The versatility of flip phones is undeniable. With the latest devices sporting large outer screens and even bigger internal displays, flip phones have come a long way over the past couple of generations. They’re an alternative for consumers who are fed up with the enormous sizes of many of today’s best Android phones.
Thankfully, more companies have entered the fray in the United States, giving us competitive entries at several price points. So, if you’re looking to dip your toe into the foldable waters, there’s never been a better time to buy a flip.
The best flip phones available
Best overall
Motorola Razr+ (2024)
Most stylish flip just got better
$900 $1000 Save $100
The Motorola Razr+ (2024) is an impressive flip foldable, featuring high-end internals. With the 2024 variant, Motorola has made one of our favorite flip phones from last year even better, bumping the cover screen size even further, fitting a beefier battery, and improving the cameras.
- Gorgeous external display
- Increased brightness on inner display
- Improved hinge
- Poor software support
- Not the fastest charging
Motorola took the Razr+ we knew and loved from last year and souped it up with an exciting new outer display and improved internals. The outgoing Razr+ already bested the Galaxy Z Flip 5 with its 3.6-inch external display, but Motorola increased its size to 4 inches for 2024, giving you more room for apps and widgets. It’s a gorgeous LTPO OLED refreshing at 165Hz, making for a silky smooth scrolling experience, limiting the number of times you have to open the device for Instagram or X binges.
Read our review
Motorola’s new Razr+ is everything I want from a flip phone
Proper software updates would be nice, though
But Motorola didn’t stop at cosmetics and outer displays; this year’s Razr+ features some power under the hood with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and an improved 12GB of RAM. It’s not quite top-of-the-line flagship power, but it’s close enough for most users, giving you plenty of frames in your favorite AAA mobile game. Moto also didn’t neglect the internal display, fitting the Razr+ with a gorgeous 6.9-inch P-OLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate to match the outer screen. It’s a fantastic panel with great color and 3,000 nits peak brightness, ideal for outdoor viewing.
Once again, the Razr+’s 4,000mAh battery does the job, lasting the entire day on a single charge. And while 45W wired charging isn’t the fastest we’ve ever seen, it’s more than adequate to top off quickly. Motorola also added 15W wireless charging, a welcome touch given the smaller form factor of the Razr+. When you pair these enhancements with the Razr+’s already sleek styling, you get a winning package, especially since Motorola offers the Razr+ for $1,000 — $100 below the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Premium pick
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Fast and versatile
Samsung was the company that started the flip phone revolution, and the Galaxy Z Flip 5 doesn’t disappoint. With a refined design, gorgeous displays, and fantastic performance, it’s easily one of the best devices you can currently find. This is especially true if you are an ardent Samsung fan.
- Larger outer display
- Refined fold-flat design
- Fantastic performer
- Camera is only adequate
- Battery leaves a bit to be desired
- Outer display is a bit limited
If you want a great flip phone and are a Samsung fan or want something with a guaranteed update policy, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. Samsung refined its Galaxy Z Flip formula, resulting in a device that opens and folds completely flat. With an IPX8 rating it’s more waterproof than the Razr+, but lacks any official dust protection.
Thanks to its internal 6.7-inch display, it is a slightly smaller device overall, though that internal display is just as beautiful as you would expect a Samsung display to be.
Samsung followed Motorola’s lead and gave the Z Flip 5 a much larger outer display. At 3.4 inches, this is the largest outer display Samsung has put on a Z Flip device. It’s a bit more limited than Motorola’s offering, mostly due to its 60Hz refresh rate and its compatibility with certain apps. Most of the important ones support it, but you can’t use any app you want on it.
The Z Flip 5 does come with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, allowing this device to fly through anything you can throw at it. If you are an ardent mobile gamer, the better processor and GPU may be more than enough to sway you to Samsung’s offering. Samsung also has a much better track record when it comes to updating its devices promptly.
Read our review
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 review: Flex Window for the win
A slightly larger cover screen makes all the difference in the world
Much like last year’s Razr+ it comes with a 12MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. They produce adequate images, but the device is sorely lacking a telephoto lens. It also struggles a bit in the battery department, but you should still manage a day if you don’t push it too hard. If you’re looking for better battery life, the recently announced Galaxy Z Flip 6 is available for pre-order, giving you the power and efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.
Best value
Motorola Razr (2024)
Moto strikes again with the flip value King
The Razr (2024) is Motorola’s affordable flip phone, packing almost all the features you can ask for. It packs a big, usable 3.6-inch cover display, a 6.9-inch pOLED folding screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a powerful MediaTek DImensity chip.
- Larger outer display
- Improved hinge
- Solid battery life
- Relatively slow charging
- Poor cameras
If this year’s Motorola Razr looks familiar, there is a reason — it’s remarkably similar to the 2023 Razr+ with a few changes. First off, there’s the price. Motorola has once again made its base Razr line attractive with a $700 price point, making it the most affordable fold in the US. But unlike last year’s Razr, the new version features a 3.6-inch outer display, making it capable of more than just notifications. Motorola also improved the hinge for this year, producing a more consistent feel through opening and closing — it’s noticeable and a decent upgrade over last year’s model.
Read our review
The Motorola Razr (2024) is a killer foldable that deserves better software support
Moto’s software game can’t match its hardware
Like its more expensive brother, the Razr also received upgrades under the hood. It’s powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300X, which gives it respectable performance for daily tasks. As we mentioned in our review, it’s probably all the raw power you need unless you’re a hardcore gamer. In addition, Moto included 8GB of RAM, helping aid smooth performance in the UI and applications.
Even though this year’s Razr is a tad thicker, it’s worth it since the trade-off is a 4,200mAh battery, good enough for a day’s worth on a single charge and then some. Mixed use with light gaming and social media was no issue, so you’ll rarely battle battery anxiety on typical days. Overall, it’s hard to beat the value Motorola offers with the Razr. If you’re willing to accept some compromises (as you have to do with smaller fold devices), the Razr is an excellent choice for $700.
More affordable than ever
Motorola Razr (2023)
A budget-friendly flip phone
$300 $700 Save $400
Motorola opened up the flip phone design to an entirely new set of consumers with the Motorola Razr (2023). It took its excellent Razr+ and turned down some of the specs, creating a device that starts at $700 and can very often be found for much less than that.
- Vegan leather finish is fantastic
- Same beautiful internal display as the Razr+
- Decent battery life
- Limited external display
- Cameras are adequate
- Slower performance compared to its flagship competition
Flip phones are fantastic devices, but their high price points have kept them out of the hands of more budget-conscious shoppers. Thankfully, last year’s Motorola Razr (2023) is great value with its new $500 price tag flipped that script, bringing clamshell designs to the mid-range of devices. Motorola did have to cut some corners but created another great flip phone, and it’s still a fantastic phone in 2024.
The Motorola Razr feels great in the hand thanks to its vegan leather finish and similar overall dimensions to its more expensive sibling. It also has the same beautiful internal 6.9-inch LTPO display that the Razr+ uses.
To get the price this low, Motorola had to make some tough decisions. It nixed the large outer display and replaced it with a much smaller and limited 1.5-inch one. It is suitable for reading short messages but pales in comparison to the larger displays used on the more premium lineup.
Motorola also went with a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor and 8GB of RAM. From a power standpoint, this chip is much weaker than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 but is more than capable of handling day-to-day tasks. It may chug along at times, but you’ll hardly notice any real-world slowdown.
Read our review
Motorola Razr (2023) review: Better than it should be
It’s not the flashiest or most powerful, but this clamshell foldable is great for the space
One added benefit of a smaller outer display and the weaker processor is pretty good battery life from the included 4,200mAh battery. Flip phones aren’t known for great battery life, so knowing you won’t be hunting for a charger, even during heavy usage, is a great feeling.
Big outer screen, small price
Nubia Flip 5G
High-end design at a midrange price
There’s nothing like giving consumers a choice, which is one reason we’re so excited about the Nubia Flip 5G. This solidly midrange device sports hardware that should work well for years, and unlike Motorola’s similarly priced competitors, this one sports a reasonably large and well-implemented outer display.
- Looks quite fancy
- Cheapest flip foldable yet
- Bigger cover display than other cheap foldables
- Build quality could be tighter
- Cameras aren’t the greatest
- Limited network compatibility
Still a relatively niche form factor, you can’t expect there to be a ton of cheap clamshell foldables. Last year, Motorola’s Razr showed us that it’s possible to deliver a competent midrange device with a folding screen at a price that doesn’t break the bank. This year, ZTE spin-off company Nubia’s pushing its envelope globally, bringing the $500 Nubia Flip to the States.
The Nubia Flip, like the Motorola before it, does make notable sacrifices compared to flagship alternatives. But while true enthusiasts might balk at the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, it’s honestly fine for day-to-day use. It plays games reasonably well, doesn’t suck up too much battery, and rarely gets warm or throttles. Its pixel density’s even better than the Z Flip 4’s.
Where it really shines, though, is in the cover display. The round outer screen feels very much like a smartwatch slapped on a phone, in a good way — we had no trouble navigating and utilizing the various widgets it supports, which give it considerably more functionality than its counterpart in the base model Razr 2023. And, taken as a whole, the entire thing looks quite a bit like a $1,000 phone, even though it costs half that.
The tradeoffs, while noticeable, didn’t hamper our experience in any material way. As nice as the phone looks, its assembly isn’t on par with anything twice its price. There is a little give in the hinge, and we felt some flex and even heard some rattling periodically, but it nevertheless feels solid and doesn’t give us pause in terms of long-term durability — though be warned, your warranty and repair support here won’t compare to Samsung or Motorola.
Fun new entry
Blackview Hero 10
Blackview makes its flip debut
$530 $740 Save $210
The Blackview Hero 10 is a mid-range foldable offering decent performance and a stylish design. It features a gorgeous 6.9-inch AMOLED panel and 12GB of RAM. The Hero 10 is powered by the Helio G99, allowing it to breeze through social media apps and light gaming. Blackview also promises three major Android upgrades, something you don’t often see from some smaller brands.
- Gorgeous display
- Decent software support
- Stylish design
- Lacks 5G
- So-so camera performance
Blackview might not be a household name in the US, but that shouldn’t deter you from trying something different. The Blackview Hero 10 is an affordable flip phone with great style and decent performance. It sports a gorgeous 6.9-inch AMOLED 1080p display. The colors are fantastic, and games and content pop off the screen. It also features a stylish design. Our Sakura Purple review unit is gorgeous, and the aluminum alloy frame is tinted to match the Hero 10’s eco-leather finish.
Read our review
Blackview Hero 10 review: All the style, half the price
But not without serious compromises
The Blackview Hero 10 is powered by the Helio G99, a budget chipset that offers enough raw performance for daily tasks and light gaming. Blackview paired the G99 with 12GB of RAM, an impressive amount in a midrange device, and it keeps the Hero 10 running smoothly. In addition, the Hero 10 sports a 5,150mAh battery, another impressive spec. And while DokeOS takes a little getting used to, it’s a fun and pleasant skin of Android. Blackview stands out from other overseas manufacturers by offering 3 major upgrades of Android for the Hero 10, meaning you won’t be left behind with new features and security patches.
If you’re in the market for something different and aren’t hampered by its lack of 5G support, the Blackview Hero 10 offers a fresh take on flip phones while maintaining a firmly mid-range price tag.
What about international models?
While the flip phones available in the United States cover just about everything you could want from a device, you may be wondering about some of the other major international players. There are actually some very good flip devices available from around the world, but we don’t really recommend importing them to the States. Two major reasons we can’t recommend them are the lack of warranty support and cell phone band support.
If you still find yourself interested in an international model, then take a hard look at the Oppo Find N3 Flip. With a stunning internal 6.8-inch LTPO display, a 3.26-inch outer display, and a MediaTek Dimensity 9200 chipset, this device is a beast. In addition, Oppo found a way to cram a triple-camera setup into this thing. It has a 50MP main camera, a 32MP telephoto lens, and a 48MP ultra-wide camera. If Oppo ever releases this device stateside, Samsung and Motorola may be in serious trouble.
The Oppo and Vivo are in the middle
Another solid contender is the Vivo X Flip. The X Flip is not as tempting as Oppo’s Find N3 Flip, but is a solid enough phone. It has a 6.74-inch LTPO internal display and a 3-inch outer display and is powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. It has a 50MP main lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. While a decent device, it doesn’t do enough to justify losing the warranty and possible connectivity issues.
Durability concerns
If durability is a concern for you, there are some important factors to note. While large outer displays are a fantastic addition, it does make them more likely to break over time, so make sure you get yourself a solid case and a set of outer display screen protectors.
Water and dust protection is also crucial. All of the latest Motorola and Samung models have IPX8 ratings. This means the devices can withstand rain, splashes, and even submersion, but haven’t been rated for their protection from dust and other small particles – so you’ll want to be careful on a sandy beach.
The best flip phone for you
The Motorola Razr+ is truly the best flip device you can get. With a fold-flat display, a large and capable set of displays, and great performance, the Razr+ checks a lot of boxes. It may not be perfect, and there are some question marks regarding Motorola’s update history. But if you are looking for the best flip phone today, you can’t do much better than the Razr+.
If you want to save money and aren’t bothered by less-than-flagship performance, the regular Razr is worth a look. It sports reasonably powerful hardware, a durable design, and is routinely on offer for just $500. Or splurge a little on a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 for the most polished foldable software experience on the market. It’s the same price as the Razr+, but much less frequently discounted.
Editor’s Choice
Motorola Razr+ (2024)
Style King once more
$900 $1000 Save $100
The Motorola Razr+ for 2024 once again earns our top pick for best overall flip phone with its stylish design and impressive performance. Its large 4-inch outer display sets it apart from other flips, making daily tasks and social media scrolls a breeze without opening the phone. It’s 4,000mAh battery also lasts the entire day, meaning you’ll never be caught without power.
