Best foldable phones of 2024: Read this before you spend $2k

So this is the future. It was 2020, we were locked down and I was holding my first foldable, the Samsung Z Fold2. It was one of the few foldable devices in the world then. In 2024, the field of contenders for the title of best foldable phone is much bigger. All the major phone manufacturers besides Apple (possibly until 2027) already have at least 1 foldable phone on their roster.

I personally can attest to how much more productive you can be with double the screen real estate, especially with stylus-compatible foldables. From watching videos and doodling  to updating charts and multitasking, your digital world is bigger with one of these gadgets.

Still, many of them cost around S$2,000, which is a major investment for most of us. Having used a few, I feel that you can take the plunge… but only if the device delivers on the factors most important for you.

What makes the best foldable phone 

5 years and almost 10 foldable phones later, these are the things that I look out for before I buy a foldable phone or test it out.

Note that these are foldable-specific features that I have learned are important. Factors that you should look for in every smartphone such as the processor, RAM, onboard and expandable storage, display resolution, screen technology, peak brightness, camera quality and connectivity also play a big part in making a phone worthy of your money.

1. Size & weight – No surprise that a folded device is going to be at least twice the thickness. However, the best foldable phone delivers its screen size advantage without being too cumbersome, too big for a pocket or weighing as much as a tablet.

2. Usable second screen – Many first-time foldable phone users are shocked that not all external screens are any good. Some are too small, others limit the apps you can use, and some are just non-interactive displays. The Holy Grail is an external screen that is as good as the screen of a standard phone and also supports a stylus.

3. Stylus support – Whether you want to capture a bright idea before it fades, edit documents or sketch on the commute home, a stylus can be a godsend for a large screen. It’s also very satisfying for checking things off your to-do list.

4. Battery life – More screen space and brighter displays generally mean higher power consumption. While newer processors intelligently control juice consumption, a standard foldable doesn’t last as long as a basic phone. Pay attention to battery capacity as well as charging speed.

5. Foldable-specific OS features: All that screen space is wasted without good software that maximises its potential. App continuity between screens, variable split screen modes and simultaneous dual screen functions make the most of your investment.

6. Warranty – I want to especially stress the importance of a comprehensive warranty for foldable phones. I’ve found out the hard way that despite advances in technology, foldable screens are far from durable. Some seem to be engineered to last 13 months, meaning they will start to act up right after a standard warranty expires.
   Coverage like Samsung’s 2-year Samsung Care+ (S$128, U.P.: S$360) for the Fold6 and Flip6 is highly recommended.

The best foldable phones in 2024

It’s a universe in flux, this foldable one. I can’t bring myself to declare one best foldable phone and, instead, will list them from the latest release downwards. This is, very generally, because the latest devices come with the latest tech and advancements.

In the synopsis for each device, I list the reasons it should be on your shortlist, and some why it should not.

1. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 (Jul 2024)

We were fortunate enough to receive advance units of the Samsung Z Fold6 at Samsung Unpacked 2024. For 3 years, from the Fold3 to the Fold5, Samsung’s flagship device was virtually unchanged; the Fold6 is another beast altogether.

Its more squared edges and wider profile mean that it fits in the hand much more comfortably than its predecessors. A thinner bezel coupled with a wider aspect ratio makes the front screen noticeably more usable. At 239g, it’s just 7g heavier than the superb Samsung S24 Ultra but with triple the screen space.

An enhanced armour aluminium frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 all around, and IP48 dust and water resistance make it the most resilient Z Fold model yet.

As a Galaxy Note series enthusiast, I love the stylus support even if it’s limited to the internal screen. Another wonderful feature is the 2,600 nits peak screen brightness, up from 1,750 nits of the Fold5 and 1,000 nits of the Fold4.

The triple rear camera array is led by a 50MP wide shooter alongside a 10MP telephoto and 12MP ultrawide. They can record 8K video at 30fps.

My only gripe is that the S$2,548 price tag is steep. However, trade-in bonuses of up to S$450 over your phone’s value mean you can get one for about S$1,000 (!!!) when you pre-order.

• Dimensions – unfolded (mm): 153.5 x 132.6 x 5.6

• Dimensions – folded (mm): 153.5 x 68.1 x 12.1

• Weight (g): 239

• Screen size & material – external: 6.3in Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz

• Screen size & material – internal: 7.6in Foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+

• Peak brightness: 2,600nits

• Processor: Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)

• Dust and water protection: IP48

• Battery: 4,400mAh

• Stylus support: Yes, internal screen only

Pre-order now to get up to S$450 overtrade bonus at Samsung 

2. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 (Jul 2024)

Samsung’s Flip series puts a 6.7-inch screen in the literal palm of your hand. The petite sibling of the Fold6, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 is surprisingly small and perfectly pocketable without compromising screen size. Samsung has virtually eliminated the crease this time.

Unlike the Fold series, the Flip6 eschews the squarer edges and remains visually very similar to last year’s Flip5. It does adopt the all-important protection of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and enhanced armour aluminium body as well as IP48 protection.

I see the Z Flip6 as the perfect first foldable phone. It still opens up to regular phone size for familiarity but adds a convenient outer display. At just 187g, it’s lighter than many non-folding phones with the same 6.7-inch screen size.

An upgraded 50MP camera on the back (it was 12MP on the Flip5) puts it within range of your best shots.

The most innovative features of the Flip6 are integrated into its unique ‘L’ shape when half-folded. Turn it on its side and use it like a camcorder. Hold it up and Galaxy AI translates your words into a language that can be read off the front screen by someone facing you and vice versa.

• Dimensions – unfolded (mm): 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9

• Dimensions – folded (mm): 85.1 x 71.9 x 14.9

• Weight (g): 187

• Screen size & material – external: 3.4in Super AMOLED

• Screen size & material – internal: 6.7in Foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+

• Peak brightness: 1,600nits

• Processor: Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)

• Dust and water protection: IP48

• Battery: 4,000mAh

• Stylus support: No

Buy now from S$1,648 at Samsung 

3. Motorola Razr 50 Ultra (Jun 2024)

The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is a thing of beauty, arguably the most gorgeous of all the flip-type foldable phones. Its eye-catching external screen covers the entire front, wrapping around the 2 camera modules. Not just for show, either – it is the most versatile outer screen of all, capable of handling more tasks and apps.

The Razr40 Ultra had the deadly flaw of not being water resistant and this upgrade to IPX8 is a welcome change. I also love the charging setup. If you are a ‘power user’, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra comes bundled with a 68W adapter and charges at 45W wired and 15W wirelessly.

However, I would have preferred if it had a bigger battery than its 4,000 mAh one. Another hiccup is that there is no ultrawide camera, something especially glaring when you look at the AI-assisted ultrawide shots from its most potent competitor, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6.

• Dimensions – unfolded (mm): 171.4 x 74 x 7.1

• Dimensions – folded (mm): 88.1 x 74 x 15.3

• Weight (g): 189

• Screen size & material – external: 4in LTPO AMOLED, 165Hz, HDR10+

• Screen size & material – internal: 6.9in Foldable LTPO AMOLED,  165Hz, HDR10+

• Peak brightness: 3,000 nits internal, 2,400 nits external

• Processor: Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm)

• Dust and water protection: IPX8

• Battery: 4,000mAh

• Stylus support: No

Buy from S$1,418 on Lazada Shopee

4. OnePlus Open (Oct 2023)

If you view your screen in bright light, the OnePlus Open is your best buddy. With a dazzling 2,800 nits peak brightness on both screens, it ties for the brightest screen on this list. 3 Hasselblad cameras on the rear and an 80W charger included in the box justify this model a place on any best foldable phone list.

The Open falls into a funny crack – the screens do support stylus use… but only with an OPPO pen. Not even a OnePlus stylus will work (similar to how only a Fold Edition stylus will write on Samsung’s Fold series). With the OPPO pen not available in Singapore, it sort of hobbles a very well-engineered device.

All the top-end specs and design come at a price, though. With a less well-regarded name than Samsung, particularly in the foldable phone arena, the high cost of OnePlus’s very capable entry may keep buyers away.

• Dimensions – unfolded (mm): 153.4 x 143.1 x 5.8

• Dimensions – folded (mm): 153.4 x 73.3 x 11.7

• Weight (g): 239 or 245

• Screen size & material – external: 6.31in LTPO3 Super Fluid OLED, 120Hz

• Screen size & material – internal: 7.82in Foldable LTPO3 Flexi-fluid AMOLED

• Peak brightness: 2,800 nits

• Processor: Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)

• Dust and water protection: IPX4

• Battery: 4,805mAh

• Stylus support: Yes, but only with OPPO Pen (not sold here)

Buy from S$2,039 on Lazada Shopee

5. OPPO Find N3 (Oct 2023)

With some of the most gorgeous displays on any foldable (or smartphone), including 2,800 nits peak brightness, the OPPO Find N3 is a visual delight. A respectable 4,805mAh battery will keep the displays going all day and the bundled 67W charger puts you back in the game quickly.

One thing I noticed – and especially liked – about the Oppo Find N3 is that it opens out almost square, i.e., the length and breadth are almost equal. That may not be to everyone’s liking but I enjoyed the aspect ratio when working on documents.

The Find N3 has a triple rear camera array – a 48MP primary, 48MP ultrawide, and 64MP telephoto camera with 3x zoom. Its speakers are pretty impressive, too.

I was left a bit disappointed that the Find N3 does not support wireless charging. You’d think for a device this advanced, that would come standard.

• Dimensions – unfolded (mm): 153.4 x 143.1 x 5.8

• Dimensions – folded (mm): 153.4 x 73.3 x 11.7

• Weight (g): 239 or 245

• Screen size & material – external: 6.31in LTPO3 OLED, 120Hz

• Screen size & material – internal: 7.82in Foldable LTPO3 OLED, 120Hz

• Peak brightness: 2,800 nits

• Processor: Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)

• Dust and water protection: IPX4 splash resistant

• Battery: 4,805mAh

• Stylus support: No

Buy from S$1,695 on Lazada Shopee

6. Huawei Mate X5 (Sep 2023)

The Huawei Mate X5 is tied for the slimmest foldable on our list at an anorexic 5.3mm. It’s also a beast in terms of battery power as the only device here that exceeds 5,000 mAh. That factor is made even more attractive with its 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. There is even 7.5W reverse wireless charging, eclipsing Samsung’s 4.5W.

There is stylus support on both displays. The 7.85-inch expanse of the inner screen is gigantic, second only to the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold 3’s.

The obvious sticking point with Huawei phones is that they aren’t compatible with standard Android apps and the Google ecosystem. There are substitutes and workarounds, yes, but the user experience is far less enjoyable.

• Dimensions – unfolded (mm): 156.9 x 141.5 x 5.3

• Dimensions – folded (mm): 156.9 x 72.4 x 11.1

• Weight (g): 243 or 245

• Screen size & material – external: 6.4in OLED, 120Hz

• Screen size & material – internal: 7.85in Foldable OLED

• Peak brightness: external 1,200 nits; internal 1,800 nits (16GB version), 1,000 nits (12GB version)

• Processor: Kirin 9000S (7 nm)

• Dust and water protection: IPX8

• Battery: 5,060mAh

• Stylus support: Yes, both displays

Buy from S$2,897 on Lazada Shopee

7. Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold 3 (Aug 2023)

Most of us want a foldable phone because of the huge inner screen. In those terms, the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold 3 is the winner as the only device here that cracks the 8-inch barrier. It’s no pansy by other terms either, tying for thinnest foldable with the Huawei Mate X5 and promising 0 to 100% charge in just 40 minutes.

A 5x telephoto lens brings the world close to you and the speakers are also loud and consistent. Included in the box beside the 67W charger is a stylish 2-piece protective cover that also doubles as a phone stand.

Where Xiaomi falters is device protection – the Mi Mix Fold 3 comes without water and dust resistance. If I am going to spend this much on a phone, I’d prefer not to have to panic every time it starts drizzling. Stylus support in a future Mi Mix Fold would make it a much more attractive buy.

• Dimensions – unfolded (mm): 161.2 x 143.3 x 5.3

• Dimensions – folded (mm): 161.2 x 73.5 x 10.9

• Weight (g): 225 or 259

• Screen size & material – external: 6.56in AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+

• Screen size & material – internal: 8.03in Foldable LTPO OLED+, 120Hz, HDR10+

• Peak brightness: 1,300 nits internal, 2,600 nits external

• Processor: Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)

• Dust and water protection: None

• Battery: 4,800mAh

• Stylus support: No

Buy from S$1,369 on Lazada Shopee

8. OPPO Find Flip N3 (Aug 2023)

The most affordable foldable phone on our list, the OPPO Find Flip N3 is tiny and light, possessing very much a feminine aura. OPPO has done well to upgrade to Gorilla Glass Victus over the N2 Flip’s Gorilla Glass 5.

The 4,400W battery charges to 50% in 23 min and completes the journey in under an hour using the 67W-rated SuperVOOC charger that ships with the box. 3 Hasselblad-enhanced cameras grace the rear – 50MP primary, 48MP ultrawide and 32MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom. The selfie camera offers 32MP image resolution.

While quite affordable given all those features, the OPPO Find Flip N3 is a bit of a chunky chicken at almost 8mm when unfolded and an obese 16.5mm folded. When I couple that with an unnecessarily small outer screen and lack of wireless charging support, it’s much easier to say ‘no’. That price, though…

• Dimensions – unfolded (mm): 166.4 x 75.8 x 7.8

• Dimensions – folded (mm): 85.5 x 75.8 x 16.5

• Weight (g): 198

• Screen size & material – external: 3.26in AMOLED

• Screen size & material – internal: 6.8in Foldable LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+

• Peak brightness: 1,600 nits internal, 900 nits external

• Processor: Mediatek Dimensity 9200 (4 nm)

• Dust and water protection: IPX4 splash resistant

• Battery: 4,300mAh

• Stylus support: No

Buy from S$1,000 on Lazada Shopee

9. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 (Jul 2023)

Last year’s champion is at number 9 because this is a chronological list but it’s no slouch in the performance department. Add that to the discounts as the Fold6 becomes the belle of the ball and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 is perhaps the best value for money of all the foldable phones on this list.

Samsung was already at its 5th iteration of foldables last year, ahead of all its rivals and it shows. The Z range of foldables has an OS that’s in a league of its own in terms of app continuity between screens and simultaneous dual screen functions.

This ecosystem was enhanced with the stylus support and Samsung’s proprietary Fold Edition S Pen. I have spent countless hours writing and editing on the Fold5 and it hasn’t let me down.

My biggest gripe with the Fold5 and its predecessors was the underpowered camera array. While not quite slouches, it falls far behind the S series (a problem that has somewhat been rectified with the Fold6).

• Dimensions – unfolded (mm): 154.9 x 129.9 x 6.1

• Dimensions – folded (mm): 154.9 x 67.1 x 13.4

• Weight (g): 253

• Screen size & material – external: 6.2in Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz

• Screen size & material – internal: 7.6in Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+

• Peak brightness: 1,750 nits

• Processor: Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)

• Dust and water protection: IPX8

• Battery: 4,400mAh

• Stylus support: Yes, internal only

Buy from S$1,299 on Lazada Shopee

10. Google Pixel Fold (Jun 2023)

I think Samsung learned from the utility of the Google Pixel Fold in making its cover screen shorter and wider. The external screen of the Fold is the widest on our list by quite a margin, making it quite useful for reading and working on documents.

The  48MP main camera, 10.8MP ultrawide and 10.8MP telephoto with 5X zoom make for excellent photos and videos all across the spectrum. Both the internal and external screens do a good job of displaying those images. Despite being the oldest device on our list and a first-gen effort, the Pixel Fold comes with IPX8 water resistance.

Google’s Pixel Fold is a substantial device – you will feel its 283g weight in your hands. Holding it is another sticking point – while Samsung’s Fold6 achieves arguably the best height-to-width ratio, the Pixel Fold is just a tad uncomfortably wide folded, even for my big hands. Lastly, why in the world does a Google smartphone not come with stylus support?

• Dimensions – unfolded (mm): 139.7 x 158.7 x 5.8

• Dimensions – folded (mm): 139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1

• Weight (g): 283

• Screen size & material – external: 5.8in OLED, 120Hz, HDR

• Screen size & material – internal: 7.6in foldable OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+

• Peak brightness: 1,450 nits internal, 1,550 nits external

• Processor: Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)

• Dust and water protection: IPX8

• Battery: 4,821 mAh

• Stylus support: No

Buy from S$1,499 on Lazada Shopee

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