With enough force, almost any phone can be folded in half—not even the best smartphones on the market are immune to brute force. But few can do it without sustaining irreparable damage. From retro revivals to cutting-edge flip phones, these best flip phones fit perfectly in your pocket but don’t skimp on top-notch hardware.

Flip phones are half the size of traditional smartphones because they hide a larger screen inside. Their external screens are getting smarter too, so you don’t have to keep flipping the thing open to reply to messages or check incoming emails. Add to that increasingly powerful cameras, and they’re some of the most versatile phones on the market. We’ve tested the best and highlighted upcoming models that might be worth waiting for.

Maybe you prefer a larger, book-style foldable phone with a bit more substance? Read more about the best foldable phones here.

The best flip phones you can buy today:

1. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

Samsung’s flagship flip phone finally has the camera hardware and battery capacity to compete with the company’s mainstream Galaxy S24 device. This otherwise innocuous upgrade keeps up in terms of performance and adds useful software tweaks that make the most of the form factor. Some of the AI ​​additions are genuinely useful, too.

A significantly more powerful battery brings the Flip 6 up to par in terms of capacity and it now also has the same optically stabilized 50 MP main camera as the S24.

Samsung’s design team hasn’t been sleeping either. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 does away with the rounded, polished metal frame and instead relies on flat sides and a matte surface that repels fingerprints much better.

It’s not perfect, but we still don’t agree with limiting the cover screen to widgets rather than full apps unless users have to overcome a series of power tool hurdles first, which is something Motorola managed to do with the Razr 50 Ultra (below).

For those firmly in the Samsung camp, the Flip 6 has outdone its predecessor in every way. If you haven’t given foldables much thought to this point, this phone will change your mind.

2. Motorola Razr 50 Ultra

This top-of-the-line clamshell device comes twenty years after the first iconic Razr. Motorola has added the largest cover display you’ll find on a foldable device and lets you run any app you want on it, so you can get by for hours without actually opening the thing. Fresh new colors, a more weatherproof build, and built-in Gemini AI intelligence make the device even more appealing.

Importantly, the Razr 50 Ultra also gets two new external camera sensors. The two 50MP cameras promise much sharper, better defined shots than the previous generation, which was merely OK when it came to photography. Add to that the fact that it undercuts Samsung’s current flip phone (something that certainly won’t change when the successor launches), and you’re looking at the best all-rounder currently available in the West.

3. Motorola Razr 50

Motorola’s two-tier approach to flip phones worked well with the previous generation, significantly reducing the cost of entry. That’s true for the Razr 50 too, only here you get a much improved external display. At 3.6 inches and with access to all the apps you want, it’s far more useful than the compact OLED on the previous model.

Inside, MediaTek silicon provides power, while an even bigger battery than the Razr 50 Ultra should easily last all day. It keeps the ultra-wide lens of the Razr 40, but upgrades the main camera to a 50MP unit that should be very competitive among flip phones. A full review is coming soon.

4. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

The Z Flip 5 has addressed some of its predecessor’s biggest flaws, but retains the same pocketable proportions and is a compelling mainstream foldable. It’s still a well-made, water-resistant clamshell device – only now the gap between the two halves has been eliminated and the much larger external display is a lot more useful.

When unfolded, the 6.7-inch OLED main panel is sharp, detailed and full of color. Its multitasking potential is good, with a two-finger swipe opening multiple windows. A Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU keeps up with 2023 flagships and battery life is decent for a foldable clamshell device.

The camera hardware hasn’t seen any major improvements, so it lags behind the best traditional phones in terms of image quality – but the difference isn’t huge. Samsung’s software does a lot of work to make up for the difference, so you can usually rely on it to take excellent snaps.

5. Nubia Z11

Nubia (formerly a ZTE sub-brand) isn’t a big name in Europe and the US, but Nubia has been quietly releasing value-for-money champions for some time now. These have mostly been gaming phones from RedMagic, but the Nubia Flip shows that the company knows its way around foldables too. A distinctive round external screen sets it apart from the competition, and the 4300mAh battery is particularly generous considering the mid-range chipset powering the whole thing.

Only one of the two rear cameras is worth mentioning, and you don’t get luxuries like wireless charging or an IP rating. But aside from buying a used device or a model from last year, there’s little in the flip phone space that’s as easy on your wallet.

6. Oppo Find N2 Flip

Oppo’s first Western-bound flip phone seemed to shake up the market thanks to its very competitive hardware. It wasn’t nearly as successful as the Galaxy Z Flip series, but it’s now available for a bargain price, making it well worth a look for anyone on a budget, although its internals are now a generation behind.

The design is still great, the rear cameras are still decent (if not class-leading), and the battery is still one of the largest of any flip phone I’ve tested. The external display doesn’t feel quite as huge, though, and the lack of wireless charging is a minor downer. Oppo’s version of Android can also be a bit too aggressive when it comes to power management.