Other Folding Phones to Consider
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 for $850: The 2023 fifth-generation Galaxy Z Flip5 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a polished flip-style handset with an IPX8 water-resistance rating and a silent hinge. It closes completely flat without leaving a gap in the middle, and this iteration has a larger cover screen on the front, which lets you look at large widgets like the calendar, weather, step count, and timer—plus notifications with the ability to respond to them via a full-size keyboard—without opening the device up. The newer Flip6 doesn’t add many new features—the upgrades are in the software, and the Flip5 has received many of them. Just make sure it’s decently cheaper than the Flip6.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 for $1,399: The Galaxy Z Fold5 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) from 2023 still shares many similarities with the newer Galaxy Z Fold6, though the front screen is not as wide and can be a little annoying to use (apps can feel a bit squished). It’s still an excellent, well-built phone, but you should avoid paying anything near MSRP. Wait for a sale.
Xiaomi Mix Flip for £1,099: Xiaomi’s first flip phone has a lovely design with excellent displays inside and out, long battery life with fast charging, and flagship-level performance, which makes a nice change as flip phones often have middling specs. It also boasts a solid dual-lens camera, opting for telephoto instead of ultrawide alongside the capable main shooter, which is more useful for most folks. The software lets the party down a little, there’s no IP rating, and it is very pricey, but I had fun with this flip phone. —Simon Hill
Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 for $1,299: Launched only in China like its predecessors, Xiaomi has promised a wider release for the Mix Fold 4 at some point (though not in the US). It’s not much thicker than the Honor Magic V3 above, and the screen crease is more pronounced when you open it. Performance and battery life are impeccable, and it supports fast wired and wireless charging. There’s also a versatile Leica-tuned camera. But it doesn’t feel like a huge upgrade over last year’s Xiaomi Mix Fold 3. —Simon Hill
Photograph: Motorola
Motorola Razr+ (2023) for $550: The Razr+ (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is one of the nicer-looking flip phones thanks to the leatherlike material on the back. Plus it comes in ruby! The external screen isn’t as large as the latest Razr+ (2024), but you can still open any app with no restrictions. The cameras aren’t as nice, and the battery life is mediocre. Still, it’s a smart buy at this price.
Motorola Razr (2023) for $350: This is a remarkable price for a folding phone, even if it’s just a year old. It sacrifices a large cover screen, meaning the little display on the front is only useful for checking the time, weather, and some notifications. The hinge mechanism doesn’t feel anywhere near as nice as the newer models (it’s a little noisy), but you get a 6.9-inch OLED screen on the inside, a 144-Hz screen refresh rate, and perfectly good performance thanks to the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Google Pixel Fold for $1,350: We’ve seen the Pixel Fold drop for as little as $1,200 at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, and that’s a good price for it, especially since it has now been succeeded by the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Read our Pixel Fold review (8/10, WIRED Recommends) for more details on this wide and chunky device.
Oppo Find N3 Flip for $899: I used the Find N3 Flip for several weeks—including when I was moving—and it was an excellent companion. I don’t find its elongated front screen all that useful (I prefer something like the Razr+ or Z Flip6), and it doesn’t help that flipping it open makes a not-so-pleasant sound. It loses points on the IPX4 rating too. But it’s plenty powerful, the screen gets decently bright, and the battery reliably lasts a full day with heavy use. The triple camera system is the highlight—it’s a rarity on a flip phone and includes a 2X optical zoom. The results aren’t going to blow you away but are more than satisfactory.
Nubia Flip 5G for $499 (£500): This supercute flip foldable has a stylish circular screen on the front. The Nubia Flip 5G (6/10 WIRED Review) is the most affordable foldable we have seen, outside of discounts for other models. Sadly, the front screen is not very practical, and this is a distinctly average performer with limited processing power and battery life. The software is also dated, and we have concerns about Nubia’s update policy. But for folks keen to try a foldable on a limited budget, the Flip 5G is a way to do it. —Simon Hill
