Best Foldable Phones in 2023: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, Z Flip, Moto Razr, Pixel Fold

Google got a lot of things right with its first attempt at building a folding phone. The large outer screen is great for using when closed and its slim design means it doesn't bulk out your pockets too much. It closes totally flat, too, which makes it very usable as a regular phone when snapped shut, while still letting you take advantage of the 7.6-inch internal screen when you need it. 

Its overall performance is solid and the cameras are good too, making it a great all-rounder if you're wanting to dive into the exciting world of foldables. Read our Google Pixel Fold review.

Pros

• Large cover screen is great
• Thin design for a foldable
• There's no gap when the device is shut

Cons

• Expensive
• Thick bezels on the inner screen
• Some apps are not optimized for the internal display
• Drag and drop functionality can be finicky

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the biggest leap forward that Samsug's flip phone has seen in years. Samsung has significantly expanded the size of the cover screen located on the outside of the device, meaning you can look up directions, take photos and send messages without opening the phone. It's this combined with the Z Flip's solid battery life and sturdy design that makes it a top pick.

The Z Flip 5 may be our favorite flip phone, but there are still some drawbacks to be aware of. At $1,000, it's still expensive for a phone without a telephoto camera. And not all apps work natively on the front screen as they do on the Motorola Razr Plus. 

Pros:

• Big cover screen is fun to use
• New hinge eliminates the gap when closed
• Solid battery life
• More storage in base model

Cons:

• Expensive
• Not all apps work on the cover screen natively
• Apps don't transition from main screen to cover screen
• Minimal camera updates

The Motorola Razr Plus raised the bar for what a flip phone should be in 2023. Its 3.6-inch cover screen allows you to use almost any app without opening the phone, plus battery life is long enough to get you through a busy day. It's also thinner than the Galaxy Z Flip 5, which could make it the ideal choice for those who prioritize portability in a phone.

While I recommend the Galaxy Z Flip 5 as the best flip phone overall, the Razr Plus is worth considering if you prefer a thinner design and want to use more apps on the phone's front screen without much extra fuss. The Razr Plus felt more fragile than the Z Flip 5 during my testing, but it's certainly thinner, making it a great choice for those who care about compactness above all else. Read our Motorola Razr Plus review.

Pros:

• Large, useful cover screen
• Crease is barely visible
• Thin design
• Good battery life
• Fun photography features like photo previews

Cons:

• Not as many Android updates as Samsung
• Flex View feels limited
• Front screen gathers fingerprint smudges easily
• $1,000 is still expensive

The Motorola Razr 2023 is the most affordable widely released foldable phone, with a $700 price tag, notably below the $1,000 prices of clamshell foldables like the Razr Plus and Samsung Galaxy Flip 5. Motorola made some obvious compromises for affordability, like losing its competitors' full-front screen for a small 1.5-inch thumbnail-size external display. 

Less obvious are the more painful shortfalls: three years of Android OS updates and 128GB of nonexpandable storage (you'll have to rely on cloud storage if you go over). If you can stomach those compromises, the Razr 2023 is a great phone, with a svelte design, a large 6.9-inch internal display and a sharp 64-megapixel main camera (the less said about its other ultrawide lens, the better). It's a phone that suits a specific niche: folks who want to try out foldables for a few years but don't want to shell out a lot of money if they're still iffy on whether this "flexible display" thing will take off. Read our Motorola Razr 2023 review. 

Pros:

• Solid and svelte build quality
• Great main camera
• Fun foldable functionality
• Good price

Cons:

• 128GB onboard storage is limited
• Outer screen is very small
• 3 years of OS updates is less than competitors offer

Oppo's Find N3 Flip phone is unique for two reasons: It has a telephoto camera and a vertical cover screen, unlike the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Motorola Razr Plus. That could make the Find N3 Flip an ideal choice for people who want closer zoom shots, though this phone also shines for its fast performance, stylish design and speedy charging. The crease on the interior screen is also impressively subtle. That said, there are some downsides to be aware of. The Find N3 Flip lacks wireless charging, and you'll be able to buy it only in certain markets, and that doesn't include the US. Read our Oppo Find N3 Flip review.

Pros:

• Cover screen supports Google Calendar, Gmail and other third-party apps
• Addition of a telephoto lens
• Improved durability IPX4 rating

Cons:

• Obvious branding
• Raised edges of cover screen
• No wireless charging

The Open is the first foldable from phone-maker OnePlus. It's not a bad first effort, with great-looking hardware that feels premium to hold and helps the Open stand out from its competitors. In our review, we liked the good battery life and the fast wired charging. Its generous 6.3-inch outer display unfolds to reveal a 7.82-inch inner display that's great for watching videos on the go. 

But it feels rough around the edges compared to Samsung's Z Fold 5, with the camera performance and some software optimizations leaving us feeling a touch underwhelmed. At $1,700, it's tough to recommend the Open over Samsung's foldable, but if you want to feel like you've got a device that few others out there have, it's certainly not a bad phone to consider. Read our OnePlus Open review.

Pros:

• Good battery life
• Excellent hardware
• Fast wired charging

Cons:

• Cameras are just OK
• Software not optimized for larger display
• No wireless charging