Best flip phones in 2025 for any budget

With enough force, almost every phone can fold in half – not even the best phones on sale are immune from brute strength. But only a few can do it without suffering terminal damage. From retro revivals to cutting-edge clamshells, these best flip phones are perfectly pocketable, yet don’t skimp on top-tier hardware.

Perhaps you prefer a larger book-style foldable with a little more substance? Read about the best foldable phones here.

By hiding a larger screen on the inside, flip phones are half the size of a traditional smartphone. Their outer screens are getting smarter and smarter, too, saving you from constantly flipping the thing open to reply to messages or check incoming emails. Add in increasingly capable cameras and they’re some of the most versatile phones around.

We’ve tested the best, and highlighted upcoming models that might be worth waiting for.

Why you can trust Stuff: Our team of experts rigorously test each product and provide honest, unbiased reviews to help you make informed decisions. For more details, read how we test and rate products.

Quick list: What’s the best flip phone?

The best flip phones you can buy today:

1. Motorola Razr 60 Ultra

After two weeks living with the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra, we’re convinced it’s the best flip phone you can buy right now. It’s not just about the looks – though the mix of Pantone colours, Alcantara, leather or wood finishes make it feel more premium than any rival. The real magic lies in how usable it is shut. The full-size 4in+ outer display isn’t just for widgets – we could reply to emails, type messages and even run full apps comfortably without needing to flip it open. That alone gives it a huge edge over Samsung’s Z Flip line.

Open it up and you’re greeted by a gorgeous 7in OLED that’s brighter and sharper than any folding screen we’ve tested. The crease barely registers, colours are vivid, and 165Hz refresh rates make scrolling silky. Cameras finally feel like more than an afterthought. The 50MP main sensor produced sharp, vibrant shots, and the ultrawide matched it well for colour and tone. Shooting with the cover screen as a viewfinder is brilliant – especially for selfies.

Performance was flagship-strong thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite and 16GB RAM, though we noticed it running hot during long gaming sessions. Battery life, however, blew us away. The 4700mAh cell comfortably lasted into day two, and 68W charging got us back up in just over an hour.

It’s expensive, but with no real weak links, the Razr 60 Ultra is the closest any clamshell has come to perfection.

• Read more: Motorola Razr 60 Ultra review

2. Samsung Galaxy Flip7

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 is easily the most refined flip phone we’ve tested yet. The thinner design and bigger cover screen make it feel like a proper upgrade, not just another yearly refresh. In hand, it looks and feels fantastic – slimmer than the Z Flip 6, with a hinge that finally hides the crease well. We especially liked how the 4.1in outer display now plays a real role, even if you still need Good Lock tinkering to unlock its full potential. The 6.9in inner AMOLED is classic Samsung: sharp, bright and buttery smooth.

Using it day-to-day, the cameras proved consistent rather than groundbreaking. The 50MP main shooter delivered detailed, colourful shots and handled motion better than previous Flips. The ultrawide lagged slightly, and selfies were nothing special, but the outer display makes using the main cameras far more practical.

Performance, powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2500, didn’t always match the $1100/£1049 asking price. Benchmarks were closer to mid-range, and we noticed it getting hot under heavy loads. Battery life was just enough for a full day, but charging remains sluggish compared to Motorola’s Razr 60 Ultra.

Still, with seven years of updates, slick software additions like DeX, and eye-catching design, the Z Flip 7 is Samsung’s most balanced flip phone yet – though not the most powerful.

• Read more: Samsung Galaxy Flip7 review

4. Motorola Razr 60

Motorola’s two-tier approach to flip phones has been working well for a few generations now, bringing the cost of entry down significantly. That’s still the case for the Razr 60, except here you’re getting a significantly improved battery over last year’s effort. 4500mAh is more than you’ll find in some mainstream, non-folding phones.

At 3.6in and with access to any app you want, the outer screen remains far more useful than rival Samsung’s more restrictive effort. Inside MediaTek silicon still provides the power, only here you’re getting a newer generation chip than the outgoing Razr 50 got. The 50MP main snapper and 13MP ultrawide should be very competitive among flip phones.

How to choose the best flip phone

Picking the right flip phone takes a bit of thought. These pocket-friendly gadgets promise full smartphone power in a foldable shell, which makes them ideal if you like tech that’s both clever and convenient.

Start with the screen – it’s the main event. Go for a sharp AMOLED display with a fast refresh rate for smooth scrolling and bold colours. Durability matters too. Foldable screens use delicate materials such as ultra-thin glass, so it’s worth checking reviews and real-world tests to see which models can handle daily folding without fuss.

The hinge is another make-or-break part. A solid hinge should fold smoothly, stay firm when open, and keep dust out. Brands that talk about tested lifespans or have strong user feedback tend to be safer bets for long-term reliability.

Don’t overlook the outer display either. A larger cover screen lets you read messages, take selfies or change tracks without opening the phone. If you like quick access on the go, this can make a big difference to how practical the phone feels day-to-day.

Battery life can be tricky with foldables, as there’s less space for big cells. Look for phones that use power efficiently and support fast charging. Also, make sure the software makes use of the folding design — multitasking should feel natural, not like a gimmick.

In short, the best foldable balances excitement with everyday sense. A sturdy hinge, crisp screen and smart software are what separate a flashy novelty from a phone you’ll actually love using.

Frequently asked questions

Why should you switch from a regular smartphone to a flip phone?

Flip phones bring something refreshing to the smartphone world. They’re novel and fun. You get a big screen that folds neatly in half, making it pocket-friendly without losing that premium smartphone feel. The folding design also doubles as a built-in stand for hands-free video calls or taking selfies. Beyond the novelty, there’s practicality: smaller size, added protection when closed, and often some genuinely fun features like cover screen widgets or camera shortcuts.

Will a modern flip phone show wear when folding?

Yes, over time, but not in a deal-breaking way. Today’s foldables are far tougher than the early models. Brands like Samsung, Motorola, and Oppo have refined their hinge systems to survive hundreds of thousands of folds (roughly equivalent to years of daily use). You might notice a faint crease on the screen, but it’s usually only visible at certain angles or lighting. The key is to treat it like any high-end gadget, so avoid grit near the hinge and use a case. It’s durable, but obviously not indestructible.

Are flip phones here to stay?

Almost certainly. What started as a niche trend has evolved into a proper category with annual updates from major brands. Prices are dropping, durability is improving, and the designs are more refined each year. As long as people value compact designs, personality, and a bit of fun in their tech, flip phones aren’t going anywhere.

Upcoming flip phones

Want to wait and see what the next generation of flip phones bring to the table? These clamshells should all arrive to take on the established class leaders… eventually.

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is almost certainly in development right now. Samsung’s next flip phone may or may not get a slim overhaul on the scale seen with the Z Fold 7, but with Motorola providing consistently strong competition it’ll need to address things like camera hardware and battery life if it wants to remain top dog. A Z Flip 8 FE will likely follow after, with cut-down internals and a cheaper price.

Motorola should introduce the Razr 70 and Razr 70 Ultra duo by mid-2026, bringing both a mid-tier and a flagship to show Samsung what’s what. Pantone-approved colours are a given, as is a front-filling screen and a surprisingly high battery capacity – something Motorola has cracked in the past twelve months or so.

Some rumours suggest Apple’s first foldable could be a clamshell, with the iPhone Air acting as a test bed for the slim dimensions needed to compete with the ultra-skinny flip phones offered in the Android stable. Others have hinted it’ll be a book-style foldable more like the Galaxy Z Fold series. September 2026 could be our first look, though tipsters have suggested it’ll be pushed back to 2027 if the firm isn’t able to fully hide the screen crease.

Recent updates

• 12th December 2025: Removed Xiaomi Mix Flip, added Motorola Razr 60, added upcoming flip phones section
• 27th October 2025: Added frequently asked questions section.