Foldable phones are becoming more prevalent as a serious consideration for the average consumer in 2023, but up until now, it has been mostly Samsung leading the charge. There have been a ton of different foldables debuting in Asian and European markets, but the level of competing in the North American market hasn't been up to par. That is, until now. After a slew of early summer releases, Samsung now has serious threats to its big and small foldables coming from Google and Motorola, respectively. The question is, are those challenges enough to dethrone Samsung as the leader in foldable smartphones in North America?
This is all complicated by the fact that Samsung is expected to debut a new Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 later this summer. However, these complications are good for buyers looking to ditch their great traditional phones for fun foldable ones. To help you navigate this relatively new product category, we've rounded up the best options in North America and Europe below.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
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Our favorite foldable phones in 2023
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
The most polished and capable foldable
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 brings back all the great things about the Fold 3, plus a much better camera system, a slightly wider outside screen, and smarter software.
- It's both a phone and a small tablet
- Large screen excellent for reading and media
- Polished software for multitasking
- The phone doesn't fold flat, leaving an awkward angle
- The crease is still here when everyone else has fixed it
- Pricey
Let it be known that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 isn't necessarily the most impressive piece of hardware in the foldable space right now. Xiaomi's Mix Fold 2 is significantly thinner, and Vivo's X Fold has a better, larger camera sensor. But both of those phones only sell in China, and their software is not as well optimized as Samsung's. And so, for most readers, the best overall foldable is the Galaxy Z Fold 4. It's not just because you can buy this much easier than you could a Xiaomi foldable, but also because the Z Fold 4 is just more polished.
The Fold 4 took everything that was great about the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and 3 and added further polish and refinement. The first thing Samsung did was shave a few millimeters off the somewhat bulky hinge so it no longer protrudes from the side as much when folded. Then Samsung gave those few millimeters to the display so that the Fold 4 can offer a larger screen without increasing physical dimensions. This size increase is mostly horizontal, giving the Fold 4's outside "Cover Display" a bit more room to breathe compared to the cramped screens of years past. It sounds minor — but the difference is noticeable, making typing on the Fold 4's outside screen better than before.
Samsung also gave the Fold 4 some significant camera upgrades. Last year’s Fold 3 used a dated camera system that was nowhere near flagship territory. This year, the Fold 4 upgrades to the same system used in the non-Ultra Galaxy S22, with a 50MP main camera with a large (for a foldable) 1/1.56-inch image sensor and a 3X telephoto zoom lens that’s much better than the mediocre zoom lens in previous Folds. While this camera system still isn't the absolute best of the best — it is close enough that they can be called flagship sensors.
The Fold 4 also brings back all the great features established in previous Folds, including a sturdy hinge that can stay in place mid-fold (Samsung calls this “Flex Mode") and IPX8 water resistance plus S-Pen support. No other foldable on the market offers all three of these things right now. Throw in the aforementioned intuitive software that's excellent for multitasking, and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is still the best overall and most polished foldable phone around.
Google Pixel Fold
Google's foldable is a good start, with a few compromises
The Google Pixel Fold is a feature-rich device with a compact form factor, flagship hardware, impressive cameras, and a phenomenal software experience.
- Fantastic size in any shape
- Best photography experience in a foldable
- Useful multitasking features
- Android still needs some improvements for larger screens
- Many third-party apps aren't optimized
- Battery life is just OK
Google's first try at a foldable phone, after years of one being in rumored development, got a lot of things right. The Google Pixel Fold features a form factor that is a lot like European and Asian foldables, and that's a good thing. It has a wider and shorter outer display that feels a lot like a traditional smartphone and measures up at 5.8 inches. Unlike the tall and narrow display found on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, the cover screen on the Google Pixel Fold is actually worth using.
When it's time to unfold the Pixel Fold, you'll notice that the hinge is extremely stiff and hard to open with one hand. This might be a good thing if you like propping up your foldable at all kinds of different angles, as the Pixel Fold can be set to any angle between 0 and 180 degrees. However, as numerous people that have tried the Pixel Fold have mentioned, it's not easy to reach that complete 180 degrees. Getting there requires a lot of force, and that might be more force than you're comfortable with after paying $1,800 for the smartphone.
The Google Pixel Fold is powered by a Tensor G2 chip that is getting quite old and has a few considerable flaws. Most noticeable is probably the chip's thermal management, which isn't great and makes Pixel phones get hot to the touch at times. However, it's still a solid system-on-a-chip in daily use and offers a slew of machine learning and artificial intelligence features. Plus, it adds 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and storage configurations of either 256 or 512GB.
If you like to take great photos, you'll be happy to know that the Google Pixel Fold has the best cameras on any smartphone. Considering how great Google has been at making smartphone cameras on the Pixel lineup in prior years, that shouldn't be a surprise. This foldable features a 48MP f/1.7 PD main camera with OIS and CLAF, a 10.8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with a 121.1-degree field of view with lens correction, and a 10.8MP f/3.05 telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom and 20x Super Res Zoom support. On the inside, there's a 9.5MP selfie camera on the inner screen that has a hole-punch cutout, so it'll probably beat the under-display camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
The Google Pixel Fold is a first-generation product, and it will likely have flaws as a result. But it does challenge Samsung on the first try, which is extremely impressive. If you like Google's software and don't like the tall and narrow form factor of the Galaxy Z Fold 4, it might be worth giving the Pixel Fold a try.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
A good alternative if you find Fold 4 too pricey
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC and offers a stunning foldable display.
- Still very capable in 2023
- Much cheaper than Fold 4
- Overall display resolution and refresh rate as good Fold 4's
- Cameras are noticeably weaker than Fold 4's
- The hinge is not as sturdy as Fold 4's
If you are really interested in the Galaxy Z Fold 4 but find its $1799 starting price too much to bear, you can consider the older Fold 3, which can be had now for around $800-$900 on Amazon or $1080 at Best Buy if you want a physical retailer. There is also no shortage of second-hand options, which would be priced even lower.
The Fold 3, even in 2023, is still an excellent foldable phone, and unless you're a picky photographer, doesn't fall that short of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The displays are almost the same specs-wise (the Fold 4's screen is just a bit wider), and the hinge mechanism is also similar. The speakers, S Pen support, and software are virtually identical. The only tangible difference is in the chipset — the Fold 3 runs on the almost two-year-old Snapdragon 888 — and the aforementioned cameras. I don't think the older Qualcomm chip matters much, as it's still plenty powerful even today. But the trio of 12MP cameras in the Fold are a bit long in the tooth and doesn't grab as crisp night shots as the Fold 4.
For some people, a weaker camera is worth compromising to save up to $1,000 and still get an excellent, highly polished foldable experience. The Fold 3 is worth a look if the price is the only thing keeping you from getting a Fold 4.
Motorola Razr+ (2023)
The best clamshell foldable right now
Motorola Razr+ (2023) is a clamshell foldable phone with a large 1:1 3.6-inch outside screen that allows the user to get a lot done without unfolding the phone.
- Large outside screen lets you do a lot without unfolding
- Bright, vivid main display with 165Hz refresh rate
- Sleek and compact
- Cameras resort to night mode too often
- Battery life just good, not great
After choosing not to sell last year's Motorola Razr (2022) in the U.S., Motorola made a triumphant return to North America with the Motorola Razr+. It's a clamshell foldable that folds horizontally in half to get extremely compact and adds a cover display that lets you complete tasks without unfolding the phone. However, the Razr+ is the first iteration of this form factor that features a cover screen you'll actually want to use. It has a 3.6-inch, 144Hz OLED display on the outside that is virtually unrestricted and finally makes the most of that exterior space.
On the inside, you get a massive 6.9-inch OLED panel that features a 165Hz refresh rate. But, since this is a clamshell foldable, it's important to remember that screens are measured diagonally, and the Razr+ will have a taller aspect ratio than most phones. Otherwise, the display is great to look at and use. Paired with the cover display that is the best of any clamshell foldable, the screens on the Motorola Razr+ are easily the most appealing part of this foldable phone. The crease is visible while using the phone, but it's relatively discreet, and you'll stop noticing it soon.
The Razr+ isn't as impressive when it comes to performance, at least on paper. It packs a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which was a year old at the time the Motorola Razr+ was released in June 2023. This chip is more than powerful enough for daily use but more concerning is that the phone uses the UFS 3.1 instead of the latest 4.0 standard for storage. The newer version is twice as fast and more efficient, so losing out on this is a significant downside. You do get other benefits, though, like fast charging and a 3,800 mAh battery.
The cameras on the Motorola Razr+ are passable but otherwise unimpressive. A key caveat of foldable phones is that the cover screen does let you take selfies with the main camera array, which is great for people who take a lot of selfies. Plus, the adjustable hinge means the Razr+ essentially functions as a tripod that's always with you. As far as the hardware goes, you get a 12MP main camera that resorts to night mode too frequently but shoots quality photos. The 13MP ultrawide isn't anything special. However, the 32MP selfie camera on the inner screen is great and can occasionally beat the outer cameras.
If you can live with Motorola's software and design language — which largely resembles Google's stock Android — the Razr+ is the best clamshell foldable you can buy right now. At around $1,000, it's competitively priced as well. Motorola was the first to complete the vision of a small foldable, and they've earned the praise that the Motorola Razr+ is receiving.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
A compact foldable that can fit into any pocket
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a clamshell foldable that combines the compact form factor of yesteryear's phones with a modern Android experience. It's also equipped with the most powerful Qualcomm chipset and cutting-edge foldable OLED technology.
- Excellent compact design
- Fun to use
- Battery life is not great
- No zoom lens
While large foldables like the phones above are essentially tablets that can fold into a smaller smartphone-sized form factor, there are these clamshell ones that are smartphones that fold up into a compact little square no bigger than a stack of coasters or a wallet. If you find your pockets constantly cramped due to slab smartphones being too big, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 will be music to your ears.
Measuring just 84.9 x 71.9 x 17mm when folded, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 should fit into not just pants pockets (both men's and women's) but even the smaller breast pockets in jackets or button-down shirts. It's also petite enough to fit into most women's purses. Unfold the device, and you have a vivid 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate; close it up, and the 1.9-inch screen allows you to keep up to date with notifications. Performance is no issue thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 and 8GB of RAM. The new Qualcomm chip is very battery efficient, but battery life is still below par due to the small 3,700 mAh cell.
Samsung also improved the software for the outer “Cover Display,” allowing users to open any app on the smaller 1.9-inch display. Sure, some apps will look silly in the cramped space, but other apps will benefit from it. You can, for example, scroll through your Spotify playlist directly from the outside screen. Overall, the Flip 4 is an iterative refinement to already an excellent small foldable.
Best Foldable Phones: The final say
Some of the best foldable phones today are limited to Asian markets, and their lack of availability in more places was enough to warrant their exclusion from this list. However, more competition is coming to North American markets and Europe, and that's great news for buyers interested in foldable phones. The Google Pixel Fold and the Motorola Razr+ now challenge Samsung in both of its foldable smartphone categories, and Motorola even beats Samsung, at least for now. While the Google Pixel Fold isn't quite there yet, there is definitely potential. Now is a good time to buy any of the foldable phones on this list, and more are coming soon.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
The most polished and capable foldable phone
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 brings back all the great things about the Fold 3, plus a much better camera system, a slightly wider outside screen, and smarter software.