A foldable smartphone is a mobile phone that allows you to switch from a smartphone to a tablet with a single gesture, simply by unfolding it like a wallet. Equipped with a central hinge, the device can be opened or closed according to the user’s wishes. To offer a full foldable screen, manufacturers had to resort to alloys of specific polymer materials.
The first results are stunning; the surface can bend at will while providing high resistance. The foldable smartphone is a two-in-one solution to take advantage of the functionalities of a mobile phone when desired and those of a touchpad simultaneously. Discover, in this comparison, the best foldable smartphones of the moment.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
We’ll start with the all-new Galaxy Z Fold 4. This example piques the interest of most of us because it represents the screen real estate that most people thought we would use a foldable phone for. And he excels in this area. The recently announced phone has the same thick and heavy feel as its defunct predecessor, but it’s supposed to be more practical and durable.
The Z Fold 4 is designed like a book; therefore, the screen folds up and is protected from the outside, revealing a second screen that is quite practical and has a wider aspect ratio, and is easier to use than before. If you don’t feel like unfolding this big boy, that’s ideal. When it comes to unfolding, this specific model features Samsung’s all-new hinge and screen stack architecture, making it more durable than its predecessors.
Of course, there are plenty of other reasons to love this phone, including its class-leading Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, dual 120Hz displays, and multi-camera system with 4K video recording at 60fps. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 stands out as the best foldable phone thanks to its special features that no other foldable phone offers, including support for the S Pen stylus and a hidden selfie camera.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is very similar to the Z Flip 3, so Samsung has focused on perfecting it. The main improvements are a faster Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor and a larger 3,700mAh battery with faster 25W charging. While the Z Flip 4’s battery life wasn’t stellar in our review, it’s an improvement over one of the Z Flip 3’s weak points. Particular is a crucial addition.
If you own a Z Flip 3, there’s virtually no reason to buy the Galaxy Z Flip 4. However, these advancements alone make the Galaxy Z Flip 4 the best clamshell foldable smartphone available, and with the promise of numerous software updates, it should continue to be a reliable phone for years to come.
It’s an easy suggestion for anyone who wants a compact foldable or can’t justify the outlay for a Galaxy Z Fold line phone. Add to that a low price – by foldable standards – and an impressive amount of water resistance, and this is a phone that comes highly recommended.
Oppo Find N
Introducing the newest large foldable phone on the market. The Oppo Find N is the biggest surprise of the year due to its innovative design for a foldable phone. By being more portable while retaining essential functionality and useful features, it improves on the original concept of the Galaxy Z Fold. The phone has a more conservative appearance as it looks a lot like Oppo’s older flagships, and when closed, it blends in with other smartphones.
The Oppo Find N’s 7.1-inch LTPO OLED foldable display boasts a 120Hz refresh rate. Although the screen is almost exactly square, it’s wider than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, which makes it more suitable for entertainment. The external display is a 5.49-inch AMOLED panel, which makes it wider than Samsung’s.
Subsequently, it doesn’t have the Cosmic system’s odd tall perspective proportion and believes and looks more like a regular cell phone screen. Other specs of this phone are a 4500mAh battery, a 50MP triple camera system, and Snapdragon 888 processor. Hard for you to assess. Unfortunately, it is only available in Asia, but we hope it will eventually expand to other regions.
Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold
In April, Xiaomi unveiled its first foldable phone, a strong introduction. In terms of appearance and size, the Mi Mix Fold is very similar to Samsung Galaxy Z Fold smartphones. But that’s okay because Samsung’s approach was the best. The Mi Mix Fold sports a 6.52-inch 90Hz inner display and a large 8-inch 120Hz OLED foldable display. The exterior screen’s aspect ratio is so high that we anticipate using one hand to operate it could be challenging.
However, the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold trades ease of use for style. This phone looks very business oriented and is attractive. The Snapdragon 888 SoC and 12 or 16 GB of RAM equip the Mi Mix Fold. It has a 5,020mAh battery, a 108MP triple camera system on the back, and a 67W fast charging cable.
Even though the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold has many great specs, they all come at a cost. This object is thick and heavy. A 332g ceramic version is available. This tablet seems very bulky because its thickness is in the realm of a laptop. The Mi Mix Fold is only offered in China, so its pros and cons ultimately don’t matter. Its successor should arrive later in the year and will no longer be available.
Huawei Pocket P50
A few months ago, Huawei unveiled its first smartphone with a clamshell design. The telephone looks in vogue with its roundabout outside show, camera module, and two finished variety choices. This phone’s third matte black version is also available but not textured. We must recognize that except for the black color option, the rest target mainly the female audience. That’s okay, as he is quite attractive to women.
Besides its attractive appearance, the Huawei P50 Pocket features an exceptionally large 6.9-inch OLED display, a 40MP triple camera system, and a 4000mAh battery. As the phone is powered by the Snapdragon 888, its performance should be excellent. On the other hand, the absence of 5G could be more encouraging.
This phone uses HarmonyOS 2.0, which is yet to be the ideal operating system outside of China, as our review of the Huawei MatePad 12.6 demonstrated. The P50 Pocket has one of the best 40W fast wired charging capabilities of any foldable phone, which is a plus. Even the charger is included in the box.
Motorola RAZR 5G
Let’s finish with the outdated Motorola RAZR 5G, which has a distinct philosophy of what a foldable phone is. It’s cool the way this one folds like a flip phone. Even though it doesn’t have a huge screen, the large 6.2-inch screen is still cool. Also, the bottom has a particular chin that we like because it lays flat when you nicely close your phone.
There’s also an external 2.7-inch OLED screen that can show the time and your alerts if you want to check the time or see if you have any messages. But we must also mention that this chin also causes a little discomfort. We frequently lose our Wi-Fi connection when covering it with one hand, which is undesirable on any phone. Although not as good as other phones in this range, the camera in this phone should be adequate and can record video up to 4K at 30 frames per second.
This device’s Snapdragon 765G makes it less capable than the Z Fold 2, and as if that weren’t bad enough, it kicks the heat to death, leaving you with little power for games and other apps. As you’d expect, this phone doesn’t have flagship-level specs, and while its looks are supposed to qualify it as such, we suggest you stay away from it.
What Are The Advantages Of Foldable Smartphones?
Multitasking
A larger screen provides more space to do more things. One of the biggest selling points of foldable smartphones is that you can do more without switching between apps. A larger screen means watching videos on one side and taking notes on the other. You can use the voice recorder while playing a game. Foldable devices attempt to bridge that gap between a tablet and a phone. The Moto Razr, Galaxy Fold, and Mate X can be folded like any regular smartphone or used as a tablet when unfolded.
Screen Size
Similarly to the previous one, the larger display size of the foldable means fewer frustrations when it comes to smartphone tasks. Viewing documents, spreadsheets, and even videos is much easier to manage than on a smartphone. Watching Youtube and Netflix videos will be manageable since the screen is bigger. A smartphone with a bigger screen shouldn’t come as a surprise. For years manufacturers have tried (unsuccessfully) to create phones with bigger screens. The ability to fold makes foldable smartphones more convenient for everyday use.
Flexibility
When we first heard about foldable devices being introduced to the mainstream, many people were excited, not just because of nostalgia. People still remember the convenience and flexibility of old flip phones. They slip easily into pockets and can do more than standard brick phones. These new foldable smartphones promise the same flexibility and convenience. They can be carried around like any smartphone but have more features and capabilities. What are the flaws of folding smartphones?
Height And Weight
Cell phone users often complain about modern smartphones because their screens are bigger and almost impossible to fit in a pocket. Unfortunately, you will face the same problem if you opt for a foldable device. Only the 2019 Motorola Razr can fit comfortably in a jeans pocket. The others will have to be carried by hand or in a handbag. Foldable devices also weigh almost twice as much as brick phones. A larger screen and battery mean your foldable, when unfolded, will take up as much space as a tablet.
Material
Foldable devices are considered a novelty in the field of smartphones. They are based on newly developed new hardware, meaning they will face many problems in the first two years. Some of the major complaints about the hardware of foldable devices include the foldable hinge, foldable screen, and touch response.
It’s not without reason that bricked phones have become the norm in recent years. The fewer moving parts in a gadget, the less likely it is to break. By their very nature, foldable phones require at least one hinge to open and close the screen. Other models will have more parts to make them more appealing to consumers. All these hinges and closures will inevitably break,
Software Integration
An underrated feature of modern smartphones is how they integrate with existing software. Having a single-screen slap means developers don’t have to modify their programs to accommodate screens of different sizes. But folding phones have different screen characteristics. Some open like a butterfly’s wings, while others slide out to expand the screen size.
And there are others with two separate screens connected by a hinge. Application developers will have to adapt the operation of each application to these different screen configurations, which takes time, effort, and money. The full potential of foldable devices is still untapped because of this obstacle.
The Price
The question of the budget is likely an essential decision-making factor for consumers who wish to acquire a foldable smartphone. Prices vary from 1000 to 2000 € depending on the device’s configuration, dimensions, and the manufacturer. Whichever model you choose, it will be more expensive than a traditional smartphone. If using a hybrid device: half-smartphone, half-tablet, is the solution for you, to no longer need to use two separate devices, such an investment is not meaningless.
Read Also: Samsung Galaxy Fold: Test Of The 1st Foldable Smartphone
