The Best Foldable Phone You Can Buy: Your Complete Guide for 2025

Foldable phones represent the future of smartphones, yet they come with a unique set of challenges and rewards. Generally, they are heavier and more expensive, with cameras that may not always match the level of traditional flagship phones. While they have become significantly more durable since their debut, foldable screens remain susceptible to damage that conventional phones might shrug off, as dust entering the hinge poses a real threat. But if you are an adventurous tech enthusiast, owning a foldable phone is a rewarding and exciting investment.

In today's market, there are two main types of foldable phones: the book-style foldable, and the clamshell-style that folds vertically like old flip phones. The concept can be simplified as follows: a book-style foldable combines a phone and a tablet, while a clamshell design integrates a phone and a smartwatch into one device.

Book-style phones offer an external screen for all your daily needs, and when unfolded, they reveal a tablet-sized inner screen that gives you more workspace. Clamshell phones, on the other hand, come with a smaller cover screen, ideal for quick glances at notifications and information, and when you need full phone functionality, you simply open them up.

Criteria for Choosing and Evaluating the Best Foldable Phone

A phone cannot be properly evaluated without actual use; therefore, I insert my SIM card into each phone and use it extensively for at least a full week. I set it up from scratch, install my essential apps, test battery performance under daily use pressure, use GPS while cycling with the radio on, and take quick portrait photos of my child—in short, I test every aspect of the device. Swapping phones weekly might seem like a dream to some and a nightmare to others, but for me, it has become a seamless routine.

The phones mentioned in this guide feature powerful processors and sufficient RAM to ensure excellent performance for years to come. Thus, it's reasonable to expect multiple operating system updates. Providing four years of OS updates and five years of security updates is a good standard for this category, and many devices here meet or exceed this promise.

Most smartphone cameras perform well in bright light, from flagship to budget phones. But the devices we review here offer added value, such as an optical telephoto lens, a professional portrait mode, or impressive low-light photography capabilities—and many combine all three of these features. Optical image stabilization (OIS) for the main camera has also become essential in this category to assist with night photography.

IPX8 rating has become the standard for water resistance in foldable phones, meaning they can withstand complete immersion in fresh water. However, the "X" indicates no certified protection against dust, which is the biggest challenge no manufacturer has fully solved yet due to the moving parts in the hinge. As for devices with an IP48 rating, they are not completely dust-proof; rather, they are only protected against solid particles larger than 1 mm, which is larger than fine dust particles.

In addition to evaluating the best devices, I look for phones that offer the best balance of essential features and price. This might lead me to recommend a less expensive model if it offers exceptional value, or last year's model if it is still available and the new version hasn't brought significant upgrades.

So, while all these phones fall under the "foldable" category, they cater to the needs of two different types of users: someone who wants a versatile device (phone and tablet), and another who prefers a compact device that minimizes screen immersion. Whichever category you fall into, it is wise to purchase an extended warranty from the manufacturer; repair costs are exorbitant, and you won't be able to fix them at any regular repair shop. If you don't opt for a warranty, make sure you can afford the cost of replacing your phone in case of an unexpected accident. Death can come quickly to a foldable screen.

Best Book-Style Foldable Phone

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

Pros: Surprisingly thin and light for a foldable phone. All-day battery life with moderate use. Finally, a natural aspect ratio for the outer screen.

Cons: Priced at $2,000. Durability remains a concern. Camera bump causes it to wobble on flat surfaces.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the long-awaited evolution from Samsung. Unlike the tall and narrow design of previous iterations, the Z Fold 7 features a more common 21:9 aspect ratio, making it much easier to use as a traditional phone. At just 8.9mm thick, it's almost as slim as regular phones and doesn't feel bulky in the pocket. When unfolded, you get a spacious inner screen perfect for multitasking, gaming, or simply enjoying a larger display area. Its battery also lasts a full day with moderate use, which is a good achievement for a foldable phone.

However, the Z Fold 7 is not without its drawbacks. Most notably, its $1,999 price tag serves as a reminder that it's a luxury device and not a practical option for everyone. The external display resolution is lower than that of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the camera bump is relatively large, causing it to wobble when placed on a table. Nevertheless, the camera system is top-notch, headlined by a 200MP lens that delivers excellent performance in low-light conditions.

It was difficult to unseat the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold as the best foldable phone, but the Z Fold 7 succeeded. The device is stunning, and its new dimensions make it more enjoyable to use. The phone still relies on ARM architecture in its super-powerful processor. However, issues like long-term durability remain a concern, and its high price keeps it out of reach for most users.

Best Clamshell Foldable Phone

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

Pros: Samsung finally adopted a large cover screen. All-day battery life. Reliable camera.

Cons: More susceptible to dust than a regular phone. Full app functionality on the cover screen is still limited.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 might not be as novel as the Razr Ultra, but it offers some new and useful features. Samsung ditched the small cover screen in favor of a stunning 4.1-inch panel that extends edge-to-edge and wraps around the cameras. This extra space gives you more freedom to quickly reply to messages or complete tasks without needing to open the phone.

In addition to the larger cover screen, the Flip 7 introduces other thoughtful updates. It's thinner than its predecessor and packs a larger 4300 mAh battery, a significant improvement over the 4000 mAh battery in the previous generation. The camera system remains unchanged from last year's model, which isn't a bad thing, as the 50MP main camera still captures great photos, benefiting from the flexible shooting options offered by the foldable design, such as taking high-quality selfies with the rear camera.

Despite these positive changes, the Flip 7 carries the same IP48 rating as the previous model, meaning its long-term durability against fine dust particles remains a concern. However, Samsung offers an excellent warranty and repair program, as well as seven years of OS and security updates. The Flip 7 isn't perfect, but it's the strongest and most mature version yet—just don't drop it on the beach.

The Most Fun Foldable Phone

Motorola Razr Ultra (2025)

Pros: One of the most beautiful phones you can buy. Great battery life. Surprisingly useful external screen.

Cons: AI button is wasted. Long-term durability is still uncertain. Camera image processing is sometimes inconsistent.

The Razr Ultra is the newest and most powerful member of Motorola's foldable family. Compared to the Razr Plus, it features a high-resolution inner screen, Qualcomm's most powerful processor, double the storage, and an upgraded selfie camera. The device is also one of the most beautifully designed phones—the bronze-gold body and wooden back panel give it unique elegance. In a market where all phones tend to look similar, the Razr Ultra boldly stands out.

Beyond its appearance, it's also incredibly fun to use. The 4-inch external screen covers almost the entire front, making it ideal for checking notifications, replying to messages, and performing quick actions like ordering an Uber. The titanium hinge is a significant upgrade from the stainless steel in the Razr Plus. However, it still suffers from some issues we've encountered in previous Motorola phones, such as inconsistent camera processing. Motorola also promises only three OS updates and four years of security updates, which is considered short for its $1,300 price tag.

Best Battery Life in a Foldable Phone

Oppo Find N5

Pros: Extremely thin. Exceptional battery life. Screen crease is almost invisible.

Cons: Foldable phones are still fragile. Not officially available in the US or Europe.

Let's start with the bad news: if you live in the US or Europe, you won't be able to buy the Oppo Find N5. But if you're in China, Singapore, or one of the other Asian countries covered by the "global" release, you're in luck. You'll get one of the thinnest foldable phones in the world.

The Find N5 isn't just thin. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is highly efficient, it's fully water-resistant, and it offers excellent battery life. It uses carbon-silicon battery technology to pack a massive (by foldable phone standards) 5600 mAh battery, which easily lasts a full day of heavy use. Even more impressively, like the Z Fold 7, it's barely thicker than a regular phone. This is very important when you're using the cover screen for extended periods or putting it in your pocket. When a foldable phone is almost the same size and weight as a regular phone, using the inner screen feels like a fantastic added bonus, not a compromise.

Other Notable Foldable Phones

• OnePlus Open: Offers a great balance in design and a smart user interface for multitasking. However, it lacks wireless charging and full water resistance (splash-resistant only), and its software support policy isn't as robust as Google or Samsung.
• Huawei Mate XT: Deserves an honorable mention for the wow factor alone. This "tri-fold" phone is in a league of its own, but it's only available in China and a limited number of other countries at a very steep price.
• Motorola Razr Plus 2025: Replaces last year's model with significant improvements, most notably a titanium hinge for increased durability, and an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance. It looks like a strong alternative to the Ultra.
• Motorola Razr 2025: Represents an affordable entry point into the world of foldable phones, starting at $699. It offers performance, battery life, and durability improvements, with a smaller cover screen, but it's still an attractive option for beginners.
• Pixel 9 Pro Fold: A successful effort from Google, featuring an ideal design that makes it enjoyable to use. Its external screen resembles a regular phone, and the internal screen is very bright. However, it suffers from a lower-quality camera system compared to its siblings, and there's no official dust resistance.

What's Next in the World of Foldable Phones?

Google has an event scheduled for August 20, where we expect more details about the upcoming Google Pixel 10 series to be revealed. The company has already offered a glimpse of the standard Pixel 10, but we are still awaiting confirmed information about a new foldable phone. Rumors suggest that Google might launch the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which could come with an IP68 rating, addressing one of the biggest durability concerns in the foldable phone market.

Update, August 12: Prices and availability have been adjusted, and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 has been added as the best clamshell foldable phone. Brandon Russell also contributed to this post.