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5 Best Folding Phones (2026): Samsung, Google, Motorola
You may be scoffing as you read this. The best folding phones? Really? Aren’t those just gimmicks? I'm here to tell you they're pretty darn useful. And yes, there are quite a few now, so you have options. Folding phones are an evolution of the traditional single-screen slab of glass we've all been using for nearly two decades—and we might even see a folding iPhone in 2026.
They largely come in two forms: a folding flip phone or a folding book-like phone, enabling you to either relive the glory days of small phones or expand your multitasking options while on the go. A folding phone is a personal decision—arguably even more than a traditional smartphone, since it hinges (heh) on what style you prefer. We have tested almost all of them, and these are our favorites.
Check out our other mobile buying guides, including the Best Android Phones, Best iPhones, Best Cheap Phones, Best Samsung Phones, Best Google Pixel Phones, Best Motorola Phones, Best Phones With a Headphone Jack, and Best Phones You Can't Buy in the US.
Updated August 2026: We've added the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, Motorola Razr Ultra (2026), Motorola Razr (2026), Honor Magic V6; mentions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Z Flip8, Motorola Razr Fold, Motorola Razr+ (2026), and Oppo Find N6; removed some older devices; and updated prices.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 features fresh proportions for a form factor that feels just right and purpose-built. It is shorter and wider than the Galaxy Z Folds you might be used to, yet when you open it up, it feels even more tablet-like than ever. The crease is significantly less obvious than previous models, and the Fold8 is lighter and easier to handle than the larger Fold8 Ultra. You lose a little bit of screen real estate, but it's marginal.
The front 5.5-inch screen has a nice 10:16 aspect ratio that doesn't cause ridiculous letterboxing. I also found I opened the inner 7.6-inch screen far more often than with the Ultra, and you can comfortably have three apps side by side in split-screen mode. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset ensures the smoothest of rides with apps and games. The Fold8's 4,800-mAh battery (Samsung's first with silicon-carbon battery technology) lasts about five to six hours of screen-on time.
Where the Fold8 loses ground compared to the more expensive Ultra is the camera. The Fold8 has a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 50-megapixel ultrawide, with two 10-megapixel selfie cameras on the outer and inner screens. The Ultra adds a more powerful 200-megapixel main camera and a 10-megapixel telephoto offering 3X optical zoom, making it the better choice for photographers. That said, the Fold8 still takes great photos and will serve just fine for most folks.
If you've been on the fence about foldables, the Fold8 could be the tablet-phone combo to tempt you down. It's pricey at $1,900 (the Ultra is $200 more), but there are already offers popping up, and we'll see more as we head into the holiday season.
Flip phones are perfect if you want something that comfortably fits in your pocket or a small clutch. Motorola's Razr Ultra isn't just compact, but it's also the most fashionable smartphone today. You can buy it with suede-like Alcantara or a sustainably sourced wood on the back—both look and feel fantastic. It's also reasonably durable, with an IP48 rating for some dust protection, a titanium-reinforced hinge, and Gorilla Glass Ceramic for more durable displays.
Not much has changed over last year’s Razr Ultra 2025. You get the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 512 GB of storage, and 16 GB of RAM. The 4-inch OLED screen on the front lets you add multiple widget panels, so you don't need to open the phone as frequently. Once you do, though, you'll enjoy a super-bright, colorful 7-inch AMOLED screen. The big upgrade is the 5,000-mAh silicon-carbon battery, which can easily last two days between charges and is impressively huge for a phone this small.