Advantages of Folding Phones
Foldable phones are gaining traction in the market and offer many advantages. They have a bigger inner screen and can be used in multiple positions for comfortable media consumption and multi-tasking.
During my time with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, I ran demanding games and advanced apps on its inner screen without the device freezing or lagging. It also performed well on Geekbench and 3DMark tests.
Multi-tasking
Some folding phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, offer a more flexible digital workspace. This allows users to work more efficiently and helps increase productivity.
This is thanks to their expansive inner displays that can be used in different modes. These screens allow users to run multiple apps at once, either in split screen view or as pop-up windows that float over other apps.
Users can also save app pairings for a seamless experience, such as putting Google Maps and Gmail together to easily keep track of directions or emails on the go.
Foldable phones , such as the OnePlus Open and the Google Pixel Fold, even feature a desktop-like taskbar for quick access to frequently used apps. This makes it easy to get back into a workflow once you start up your phone.
Bigger Screen
Whether you like to play games on the go or use your phone for work, a folding screen can offer you more room for viewing content. This is particularly useful for advanced tasks like video creation and multitasking.
A larger display also makes it easier to share photos, videos and other content with friends. Rather than having to ask someone to squint at your tiny phone screen, the bigger displays on folding phones make sharing a breeze.
The size and shape of the outside screens also differs between folding phones. The Z Fold has a long and thin outside screen, while the Pixel Fold is shorter and squat. The winner for most phone-like unfolding experience is the OnePlus Open, which has the least visible and smoothest crease.
Better Media Consumption
For many people, the most attractive thing about a folding phone is its larger display when open. It also means they can read a book or watch video with more ease.
Some models are even better at things like typing or photography. They can be adjusted to a half-folded position for use as a keyboard or for framing shots from different angles.
OnePlus offers the best value in a foldable phone with its OnePlus Open 2024. A Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and a large amount of storage make it powerful enough to compete with Samsung's Z Fold 5 and Google's Pixel 9 Pro Fold. It also has a unique circular cover screen, a triple-rear camera that's among the best on the market and slick software with useful Galaxy AI features and a commitment to seven years of OS and security updates.
Better Cameras
There’s an obvious reason for foldable phones to have better cameras, and this has been a key selling point with the Nubia Flip 5G, Honor Magic V3, Pixel 9 Pro Fold and now Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. These devices can take photos using the camera's normal ultrawide and telephoto lenses, but they also have an extra cover screen that can act as a preview display or provide controls like a trackpad or keyboard.
This makes them great for content creators who want to use the camera with the screen open or take long exposure shots and selfies without a tripod. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold also comes with Google’s suite of AI editing tools including Made You Look and Gemini Live as well as the new reimagine feature.
Better Video Calling
Foldable phones have come a long way since the first models launched. They now offer bigger outer screens, better durability and flagship-level specs.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 6 builds on and improves upon last year's model, making it the most feature-packed folding phone in our ranking. It has a solid screen, a powerful processor and great cameras - including 5X zoom.
Google's Pixel 9 Pro Fold focuses on photo quality. It uses a dual camera set-up to take superior photos, and it features a newer generation of the Pixel's AI smarts like Made You Look and Gemini Live. It also has a larger outer screen when open and battery life lasts all day. OnePlus's first foldable is another good option and is cheaper than most rivals.