Looking for a foldable? Then we'll tell you which foldable phones are worth buying in 2023. After we included the new Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 foldable recently, the brand new Motorola Razr 2022 now joins them and managed to find a place for itself in our NextPit "Best Of" list.
The best Foldables 2023 compared
| Best 2023 foldable | Last year's winner | Best foldable clamshell | Clamshell alternative | |
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| Specifications | 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2208 x 1768 pixels 6.2-inch Super AMOLED 2268 x 832 pixels Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 256 / 512 GB ROM 12 GB RAM Triple camera Main camera: 50 MP Ultra-wide angle: 12 MP Telephoto camera: 10 MP 4,400 mAh August 2022 |
7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2208 x 1768 pixels 6.2-inch Super AMOLED 2268 x 832 pixels Snapdragon 888 256 / 512 GB ROM 12 GB RAM Triple camera Main camera: 12 MP Ultra-wide angle: 12 MP Telephoto camera: 12 MP 4,400 mAh August 2021 |
6.67-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2640 x 1080 pixels 1.9-inch AMOLED 260 x 512 pixels Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 128 / 256 / 512 GB ROM 8 GB RAM Dual camera Main camera: 12 MP Ultra-wide angle: 12 MP 3,700 mAh August 2022 |
6.7-inch pOLED 2,400 x 1,080 pixels 2.7-inch AMOLED 800 x 573 pixels Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 256 GB ROM 8 GB RAM Dual camera Main camera: 50 MP Ultra-wide angle: 13 MP 3,500 mAh August 2022 |
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| Rating | Read the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review | Read the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review | Read the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review |
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| Check offer* |
As you can see, our foldables list is clearly dominated by Samsung smartphones. Of course, this is also due to the fact that the new Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 models are even better than their predecessors. We also deliberately left their predecessors in the list because they are also possible alternatives in the round of this expensive smartphone category in terms of price.
Note: Models like the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold and the Huawei Mate X are not listed for obvious reasons: Availability Stateside.
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Here's what to look out for when buying foldables
Different types exist:
Basically, we can distinguish two types when it comes to foldable devices:
- Clamshell models like the Z Flip 4, which offer a normal smartphone-sized display when fully opened
- Foldables in a book or booklet form factor, where the usual smartphone screen's surface area is almost enlarged to a tablet form factor
Clamshell devices are much more compact in size, folding horizontally like how the first foldable phones once did. Meanwhile, they also come with small external displays like the Galaxy Z Flip 4, on which you can control music or read notifications. Foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 3, on the other hand, are folded vertically and offer significantly more multitasking possibilities due to the larger display area. Moreover, they are fully usable even when folded due to a generous outer display.
Who are foldables suitable for?
Foldable smartphones are unfortunately very expensive for most of the available models and offer manufacturers a lot of room for experimentation. Thus, the target group must also be equally well off and would not think twice about dropping four figures at a moment's notice. In addition, they will also have to be patient and live with the fact that the new features and hardware components are sometimes not yet completely mature.
The large booklet format is a good choice for users who also need to be productive on the go. You benefit from the large display which allows you to use office applications in a more productive manner with the option of stylus support for selected models. A practical feature of the clamshell models is how you can place it half open and thus, for instance, making it useful for content creators to record a video hands-free in front of the smartphone camera.
So foldables are perfect for early adopters who like to be the first to check out "state-of-the-art" technologies and have deep pockets.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: The Foldable King of 2023
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 looks almost exactly like its predecessor but it has shrunk a bit. You still view content on an inner AMOLED display that measures a proud 7.6-inches when fully opened. The outer display is a bit smaller at 6.2-inches, but it provides access to all the smartphone's functions.
As you can read in our comparison between the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Samsung has also improved the performance of the foldable. A Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC is now at work inside, but RAM and internal storage have remained the same. Besides the specs mentioned, Samsung has improved the quality of the under-display camera. You can find out how good the smartphone feels and what it is capable of in the Z Fold 4 review.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Still an attractive alternative
As expected, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 ceded the title of the class leader to its successor. In the direct comparison between Z Fold 2 and Z Fold 3, you can read in detail on areas where Samsung had improved. In addition to the usual updates to the camera and processor, Samsung has above all worked on making the Z Fold 3 even more robust and also optimized at the hinges. Samsung even managed to improve the price, which has now been lowered to $1,799. As of January 2023, it is currently available for around $1150.
In his review of the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Antoine not only anointed the device as the best foldable on the market to date but also sees the launch of this model as the first real launch point for this niche product segment. Previous generations suffered from teething problems, and now, armed with IPX8 certification, a more robust build, and an improved display, it is safe to say that Samsung foldables are here to stay!
Since the original asking price of $1,799 was considered expensive, it may be advisable to purchase it on contract from a mobile service provider. Thankfully in 2023, you can usually find the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 for a discount.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: Best compact model
We are now able to hold it in our hands: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4! In our hands-on, the smartphone proved to be a bit more robust and of higher quality than its predecessor. Samsung has also improved its performance with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC. Apart from that, you can look forward to the faster Quick Charging, which is again not super fast, as is typical for Samsung.
You can now charge the Z Flip 4 at 25 watts. Apart from that, there are only a few innovations in the latest iteration of the Flip smartphone. What has changed in detail can be read in our comparison between the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3.
Motorola Razr 2022: The latest version of the iconic clamshell phone
Motorola, now under the Lenovo umbrella, combines innovation with retro charm here. Motorola has been building iconic clamshell phones long before the era of smartphones, and nowadays these are equipped with foldable displays. However, the predecessors of the new model suffered from the fact that the rather mediocre components did not match the high price.
Things are looking up this year when we look at the hands-on of the Motorola Razr 2022. My esteemed colleague MaTT speaks of a bull's eye when he reported about the 6.7-inch pOLED display, which is still accompanied by a second AMOLED panel with a 2.7-inch display. A refresh rate of 144 hertz is also absolutely impressive.
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC is also beyond reproach in terms of performance. However, there are also some initial snags. The reasonable battery capacity of 3,500 mAh is one of them, but also the uncertainty of a US release.
These are the four models that we could agree on with the NextPit editorial team from a subjective point of view. Compared to the other devices, the Microsoft representative has fallen out of favor in our assessment. Nevertheless, we wanted to mention the Surface Duo 2 because it is the only foldable that relies on a solution with two independent displays.
Let us know in the comments which model is your foldable favorite and if you agree with our picks.
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Please note that we updated this article in January 2023. Older comments may therefore appear out of context.
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