The Best Folding Phones for 2026: Google, Motorola, Samsung, and More

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8's cover screen (Credit: Eric Zeman)

Best Overall

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Media-friendly aspect ratio is great for video
• Nearly 17 hours of battery life
• Strong, featherweight build
• Significantly reduced crease
• Useful AI software
• Long-term support

• No telephoto camera
• Still vulnerable to grit
• Only average cameras

Why We Picked It

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 features two brilliant displays: a 7.6-inch inner screen and a 5.5-inch external one. It's the thinnest, lightest Fold yet. In fact, it is thinner and lighter than the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Its combination of a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 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 pair of 50MP cameras, and new Galaxy AI features.

Who It's For

Tablet lovers: If you want a larger screen while working with the Z Fold 8, 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 8 so thin that it resembles a regular (non-folding) smartphone while closed. Opening up the Z Fold 8 reveals its remarkable thinness. The refined Flex Titanium hinge feels sturdy, while its excellent build quality showcases Samsung's manufacturing capabilities.

Specs & Configurations

Operating System Android 17

CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Dimensions 4.88 by 3.22 by 0.38 inches folded, 4.88 by 6.35 by 0.18 inches unfolded

Screen Size 7.6 inches

Screen Resolution 1,848 by 2,448 pixels

Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) 50MP, 50MP; 10MP, 10MP

Battery Life (As Tested) 16 hours, 30 minutes

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$1,899 at T-Mobile $1,899 at Samsung

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review

(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)

Most Affordable

Motorola Razr (2026)

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Over 19 hours of battery life
• Compact and pocket-friendly
• Low price for a foldable
• Swift wireless speeds
• Respectable cameras

• Displays could be brighter
• Only average performance

Why We Picked It

The Moto Razr for 2026 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 7450x chip to keep the cost down, it still performs adequately. The 4,800mAh battery delivers over 19 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Who It's For

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 about half the price.

Specs & Configurations

Operating System Android 16

CPU MediaTek Dimensity 7450X

Dimensions 6.74 by 2.91 by 0.28 inches open and 3.47 by 2.91 by 0.63 inches closed

Screen Size 6.9 inches

Screen Resolution 2,640 by 1,080 pixels

Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) 50MP, 50MP; 32MP

Battery Life (As Tested) 19 hours, 10 minutes

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$799 at T-Mobile $799 at Amazon

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Motorola Razr (2026) Review

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

Best Flip Phone

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Top-tier design and build quality
• Outer screen gains more features
• Quick performance
• Good-enough cameras and battery life
• Waterproof

• Pricier than last year’s Flip
• Limited memory and storage options
• No zoom camera

Why We Picked It

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 folds without a gap and lets you access quick bits of information, widgets, and key notifications right from its 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 Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 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 a good camera.

Who It's For

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 8 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.

Specs & Configurations

Operating System Android 17

CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Dimensions 6.57 by 2.97 by 0.24 inches open, 3.37 by 2.97 by 0.52 inches closed

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) 18 hours, 15 minutes

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$1,049 at Amazon

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 Review

(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)

Best for Battery Life

Motorola Razr Ultra (2026)

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Bright, vibrant displays
• 21-hour battery life
• Improved cover screen durability
• Addictively tactile finish
• Rapid wired charging

• $200 more expensive than the prior version
• No processor upgrade
• Limited software support

Why We Picked It

The Motorola Razr Ultra for 2026 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 has 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 (21 hours!) than any other folding phone on the market.

Who It's For

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, including Pantone Orient Blue wrapped in Alcantara and Pantone Cocoa with a natural wood veneer. 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. 

Specs & Configurations

Operating System Android 16

CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite

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) 21 hours, 16 minutes

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$1,399 at Amazon $1,499 at Best Buy $1,499 at Motorola US

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Motorola Razr Ultra (2026) Review

(Credit: Sarah Lord)

Best Basic Flip Phone

TCL Flip 4 5G

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Affordable
• 5G and Wi-Fi
• Long battery life
• Quick performance

• Limited third-party apps
• Poor cameras
• Embedded battery

Why We Picked It

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.

Who It's For

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.

Specs & Configurations

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

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$109 at T-Mobile

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TCL Flip 4 5G Review

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

Best Camera

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold

3.5 Good

Pros & Cons

• Provides the full Google AI experience
• Top cameras for a foldable
• Excellent screens
• Solid wireless performance

• Expensive
• Slower processor than competing foldables

Why We Picked It

Google's fourth-generation foldable is a hardened version of last year's model. Thanks to Google's in-house Tensor G6 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 8, but it has much better cameras and Google's Gemini Live for your personal assistant.

Who It's For

Those who put cameras first: If you want the best cameras available on a modern foldable, the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the one to get. It packs all the power of the standard Pixel 11 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 11 Pro Fold has Google's version of Android 17 and the best available AI you can get at the moment.

Specs & Configurations

Operating System Android 17

CPU Google Tensor G6

Dimensions 6.11 by 3.0 by 0.39 inches folded, 6.11 by 5.92 by 0.2 inches unfolded

Screen Size 8 inches

Screen Resolution 2,076 by 2,152 pixels

Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) 48MP, 10.5MP, 10.8MP; 10MP, 10MP

Battery Life (As Tested) 14 hours 21 minutes

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$1,899 at Amazon $1,899 at Best Buy

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Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold Review

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 8 and Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold feature an outer screen that's about the size of a regular slab phone, which opens to reveal a larger, tablet-sized screen. Meanwhile, clamshell-style devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Motorola Razr Ultra (2026) feature a small outer screen and look like a regular slab phone when you flip them open.

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 8 and Z Flip 8 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 11 Pro Fold, Google didn't disclose how many folds the device could withstand.

What about that bending screen? Gorilla Glass protects the external screens of some foldables from scratches and drop damage. The flexible nature of the inner screens prevents manufacturers from coating them with the same hardened materials used in traditional phones, but they generally feature a secondary layer of protective folding glass.

The Pixel 11 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 8 and Fold 8 have an IP48 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, measuring 0.7 inches thick when closed. But the most recent Galaxy Z Fold 8 is just 0.34 inches thick when closed. And at 7.09 ounces, the Fold 8 weighs less than the biggest iPhone (8.58 ounces).

Clamshell-style foldables are still pretty thick when closed. The Z Flip 8, for instance, comes in at 0.52 inches. But it's not very wide (2.97 inches), tall (3.37 inches), or heavy (6.35 ounces). Of course, foldables are half as thick when opened, so the Z Fold 8 measures 0.16 inches, and the Z Flip 8 measures 0.24 inches.

The most important thing to remember is that the shape and size change when you unfold them. Book-style foldables expand into wide, tablet-sized devices, while flip-style foldables are about 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 where you can see yourself, the best camera option depends on what you're doing and the kind of photo you want.

Apple has only just announced the folding iPhone Duo, but it is not yet for sale, 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 8's external screen to a select few apps.

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 Pr1 Fold, for example, lets you run two apps simultaneously on the inner screen, along with a floating video window. Samsung's One UI 9 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 8 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.

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This means you can find ways to get the experience you want from 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, despite their efforts to minimize it. 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 inconsistency on small screens is easy to ignore. Additionally, improvements to flexible displays and hinges have made the crease less visible and more durable on the most recent models.

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.

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.