After years of advancements in display technology, foldable phones are finally a reality and now we can put our hands on it. Many smartphone makers have come up with their take on foldable phones and frankly, the devices look straight out of the future. So in this article, we have composed a list of 12 best foldable phones that you can either buy right or in near future. We already have a selection of capable foldable smartphones, so you don’t have to wait any longer. If you are one of those tech enthusiasts who want to have the foldable phone experience, here are the best foldable phones to buy.
Foldable Phones You Can Buy
1. Samsung Galaxy Fold
Galaxy Fold added a new chapter in Samsung’s history when it was unveiled in February last year. The highly sought-after device was sent to a select few reviewers before consumers could get their hands on it. However, the initial impressions by reviewers brought light to a number of design flaws in the Galaxy Fold. There were many cases of screen blackout and screen damage by debris around the rotating hinge. The entire hoopla forced Samsung to delay the launch indefinitely. However, Samsung made some revisions and finally released the product to the masses in September 2019. And now the Samsung Galaxy Fold has quickly become the best foldable phone you can buy right now.
Talking about the device and particularly the screen, the Galaxy Fold comes with a 7.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED display and a small 4.6-inch display on the outside cover. However, keep in mind, both the panels are made of flexible plastic so it won’t feel as premium as the glass displays. Besides that, Galaxy Fold is a 5G phone with the latest Snapdragon 855 processor under the hood. It comes in a single variant of 12GB RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.0 storage.
There is also a triple camera setup on the back and a dual-camera on the front. When the device is folded, a separate single selfie camera sits on the top to accompany the secondary display. Apart from that, the Galaxy Fold sports 4380 mAh battery so that is great for all-day use. All in all, the Samsung Galaxy Fold is a new paradigm in the smartphone world equipped with all the latest and greatest tech from both inside and outside. So if you want to buy the best foldable phone, just get the Samsung Galaxy Fold and be done with it.
Buy from Samsung: $1980
2. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
After the launch of Galaxy Fold, Samsung has released its second foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Flip and this time, it seems the foldable product is ready for the masses. Samsung is directly making the device available to consumers and in some regions, it’s already on sale. Departing from its earlier design approach, the Z Flip comes with a clamshell design– eerily similar to the Moto Razr. It has a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display and this time, Samsung has brought a folding glass display unlike the flexible plastic panel on Galaxy Fold which is simply great.
Further, there is a tiny cover display on the exterior for handling notifications, calls and music controls. As for the specs, the Z Flip sports the Snapdragon 855+ and has a dual-camera module on the back. I would say if you want a device like Moto Razr, but with a better design, flagship hardware and polish then go with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. It’s arguably one of the best foldable phones available in 2020.
Buy from Samsung: $1380
3. Motorola Razr
All of us remember the cool-looking Moto Razr which was a sensation back in the day. It was a classic flip phone built by Motorola which had one of the best ergonomics. Fast forward to present, and we have the Moto Razr back into the fold. The 2019 Motorola Razr has a 6.2-inch OLED screen which folds like the Razr phone of yesteryear. On top of that, it sports a 2.7-inch cover display which is better than what the Galaxy Z Flip offers. You can do a bunch of things without unfolding the device from the cover display. In terms of hardware, the Moto Razr is powered by Snapdragon 710 which is, at best, a mid-tier processor. All in all, the 2019 Moto Razr looks a sleek and cool foldable, but when compared to the Galaxy Z Flip, it does not seem a flagship device. Nevertheless, if you are fond of the flip design then you can definitely go with Motorola Razr.
Buy from Motorola: $1499
4. Huawei Mate X
Rivaling for the top smartphone manufacturer spot, Huawei unveiled its own foldable phone, Mate X just after Galaxy Fold’s announcement in February. However, Huawei held back its product launch after reports of display failure on Galaxy Fold came into light. The company clarified that it’s testing the Mate X thoroughly for all conditions. Finally, the Huawei Mate X was released commercially in November 2019, but only in China.
Coming to the phone, the Huawei Mate X sports an 8 inch OLED display with a secondary cover display of 6.6-inch. Unlike the Galaxy Fold, this foldable phone does not have thick bezels and asymmetrical display. In other words, the Huawei Mate X looks a much better foldable phone in comparison to the Galaxy Fold. Besides that, the Mate X comes with the latest Kirin 990 chipset and it’s also 5G ready. Along with that, you get 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, 4500mAh battery and triple cameras on the back which are also used as front cameras. Simply put, Huawei Mate X is another great foldable phone with exceptional internals and a great finish. At this point, it’s about your preference for the brand: whether to go with Samsung or Huawei? Both are known for their craftsmanship and solid hardware.
Do not that Huawei is bringing the Mate Xs soon which will be a smaller and much cheaper foldable device. Further, the hinge and the display is said to be much better than its earlier foldable. So, if you can wait then Huawei Mate Xs may turn out to be one of the best foldable phones.
5. LG G8X Dual Screen
While smartphone makers are putting all their resources to take the big leap into the foldable phone market, LG has taken a different path to adopt the foldable form factor. With the launch of G8X, LG has brought a unique dual-screen case which can be used as a secondary display with the main smartphone. It’s basically a flip case with a 6.4 inch, OLED screen attached to it. You can connect the case with LG G8X using the USB-C port at the bottom and it will become a makeshift foldable phone.
I know, this is not what you signed up for. But, if you want a smartphone with a secondary display, the LG G8X Dual Screen can be a decent alternative. In addition, LG G8X is a great phone. It comes with top of the line specs that you expect from a flagship device. You get Snapdragon 855, dual rear cameras, 4000mAh battery and a lot more. To sum up, if you suspect the longevity of foldable phones, the LG G8X Dual Screen can be a good pick for you.
Buy from Amazon: $699
6. Royole Flexpai
Royole is an unknown name in the smartphone world, but it has been developing flexible displays and sensors for the last seven years. And Royole Flexpai is a result of that endeavor. Frankly speaking, the Royole Flexpai looks like a great foldable phone with a huge 7.8 inch AMOLED flexible screen. Apart from that, it is powered by top of the line Snapdragon 855 processor, coupled with 6GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. Further, you get a dual-camera setup on the back which also acts as a selfie camera.
In terms of specs, it’s definitely a top-tier foldable phone. However, the software is a letdown. The Royole Flexpai runs Water OS which is not fully optimized for the foldable experience. Many apps do not transition to foldable and full-screen mode and there are the usual hangups. But the good part is that Royole Flexpai is among the few foldable phones that you can buy right now. However, do note that this is a developer model which means it’s not ready for becoming your daily driver. That said, if you want to experience the distant future of mobile computing right now, the Royole Flexpai is a great choice.
Buy from Royole: $1588
-
Upcoming Foldable Phones in 2020
1. Samsung Galaxy Fold 2
The Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 is the successor of the original Galaxy Fold and it’s likely going to land sometime in the middle of 2020. It’s one of the most anticipated foldable phones as Samsung has significantly improved the hinge, brought a glass display and have polished the foldable lineup with great finesse. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is a testimony to that fact and hopefully, the Fold 2 will make foldables a mainstream product category. As for the device, it’s speculated that Fold 2 will come with a 7.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with an Infinity-V punch hole. And on the outer side, it will sport a smaller 4.6-inch AMOLED cover display. There are also rumors that Fold 2 will go either with Snapdragon 855+ or 865, but we are sure at this point that Exynos is out of the picture.
In the camera department, Max Weinbach on Twitter claims that the Galaxy Fold 2 will have a similar camera setup as S20+ with a combination of 12MP standard lens, 64MP telephoto, and 12MP ultra-wide lens. Many are also reporting that the Galaxy Fold 2 will come with the S Pen from the Note series. Having said all of that, more than the specs, I am excited about Fold 2 because it will bring huge improvements over the last-gen foldable device in terms of design and durability. So, if you want the best foldable phone, I would suggest you to hold your horses and get the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 instead, after a few months.
Expected Release Date: Mid 2020
2. Microsoft Surface Duo
Microsoft Surface Duo is another foldable phone that I am personally very excited for. After a long time, Microsoft has entered the smartphone market and surprisingly, with a dual-display device. While the Surface Duo is not a proper foldable like Galaxy Fold and comes with a physical hinge to connect two displays, the device is nonetheless very appealing. Microsoft seems to be developing an optimized operating system for Surface Duo using Android’s base. So far, whatever we have seen, the Surface Duo looks like a solid device with a sleek user interface, a multitude of gestures, dual-screen continuity and more. As for the specs, there is not much known to the public, but going by the rumor mill, you will have dual 5.6-inch displays with Snapdragon 855 powering the device. So if you are looking for the best foldable device, I have no hesitation in recommending the Surface Duo.
Expected Release Date: December 2020
3. TCL Foldable Phone
Just a few days ago, a leak surfaced showing a prototype TCL device that was supposed to be unveiled at the MWC, but the event was canceled altogether over coronavirus fears. Now, the render suggests that TCL has developed a device that turns a standard-sized smartphone into a tablet without folding the display. They are using something called an extendable display in which, a second display slides out from the primary display. While the concept seems weird and quite complex, we can’t rule out a device such as this which could be in the development phase. So far, we do not have any further details about the TCL foldable, but it definitely seems interesting. As and when, we will get more details about its specs and display technology, we will update the article so stay tuned with us.
Expected Release Date: Unknown
4. Xiaomi Mi Fold / Mi Flex
The Mi Fold or Mi Flex is an exciting new foldable phone by Xiaomi. While the device is still in development, we have seen the early prototype in action and it does look great. It comes with a dual fold screen which once folded can also be used as a compact smartphone. Apart from that, what I love about this device is that the software is quite optimized for the foldable experience. The app transition from tablet mode to smartphone mode is handled really well. Since the device has not been officially announced by Xiaomi, the details are scarce and at this point, you can only speculate. Nevertheless, you can expect a top-tier foldable phone and since it’s Xiaomi, also an affordable price tag.
Expected Release Date: Late 2020
5. Oppo Foldable Phone
Following Xiaomi’s foldable phone leak, Oppo didn’t wait any longer and revealed its upcoming foldable phone on Weibo. Oppo’s Vice President Brian Shen shared the prototype and stated that it’s still in development. From the looks, the Oppo foldable phone is an absolute stunner. Unlike other foldable phones, it has minimum bezels and a pop-up camera. Also, the display is AMOLED so there is no cheap flexible plastic and that’s awesome. As the device is still in the development phase, we don’t have much information about the internal hardware. However, going by the rumor mill, the phone is expected to launch late next year.
Expected Release Date: Late 2020
6. Apple Foldable Phone
As always, Apple is pretty secretive about its projects and so far they have not announced anything on foldable phones. But a series of patents filed by Apple shows a completely different picture. Apple is developing a highly advanced foldable phone which includes many folds and hinges. In fact, the Cupertino based company is creating lots of new materials like advanced lubrication system to hold the display together. Apple has also developed a new fabric for housing the iPhone in a foldable body. It’s clear that Apple is definitely building a foldable phone, but the question remains, when will Apple’s foldable phone be available to the masses? You can only anticipate, but late 2021 will be a safe bet.
Expected Release Date: 2021
Pick Your Favorite Foldable Phone
So that was our list of best foldable phones that you can buy right now. As we went through the article, we can see some of the foldable phones have been announced and those devices will be available commercially in the next few months. Apart from that, some foldable phones are in the development phase and you can expect the official launch early next year. Nevertheless, one thing is clear that foldable phones will usher a new way of interaction with smartphones and we are really excited to experience it. But, what do you think? Do let us know your opinion in the comment section below.
Sagnik Das Gupta
