The Best Foldable Phones (2026)
Flip and foldable devices provide a smartphone experience that’s incredibly unique, echoing the transformable phone of yesteryear. We’ve detailed the most exciting flip handsets, but it’s time to change focus and highlight the best foldable phones you can buy, taking a look at their design, visuals, performance, and more.
Best overall foldable phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra
Reasons to buy:
• Few foldable phones can match the Fold8 Ultra’s display experience
• Exceptional performance
• Improved 50MP ultrawide camera
Things to consider:
• One of the most expensive foldable phones
• The base Fold8 is much lighter, so keep that in mind if weight is an issue
If money is no object and you want to go all-out, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is the foldable phone of choice. We were blown away by the display experience on this handset, chiefly the stunning 8” unfolded screen.
Whilst the visuals of the Fold8 Ultra are undoubtedly impressive, it’s the wider improvements from the Fold7 to this phone that stood out to us. Battery life is one such example, Samsung boosting the Fold8 Ultra’s capacity to 5,000mAh. This represents a huge leap from 4,400mAh on the preceding handset.
The camera array was also much improved, with the ultrawide camera rising from 12MP to a whopping 50MP. Photos taken with the ultrawide are more detailed as a result.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra doesn’t come cheap and won’t be the ideal option for many, but there are few foldable phones on the market that can match it in any department. If you want the best of the best, this is it.
Best last-gen foldable phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7
Reasons to buy:
• Much thinner than the Z Fold6
• Also lighter than the Z Fold6
• 8” unfolded screen is superb
Things to consider:
• The camera cutout on the unfolded screen might be distracting
• No S Pen support
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 might lack the refinements of its newer Fold8 Ultra sibling, but it remains a top foldable phone and deserves a place on this list.
The first thing you notice when you pick up the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 isn't the screen or the camera; it's the feel. For years, one of the biggest hurdles for foldables had been their bulk, but Samsung made a significant leap forward here. It managed to shave 4mm off the thickness, and in practice, this makes a world of difference. It’s not just 'pocketable for a foldable'; it's genuinely pocket-friendly.
Opening it up reveals another significant upgrade that still impresses us. The screens are noticeably larger - the cover display is a more practical 6.5” - and the inner display expands to a massive 8” tablet-like panel. Both are Dynamic AMOLED 2X and feature a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes navigation and media consumption feel exceptionally smooth and responsive.
On the back, you’re getting a triple-lens setup headlined by a huge 200MP main sensor. This is paired with a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. This combination delivers richly detailed and versatile shots that are a clear step up from previous generations.
For the power users and gamers this phone is aimed at, the internals saw a solid boost. The Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite CPU, combined with 12GB of RAM, ensures the device feels snappy and responsive. Whether juggling multiple apps or running demanding games, the Fold7 handled everything we threw at it with ease.
Best battery life option
HONOR Magic V6
Reasons to buy:
• Larger battery than the Google and Samsung options
• Lightning-fast 80W wired and 66W wireless charging
Things to consider:
• Can quickly heat up when gaming
The HONOR Magic V6 impresses for a multitude of reasons – beautiful displays being one of them – but it’s in the battery department that we strongly recommend the Magic V6.
At 6,660mAh, the battery on this phone is the largest battery ever to be put in a folding phone. When gaming, you can expect to get ~9 hrs & 30 mins of battery life, and a massive 15 hours if you’re just browsing. If you like to jump between games, videos and searching the Web, the Magic V6 can easily last more than 6 hours before needing a recharge.
Speaking of recharging, the Magic V6 is lightyears ahead of the competition. 80W wired charging is supported, as well as 66W wireless charging for when you’re on the go.
Best for AI features & multitasking
Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Reasons to buy:
• The Pixel suite of AI features is consistently handy
• Seven years of software updates planned
Things to consider:
• Performance is great, but not superb
Google’s expertise in the AI market with Gemini is most evident on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. If you want to pick up a foldable phone for multitasking and experimenting with AI to enhance your productivity, the 11 Pro Fold is the way to go.
Many of the AI-powered features that impressed on the 10 Pro Fold are still present, like Circle to Search and Live Translate, but there are some notable additions that we found exceptionally handy. The Magic Capture feature can be used to take photos and videos of a moment – let’s say a birthday party – and store the results in a curated collection. The real brilliance of this tool is how it captures moments over time; you just press a button and the 11 Pro Fold will cut it up into detailed photos and clips for you to share. No need to constantly press the camera button and hope everything comes out well.
Given the wealth of AI features at your disposal, combined with how useful its features are, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the ideal foldable handset for experimenting with artificial intelligence; alongside being a powerful phone in its own right.
Best budget foldable phone
Motorola Razr 70
Reasons to buy:
• More budget-friendly than the premium alternatives
• Compact, stylish and pocket-friendly
Things to consider:
• Displays could be brighter
Want the benefits of a foldable phone without breaking the bank? We’ve got you covered with this next pick. Although a flip phone by design, we want to call out the Motorola Razr 70 because of its excellent value in a pricey area of the industry.
The Motorola Razr 70 is the best foldable phone on our list for money-saving and offers a fantastic viewing experience thanks to its enormous 6.9” display. This model boasts many of the features packed into the Ultra, including the fun and compact design, but for half the price. The 4,800mAh battery is the cherry on top, delivering 18 hours of battery life on a single charge.
With swift wireless charging speeds and an excellent camera, this is a good all-rounder that provides adequate performance wrapped up in a stylish handset.