes
Learn More
Motorola Razr (2025)
Review
- Affordable
- 5G and Wi-Fi
- Long battery life
- Quick performance
- Limited third-party apps
- Poor cameras
- Embedded battery
The TCL Flip 4 5G is an excellent voice phone with an embedded battery, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB-C charging port. It also features a 2MP camera, which is useful in a pinch. Wi-Fi, 4G, and 5G connectivity, along with email access, can help keep you in the communication loop.
People who just want to make calls: If you aren’t interested in owning a smartphone, the affordable TCL Flip 4 5G performs basic phone functions confidently. The speakerphone and earpiece sound quite clear, and the battery lasts for a long time.
Retro enthusiasts: The Flip 4 is a classic-style clamshell flip phone designed for today’s cellular networks. If you prefer texting on a physical number pad, the TCL Flip 4 is the ideal choice. This device has no touch screens or social media apps, so forget about endless swiping. The Flip 4’s limited app selection should be sufficient for the lightest tasks (such as email), but its primary function is simply to be a phone.
Operating System
KaiOS
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4s Gen 2
Dimensions
4.29 by 2.34 by 0.84 inches
Screen Size
3.2 inches
Screen Resolution
240 by 320 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
5MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
20 hours
Learn More
TCL Flip 4 5G
Review
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The Best Folding Phones for 2026: Google, Motorola, Samsung, and More
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Buying Guide: The Best Folding Phones for 2026: Google, Motorola, Samsung, and More
When Is the Best Time to Buy a New Folding Phone?
New foldables aren’t announced as often as regular phones, but they still arrive at a regular cadence. There’s really no bad time to buy, so long as the phone has all the features you want. As for manufacturer-specific release windows, Samsung and Google haven’t settled on regular foldable release schedules, but have shown off their new gear in the summer months in recent years. Motorola typically releases its foldables in April or May, and OnePlus last announced a foldable in October 2023 with no follow-up. A foldable iPhone? Maybe we’ll see one this year.
What Are the Types of Foldables?
Foldables primarily come in book- or clamshell-style designs. Book-style foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold feature an outer screen that’s about the size of a regular slab phone and open to reveal a larger, tablet-sized screen. Meanwhile, clamshell-style devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Motorola Razr Ultra feature a small outer screen and look like a regular slab phone when you flip them open.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The two styles of folding hardware offer completely different experiences, so it’s critical to decide which is right for you before buying.
How Durable Are Foldables?
Foldables have an inherent design weakness due to their hinges. Any time you add a moving part, you introduce a point of failure. The hinges are exquisitely engineered but will still wear over time. Samsung claims its Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 can each withstand 200,000 folds over their lifetimes, while Motorola claims its Razr Ultra can handle 400,000 folds. That’s a lot of action on the hinge. In more practical terms, 200,000 folds breaks down to about 100 folds every day for more than 5 years. With the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Google didn’t disclose how many folds the device could withstand.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
What about that bending screen? Gorilla Glass protects the external screens of some foldables from scratches and damage caused by drops. The flexible nature of the inner screens prevents manufacturers from coating them with the same hardened materials as a traditional phone, but they generally feature a secondary layer of protective folding glass.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first to achieve a full dustproof and waterproof IP68 rating. The Moto Razr Ultra has an IP48 rating, meaning it can withstand dust particles larger than 1mm and withstand full immersion in water. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Fold 7 have an IP48 rating, while the Oppo Find N6 has an IP 58/59 rating.
How Big Are Foldables?
Just like regular smartphones, foldable smartphones have gotten thinner and lighter over the years. The original Galaxy Fold resembled two smartphones stacked together, with a thickness of 0.7 inches when closed. But the most recent Galaxy Z Fold 7 is just 0.35 inches thick when closed. And at 7.58 ounces, the Fold 7 weighs less than the biggest iPhone (8.01 ounces).
Motorola Razr Ultra (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Clamshell-style foldables are still pretty thick when closed. The Z Flip 7, for instance, comes in at 0.54 inches. But it’s not very wide (2.96 inches), tall (3.37 inches), or heavy (6.63 ounces). Of course, foldables are half as thick when opened, so the Z Fold 7 measures 0.17 inches, and the Z Flip 7 measures 0.26 inches.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The most important thing to remember is that the shape and size change when you unfold them. Book-style foldables become wide, tablet-size devices, while flip-style foldables become the size of a regular phone. Each has distinct pros and cons.
What’s It Like to Use a Foldable Phone?
Because you can use foldables in either closed or open mode, the experience is a bit different from that of a typical phone. Taking a selfie is a good example of how things differ. When you take selfies on a regular phone, you usually use the front-facing camera so you can see the viewfinder. Since foldables have multiple displays on which you can see yourself, the best camera changes depending on what you’re doing and the kind of photo you want.
There are no folding iPhones yet, which means Android is the sole mobile operating system for foldables. The good news is that the platform is robust and should feel familiar to anyone who has used an Android phone in the past few years. Even so, Android faces usability issues on both particularly tiny and particularly large screens because most apps aren’t built with these sizes in mind.
Each phone maker handles the issue differently. Motorola’s Razr Ultra lets you run almost any app on its pint-size front screen, but it warns you about potential incompatibility issues. In comparison, Samsung intentionally limits the Flip 7’s external screen to a select few apps.
Motorola Razr (Credit: Eric Zeman)
On the large, inner screens of book-style phones, you must deal with the same problems many Android tablets face: stretched-out apps and limited multitasking. Again, phone makers differ in how they approach this issue. The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, for example, lets you run two apps at once on the inner screen along with a floating video window. Samsung’s One UI 8 lets you tile up to 3 apps, open a video player on top, and access other apps in a pop-up view. Here, the latter approach is more effective for multitasking.
Manufacturers also have different ideas about app continuity. That is, should an app continue from the smaller external screen to the larger inner one and vice versa? By default, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 assumes you won’t immediately use the outer screen after closing the device. But Motorola’s Razr Ultra lets you keep the app on the front screen after closing it. Nearly all foldables will expand an app you are using on the outer display to the full inner display when you open the phone.
Recommended by Our Editors
This is to say that you can find ways to get the experience you want out of a foldable device with two screens. It just might take some fine-tuning.
What About That Crease?
Foldable displays still have a visible crease running parallel to the hinge. In our experience, the crease is most visible when the display is off or when you view the screen from an off-angle. When using apps, playing games, or watching videos, the small screen inconsistency is easy to ignore. Additionally, improvements to flexible displays and hinges have made the crease harder to see and more durable on the most recent models.
Oppo Find N6 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Oppo, meanwhile, says its Find N6 has all but eliminated the crease. In fact, the company claims its screen will remain crease-free for 600,000 folds. That’s more than 400 folds a day every day for four years. We’ve seen the Find N6, and its crease is indeed nearly invisible.
What’s Next for Foldables?
As the technology behind folding phones matures, the devices will likely become more durable, with smaller bezels, and pack more power into increasingly thin and light frames. Will Apple ever make a folding iPhone? It hasn’t officially committed to the idea, but rumors suggest it is on track for a fall release.
Samsung Assymetrical Folding Phone Concept (Credit: Alex Humphries)
We could see other foldable designs in the future, too. At the Mobile World Congress trade show, Samsung showcased several concept devices. Our favorite was a folding gaming concept that lets you fold a gaming rig in half for easier stowing. Some foldables outside the US showcase new ideas, too. Rollables are another way to squeeze a larger screen into a smaller package, but they still appear to be limited to proofs of concept rather than devices intended for production.
If and when these new devices come out, we plan to review them and update this roundup with any new details. Make sure to check back often for all the latest news.
