Just at a time when we thought that smartphones were getting predictable, came one of the most interesting trends we’ve seen in this space since the launch of the iPhone in 2007. The foldable smartphone has been one of the most discernible tech trends of the 2020s. The idea isn’t entirely new though. In 2008 Nokia presented animated concepts of Morph, a concept foldable smartphone that was first showcased at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City. It was presented as part of the museum’s ‘Design and The Elastic Mind’ exhibit. In 2013, Samsung presented several concepts – codenamed Youm, for smartphones with flexible displays.
More recently, when OnePlus launched its first foldable smartphone in India a few months ago, it marked a step forward for the foldable smartphone segment that has bucked the stagnant smartphone sales trends worldwide. We’ve been hearing rumours about a foldable iPhone ever since Samsung unveiled its Samsung Galaxy Z Fold back in 2019. Counterpoint Research, a Hong Kong-based research firm focussed on the tech industry, has predicted that foldable smartphones will cross the 100 million mark by 2027, up from just 13.1 million units in 2022. The survey also discovered that 80 per cent of foldable smartphone users would purchase a foldable as their next device. So, have you already ‘flipped’ for a foldable smartphone or are you still playing wait and watch?
Flip or Fold? That’s the big decision for most foldable buyers. While sales numbers and a more affordable price point (for flip-style phones) might suggest that the flip-type smartphone is way ahead, this might boil down to your use case scenarios. We’d recommend the book-type fold format (devices like the OnePlus Open or the Samsung Galaxy Fold 5) if you’re looking at a smartphone + tablet configuration. The larger screen allows you to do ‘tablet things’ like flipping through e-books or editing spreadsheets and gives you a larger screen for gaming.
If you’re looking at a more pocketable device then flip smartphones like the Moto Razr 40 Ultra or OPPO’s Find N3 Flip are probably more ideal for you. These devices also work well for selfie-fiends. If you’re in the market for a foldable smartphone, our list is a great starting point:
The best foldable smartphones you can buy now.
1. OnePlus Open
OnePlus’ first-ever foldable is also our favourite foldable smartphone right now. It has the perfect balance between form and function. OnePlus keeps the heft under 240 gm and yet gives you dual 2K 120Hz fluid AMOLED ProXDR displays. The OnePlus Open offers a gorgeous 6.31-inch cover display and a large 7.82-inch tablet display once the phone unfolds. OnePlus leverages its partnership with Hasselblad – the device snaps terrific portraits and also offers a 64MP telephoto camera with 6x in-sensor lossless zoom. And then there’s speed, OnePlus’ credo – a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor teams up with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.
Price: INR 1,39,999
2. OPPO Find N3 Flip
OPPO’s latest flip smartphone makes a strong case for the category with some significant talking points. First, the vertical orientation of 3.26-inch cover screen allows you to check out apps in their native resolution; the Find N3 Flip also flaunts a 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display that peak at 1600 nits. We also dig the creaseless main display once the phone unfolds. The OPPO Find N3 Flip also boasts one of the best phone cameras on a flip device – a triple rear cam co-designed with Hasselblad. The pro bokeh flare effect that recreates the effect of a Hasselblad XCD lens is a cool touch.
Price: INR 94,999
3. Moto Razr 40 Ultra
Thanks to its tie-up with the global colour authority, Pantone, Motorola has added a new shade to the line-up. Moto Razr 40 Ultra now comes in the Pantone colour of the year 2024 – Peach Fuzz. The Razr 40 Ultra revives memories of the original Moto Razr that became the best-selling clamshell phone of all time in the 2000s. The all-new Moto Razr 40 Ultra offers the largest cover display on any flip smartphone– a 3.6-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate. If you need more screen real estate, then the 6.9-inch (FHD+ pOLED) primary display (165Hz refresh rate / 1400 nits) comes to the fore.
Price: INR 69,999
4. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Samsung has been one of the earliest first-movers in the foldable smartphone segment. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 benefits from design enhancements over almost half a decade. One of the headline features is the new ‘Flex Hinge’ that allows the Z Fold 5 to fold to a completely flat position with no gap. We like the gorgeous 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that’s one of the most immersive smartphone displays right now. At its heart is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.
Price: INR 1,54,999 onwards
5. Tecno Phantom V Fold
A comparatively lesser-known smartphone market, the Chinese Tecno delivers solid value for its sub-Rs 70K price tag. It ticks most checkboxes including a functional, vibrant 6.42-inch LTPO AMOLED cover display (1080 x 2550 pixels) that peaks at 1100 nits and comes with a 120Hz refresh rate. You also get a massive, 7.85-inch, 2K primary display that makes multitasking a breeze. Other hardware highlights include a 5000 mAh battery that comes with a 45W fast charger in the box and a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset.
Price: INR 69,999 onwards
