Flip phones are back in grand fashion, reinventing the smartphone experience yet again. Still, these modern foldable devices can bend in half to bring you all the best Android features. Needless to say, flip phones are just as cool today as they were in the early 2000s.
Growth was slow at first, but now the foldable market offers bold and dynamic options. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip models continue to dominate the segment, followed by stiff competition from Motorola and OPPO. If you want uncompromising quality with years of software support, Samsung is your ultimate choice.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 takes the tried-and-true formula of the Z Flip 4 and improves it, but only in a few select areas. The most notable improvement to this generation of Samsung flip phones is the case display. You now get a bigger screen and can do more.
Inside, the flexible 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x screen is even brighter. You get a better, sturdier hinge, and the Flip 5 retains the Flip 4’s IPX8 waterproofing. Aside from the newer, more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for the Galaxy chipset, the rest of the specs are almost identical to the previous generation Z Flip. You get the same old battery and charge, along with five years of OS and four years of security updates.
Consistency is key, and it’s why Samsung remains in such a strong position year after year. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is one of the most reliable Android flip phones.
best design
(Image credit: Derrek Lee/Android Central)
The most stylish designs around
Specification
exhibit: 6.9-inch pOLED, 165Hz LTPO, 2640 x 1080, 1400 nits (internal) / 3.6-inch pOLED, 144Hz, 1066 x 1056, 1100 nits (lid)
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ first generation
Memory: 8GB LPDDR5
Storage: 256GB, UFS 3.1
Battery: 3,800mAh, 30W wired charging, 5W wireless charging
camera: 12MP (main) + 13MP (ultrawide/macro); 32MP internal selfie
Reasons to buy
+
IP52 waterproof and dustproof
+
The cutest flip design
+
Decent charging speed
+
Large and versatile cover screen
+
The price is very neat
Reasons to avoid
–
Average battery life
–
The screen is not too bright
–
Poor water resistance
A few years ago, Motorola reminded us of the past with its Razr line of foldable phones. The Motorola Razr Plus has the best foldability, and in terms of design alone, it’s probably the best flip phone yet. Best of all, the phone’s price isn’t even that high, which makes it our second choice behind the Z Flip 5.
The large cover display is very versatile and has about nine different functions. The chipset may be old, but the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is still powerful. Gaming, multitasking, and processor-intensive tasks are a breeze with this flip phone. We just wish the display was brighter in sunlight.
best budget
(Image credit: Derrek Lee/Android Central)
Ideal for tight budget situations
Specification
exhibit: 6.9-inch pOLED, 144Hz LTPO, 2640 x 1080, 1400 nits (inner) / 1.5-inch OLED, 60Hz, 194 x 368, 1000 nits (lid)
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 first generation
Memory: 8GB LPDDR4X
Storage: 128GB, UFS 2.2
Battery: 4,200mAh, 30W wired charging, 5W wireless charging
camera: 64MP (main) + 13MP (ultrawide/macro); 8MP internal selfie
Reasons to buy
+
unbelievably cheap
+
Excellent battery life
+
The display becomes beautiful and bright
+
Overall good performance
+
IP52 waterproof and dustproof
Reasons to avoid
–
Poor water resistance
–
Cover screen is too small
–
Video capture is affected
Motorola also beats it with its cheaper Razr+ sibling, even though the Razr (2023)’s protective screen is nearly useless. The price is too good to be true, making high-quality foldables within reach. You get very good performance from the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, and the display is nice and bright.
The Motorola Razr (2023) has very good battery life, and its 30W wired charging is better than the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s 25W charging. IP52 waterproof and dustproof performance varies. While we appreciate its dust resistance, the device is more susceptible to water damage. The camera still needs some improvements, especially in the area of video capture.
best previous generation
(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj/Android Central)
Older generation but ancient gem
Specification
exhibit: 6.7-inch AMOLED 2X, 2600×1080, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (internal)/1.9-inch AMOLED, 512×260, 60Hz, Gorilla Glass Victus+ (cover)
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ first generation
Memory: 8GB LPDDR5
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB UFS 3.1
Battery: 3,700mAh, 25W wired charging, 10-15W fast wireless charging 2.0, 4.5W reverse wireless charging
camera: 12MP (main) + 12MP (ultrawide); 10MP internal selfie
Reasons to buy
+
Guaranteed updates for five years
+
Durable IPX8 waterproof
+
good camera
+
Solid build quality
+
Excellent user interface and software features
Reasons to avoid
–
Some throttling issues
–
The creases are quite obvious
If you don’t mind an older device, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is still a solid choice by today’s standards. Samsung’s latest generation of foldable phones have much smaller screen covers, so you can’t do much on them. However, the rest of the experience was amazing.
You get a decent camera, great software, and solid build quality. The price of the Z Flip 4 isn’t that high anymore because it’s a bit older. The battery lasts about a day, which is good for any Android phone, and you’re guaranteed five years of security and four major updates. In addition, the Z Flip 4 is IPX8 waterproof.
Best International
(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj/Android Central)
Best International
Specification
exhibit: 6.8-inch 120Hz AMOLED, 2520 x 1080, 1600 nits (peak), HDR10+ (inner) / 3.26-inch 60Hz AMOLED, 720 x 382, 900 nits (peak), Gorilla Glass Victus (cover)
CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 9200
Memory: 12GB LPDDR5X
Storage: 256GB, 512GB UFS 4.0
Battery: 4,300mAh, 44W fast charging
camera: 50MP (main camera) + 48MP (ultra wide angle) + 32MP (telephoto); 32MP internal selfie camera
Reasons to buy
+
Excellent display quality and size
+
top camera
+
Excellent battery and charging specs
+
Once you get used to it, the software becomes easy to use.
+
unique design
Reasons to avoid
–
No IP rating at all
–
No wireless charging
–
Not available in North America
In general, non-US residents enjoy a wider selection of Android phones. This also applies to flip phones, which means you can opt for the powerful OPPO Find N3 Flip, which costs less than the Z Flip 5 but gives you just as much or even more features.
The OPPO Find N3 Flip is excellent and is widely regarded as the best clamshell folding phone on the international market. From its excellent camera to its all-day battery life and fast charging, everything about it is nearly perfect. The cover screen is large and functional. You miss out on wireless charging, but the biggest bummer is the lack of IP rating.
Best International Budget
(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj/Android Central)
Best International Budget
Specification
exhibit: 6.9-inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED, 2640 x 1080, 1000 nits brightness (inner) / 1.32-inch 60Hz AMOLED, 466 x 466, 800 nits brightness (lid)
CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 8050
Memory: 8GB LPDDR4X
Storage: 256GB UFS 3.1
Battery: 4,000mAh battery, 45W charging
camera: 64MP (main) + 13MP (wide); 32MP inner selfie
Reasons to buy
+
Ridiculously cheap
+
Eye-catching design and presentation
+
All-day battery life
+
Surprisingly good build quality
Reasons to avoid
–
No IP rating
–
So-so camera
–
Software is not the best
TECNO is not a very famous smartphone brand, but with the launch of PHANTOM V Flip, it has really made itself famous. The budget smartphone maker has made its cheapest foldable phone ever, with specs that add a lot of value to users.
You get all-day battery life, fast 45W wired charging, and a beautiful vegan leather design. This cheap flip phone isn’t available in North America, which is a shame for US residents. If you don’t live in the area, you can sit back and relax.
While the camera isn’t as eye-catching as other phones on this list, the TECNO PHANTOM V Flip really works hard. You don’t get a high-end software experience or ingress protection, but the build quality is surprisingly good and the display is excellent.
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Nowadays, foldable phones that fold in half come in many unique designs. But if you’re in the United States, you’ll find that the collection is much more limited. In that case, there is nothing above the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Samsung’s software support and experience live up to expectations and consistently meet expectations. With years of guaranteed updates, cool new features are rolled out regularly. Your Z Flip 5 will stay fresh and secure for longer, and the hardware is designed to match this. Throw in IPX8 water resistance and you have the best flip phone money can buy.
