As the proud owner of a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6, I’m here to tell you that it’s the best phone I’ve had by a country mile.
It’s loaded to the hilt with cameras, has an excellent battery (vital in an app-driven world) but best of all, it can transform like a book from a regular phone into a tablet-sized device.
If I had a pound for every sharp gasp at the spectacle of transforming my normal-looking phone into a supersized screen, like some sort of palm-sized Optimus Prime, I could probably give up the day job. That’s the thing about Samsung’s Fold; it’s incredibly impressive, but it all comes at a price. But then, all good tech does - doesn’t it?
It seems not. Tech is a dog-eat-dog world, and hot on the heels of Samsung’s innovation are some serious contenders in the folding phone game, with hundreds off the RRP.
Now, I know what you’re thinking - folding phones are nothing new: think Motorola’s Razr, Nokia flip phones, or the Higoo brick permanently clamped in the hand of Cher from Clueless. But these early folding phones closed in on themselves, and featured divided sections like the speaker which muscled in on precious screen space - that is, if there was any screen space to speak of at all.
What we’re looking at here is the new wave of phones that pack the latest features into unfathomably tiny proportions and keep the screen firmly in the spotlight.
This list will grow as more handset brands join the trend, so check back for updates. Until then, scroll on to learn more about the amazing tricks and wizardry of modern folding phones.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
This impressive new launch from Samsung only gets better the more time you spend with it.
From a sharp and bright display and a whip-fast processor to incredible zoom on the cameras and auto adjust that picks out the finest detail, this may be the most capable handset on the market today. The slightly larger main display and sharper corners make the most of every millimetre so you’re getting as much viewing and browsing space as possible (especially helpful when you’re using multiple apps at once).
The 120hz refresh rate is perfect for streaming shows, scrolling your newsfeed or catching up on the latest headlines, not to mention remote working, especially with the Multi View feature which allows you to see up to three apps at once.
Its range of developed AI features is what makes the Galaxy Z Fold6 soar above the competition, from Live Translate, Chat Assist, Browsing Assist and its much-celebrated Circle to Search innovation (in partnership with Google). This tech is reflected in the elevated RRP, but if you can afford it, it’s the best phone for your pocket. Oh and the folding mechanism? Well, that never gets old.
The phone is powered by a 4400mAh battery but there’s also super fast charging to get your handset back up to full power quicker.
Samsung has once again raised the bar for mobile technology with this device, leaving the competition quaking in its wake.
Buy now £1799.00, Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
Samsung’s other foldable is the Flip. This fun compact clamshell bears more of a resemblance to the flip phones of old, but with miles more polish.
For your money, you can expect superior power in the palm of your hand with many of the AI features and durability that you will find in the Fold.
The cover display gives you 8.6cm, while opened you’ll get 17cm of beautifully rich viewing space for your eyeballs. You can also take hands-free pics and use the cover display as your main screen, all without having to open your phone to full tilt. The battery has been given an upgrade, going from 3700mAh in the Fold5 to 4000mAh in the latest version.
It boasts durability with an IP48 rating (which means it can block out water but isn’t great at doing the same with dust), plus Gorilla Glass over the main and cover screens. Like its sister the Fold, this flip phone also benefits from an improved Flex Hinge, fitting nicely in your bag or pocket as well as your hands.
The cameras include a 10MP Selfie Camera on the front and 12MP Ultra Wide Camera and 50MP Wide-angle Camera on the rear with a 10x zoom as the cherry on top.
Now the good stuff: the AI features. The Flip boasts many of the same technologies housed in its bigger sister, the Fold6. We’re talking things like Live Translate which decodes foreign languages on screen and an interpreter feature for having real-time conversations with everyone from tour guides to waiting staff on the front and main screen via written text as well as audio (sparing you the shame of mispronunciation). There are 16 languages available right now, with plans to take it to 20 before the end of 2024.
There's also Circle to Search, transcribing, note taking and photo editing with sorcery-like AI extras.
The Flip also comes in a spectrum of colours, giving it appeal amongst the fashion-conscious crowd. Get it in - deep breath now - light grey, mint, blue, yellow, or black, white or orange exclusively at Samsung.
Also available at Amazon.
Buy now £1049.00, John Lewis
Motorola Razr 50 Ultra
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The Razr 50 Ultra is equipped with impressive IPXA underwater protection which allows the use of the touch screen even when the phone is wet. The hinge on this foldable phone is extra small which provides a creaseless internal display, even when you’ve had your phone in standing ‘flex view’ for a while.
Thanks to the fact that the outside of the phone is made from smooth vegan leather and the glass is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, you can be sure that your expensive piece of tech won’t smash and splinter if dropped.
Since the device comes pre-downloaded with all the Google apps you could possibly need, as well as the uber-fast and secure browser Opera, all you need to do is log into your Google account for instant access to all of your important documents, emails, photographs and more. If you’re switching from an iPhone, you can set up your Razr 50 Ultra with your last iPhone backup with the click of a button.
The Razr 50 Ultra is also powered by Moto and Gemini AI. The former works to improve content-capturing features including photo enhancement and adaptive stabilisation, while the latter functions as a kind of built-in Chat GPT to help users with everyday tasks and queries.
The latest colourways for both the Razr 50 and the Razr 50 Ultra have been developed with Pantone to ensure in-vogue and dopamine-boosting aesthetics.
Buy now £999.00, John Lewis
HONOR Magic V2
Say hello to the latest foldable to enter the mobile phone arena: the Honor Magic V2. Slimmer than many competitors and with a larger screen size to boot, the phone-to-tablet hybrid is jam-packed with features that promise to spark joy. We're talking high-spec cameras, supercharging and split-screen function, so users can run multiple apps on one screen at once. The future is here, and it's folding.
Buy now £1199.00, Argos
Google Pixel Fold
Google’s very first foldable phone, the Google Pixel Fold, is here. Similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, the phone morphs into small tablet proportions with a 7.6-inch OLED main display to watch, connect and take pictures.
Closed, the 5.8-inch screen is about the same size as a standard phone. It’s packed to the hilt with features including the much-lauded Pixel camera for superior snaps, night or day. There’s also a foreign language translator, which will be useful on trips away and astrophotography for stunning photos of the cosmos.
This is all backed on a superior battery that promises to last for longer than a day. No more lugging portable chargers around, yippee!
Read our deep dive on the handset here.
Buy now £1199.00, Currys
HUAWEI Mate Xs 2
A real contender to Samsung’s Fold is this 5G-compatible folding handset from Huawei. The double-rotating falcon wing hinge design and True-Chroma cameras installed on the back edge means the panels rest right against each other, making the device as streamlined as possible.
Opened at full tilt, you’ll enjoy a 7.8 inch screen where you can game, stream content or just chuckle along to the latest viral video. It’s viewable whatever the conditions thanks to an Anti-reflection Nano Optical Layer which allows you to view in direct sunlight.
This phone may only have three cameras, but boy, do they work hard to capture content. There’s a 13 MP Ultra-Wide Angle Selfie Camera, which is perfect for squeezing in more people into the screen on video calls, plus a 50 MP True-Chroma Camera and the 8 MP Telephoto Camera, excellent for capturing details from a distance.
Find contract deals at Three, O2, Carphone Warehouse, and EE.
Buy now £2498.65, eBay
Doro 6880
The Doro 6880 is a classic clamshell phone for elderly users. It comes with a decently sized 2.8-inch display, a modest 2-megapixel camera and flash, video recording, HD Voice technology for crystal clear phone calls, Bluetooth, a 1000mAh battery that provides up to 7 hours of talk time and an emergency assistance button. For users who struggle with their vision, there are talking keys that play back the numbers being typed.
Another neat feature is a blacklist for blocking nuisance calls and text members from particular phone numbers. The handset also comes with a handy charging cradle, and thanks to a soft touch material on the back of the phone, it feels great to hold.
Buy now £87.98, Amazon
Emporia TouchSmart 2
The Emporia TouchSmart 2 takes a modern approach to the classic clamshell form factor, offering both a touchscreen and a physical keyboard. The touchscreen makes it easy to get around Emporia’s simple user interface, and it’s surprisingly responsive.
If users don’t want to use the touchscreen, there are also physical navigation keys. Another neat feature is a dedicated messaging button for quickly accessing either Signal, Telegram or WhatsApp. It’s also cool that you can choose between two battery covers - one has an emergency button while the other doesn’t.
In terms of other features, the Touch Smart 2 offers an 8-megapixel rear camera, 4G connectivity, a front display, a MicroSD card slot, a torch, a radio, a USB charging port and more.
Buy now £160.00, C247
Planet Astro Slide 5G
With flexiworking now the norm, our devices need to work harder than ever. While this device won’t replace your trusty laptop, it’s an incredibly handy thing to have if you need to work on the go.
Billed as the world’s first 5G pocket computer, the smartphone boasts an entire QWERTY keyboard with backlighting to make it even easier to type. Ideal for business people and remote workers, this means you can send longer emails, create content and update spreadsheets without squinting fruitlessly at a tiny screen.
The 6.39 inch AMOLED display is covered in resilient Gorilla Glass and you can use fast charging cables on it via a USB port. For cameras, there is a 48MP back camera and a 13MP one on the front too. Available to pre-order now.
Buy now £819.00, Planet Computers
