You can be scoffing as he reads this. Flip phones? Really? Aren’t they just gadgets? I’m here to tell you that they are very useful. And yes, there are quite a few of them now, so you have… Options to choose from. Foldable phones are an evolution of the traditional single glass screen we’ve all been using for nearly two decades, and we could even see a foldable iPhone in the future.
Foldable phones come in two main formats: a clamshell flip phone or a book-style clamshell phone, allowing you to relive the glory days of a small phone or expand your multitasking options on the go. The best foldable phone will be a personal decision, possibly even more so than a traditional smartphone, as it depends on the style you prefer (ha). Anyway, I’ve tested almost all of these phones, and my colleague Simon Hill has helped me test specific models for the UK and other markets. Here are our favourites.
Check out our other mobile buying guides including the best Android phones, best iPhones, best cheap phones, best Google Pixel phones, best Motorola phones, and best phones with headphone jack.
Updated July 2024: We’ve added models from Nubia, Honor, Motorola, and Samsung.
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Things you should know before buying
Photography: Julian Chokkattu
Foldable phones are more fragile than regular phones. Foldable phones have more parts than a traditional smartphone, not to mention the hinge. Companies advertise the number of folds these devices have been tested for (typically between 200,000 and 500,000), but a single drop can be incredibly damaging. They’re not as dust-resistant, and some aren’t as water-resistant (almost none of them are IP78-rated), so you’ll need to be extra careful. Use a case, and it may be worth investing in the manufacturer’s device care policy.
Do not remove the built-in screen protector. Most of these foldable phones have a film over the inner screen. You might be tempted to remove it, but don’t do it as you can damage the screen. Usually, there are instructions on the packaging telling you not to remove it and to take care of the device.
The software has a small learning curve. Flip phones are pretty straightforward, but book-style folding phones that also function as tablets have some new multitasking tricks that will take some getting used to if you want to get the most out of them. I recommend taking some time to brush up on these features so you understand how they work.
They are expensive. Do you need one? Nobody needs A flip phone. If you think you can benefit from them, you should know that they often have discounts during big sales events like Black Friday, and you can also save a few hundred dollars if you trade in a qualifying device.