Best Foldable Smartphones to Flex Your Style
By Himani Jha | Updated Aug 22, 2024, 4:49 PM IST
With the demand for versatile smartphones continuously rising, foldable smartphones have emerged as a groundbreaking technology. They offer users the flexibility to enjoy both the compactness of a traditional smartphone and the expansive screen of a tablet. From Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 to OnePlus Open and more, check out the best foldable smartphones that you can buy in India.
Best foldable smartphones
In a market where consumers are seeking innovation, folding smartphones are exactly what users are looking for. The idea of having a larger tablet-sized display on command and tucking it away when practicality comes calling has hit the sweet spot with premium smartphone buyers. Samsung has been dominating the game with its Galaxy Z Fold foldables and just as it seemed that Samsung would do it for a few more years, competition comes in from Chinese brands.
With OnePlus and Tecno now joining the game, we as consumers now have a variety to choose from across different price points. Though Google also has introduced its first foldable smartphone i.e, Pixel Fold but it’s not available in India at the moment and we are not sure about its arrival in India. In addition to these, Samsung continues to sell its older generation flagship foldable at a slightly more accessible price.
If the sea of conventional slab phones has bored you beyond belief, here’s a collection of some of the best foldable smartphones that you can consider buying in India.
Best foldable smartphones in India
Check out the list of best foldable smartphones in India
1. Best in multitasking: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
With OnePlus and Tecno now joining the game, we as consumers now have a variety to choose from across different price points. Though Google also has introduced its first foldable smartphone i.e, Pixel Fold but it’s not available in India at the moment and we are not sure about its arrival in India. In addition to these, Samsung continues to sell its older generation flagship foldable at a slightly more accessible price.
If the sea of conventional slab phones has bored you beyond belief, here’s a collection of some of the best foldable smartphones that you can consider buying in India.
Best foldable smartphones in India
Check out the list of best foldable smartphones in India
| Foldable smartphones in India | Inner display size |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 | 7.6-inch |
| OnePlus Open | 7.82-inch |
| Tecno Phantom V Fold 5G | 7.85-inch |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 | 7.6-inch |
1. Best in multitasking: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Display: 7.6-inch inner display and 6.2-inch cover display | Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 256/512/1,024GB
Launched in mid-2023, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a more refined version of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. There’s a substantial weight reduction of 10 grams, making the Fold 5 noticeably lighter and more comfortable to hold. The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset offers more raw performance and better efficiency. The Fold 5 also gets a newer S Pen along with new cases. Other than that, the rest of the specifications and features remain unchanged. You get the same capacity battery with 25W wired charging, the same triple rear camera system, and the same display dimensions. With the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, you pay more for refinement over the Fold 4.
Users’ review: Users have loved its form factor and the expansive display. They also liked its performance.
Why should you buy this phone?
- The multitasking ability of the phone make things very easier
- The phone offers immersive tablet like viewing experience
- The phone doesn't feel as heavy as its predecessor and the hinge is also less visible
Pros:
- Immersive viewing experience
- Multitasking capabilities
- Great camera
- Powerful processor
Cons:
- Battery life could have been better
2. Best in style: OnePlus Open
Display: 7.82-inch inner display and 6.31-inch cover display | Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 256/512/1,024GB
In stark contrast to Samsung’s rather utilitarian foldable, the OnePlus Open serves the same dish with style. A bold new design with a large circular camera hump decorated with the Hasselblad logo makes it stand out from the crowd. The wider aspect ratio makes the 6.3-inch 120Hz cover display easier to live with. The wider 7.8-inch 120Hz AMOLED main display with Dolby Vision support steps in when there’s a need for offering a more immersive viewing experience. You get the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip as the Fold 5 but with more RAM and storage. OnePlus also offers a bigger 4,800mAh battery with a much faster 80W SuperVOOC wired fast charging solution. The rear camera setup consists of a 48-megapixel Sony LYT-T808 main camera, a 64-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera. The device runs on OxygenOS 13.2 based Android 13 out of the box.
Users’ review: Customers like the battery life, screen, sound quality and value of the cellular phone. They mention that it has an awesome battery life and decent battery optimization.
What we like about this product?
- This mini tablet offers great viewing experience
- Hasselblad lenses offer great quality pictures
- The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a powerhouse enabling phone to handle the multitasking at ease
Pros:
- Hasselblad camera
- Fast charging support
- Great in-hand feel
Cons:
- The phone lacks wireless charging
3. Best in battery: Tecno Phantom V Fold 5G
Display: 7.85-inch inner display and 6.2-inch cover display | Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 256/512/1,024GB
Unlike the Samsung and OnePlus foldables, the Tecno Phantom V Fold 5G is primarily aimed at offering a more affordable foldable experience. It is based on an older yet still powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chipset that offers comparable performance to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. You get a large 7.8-inch 2k resolution 120Hz refresh rate flexible OLED display and a 6.4-inch 120Hz OLED cover display, both of which are large by any means. The device runs on HiOS 13-Fold based on Android 13. As for the cameras, the Tecno Phantom V Fold 5G offers a combination of a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel telephoto camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera on the back. For selfies, there’s a combination of a 16-megapixel and 32-megapixel front camera.
Users’ review: Customers like the appearance of the cellular phone, saying it's gorgeous. They also appreciate the picture quality, with a beautiful folding display.
What do we like about this product?
- The phone has the biggest display among all the foldable phones
- The sub-80,000 price make it a highly competetive option
- The dual front camera setup makes it a great option for photography enthusiasts
- 7.85-inch inner display
- 5,000mAh battery
- decent camera
- The phone's UI is not well optimized
4. Best in budget: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Display: 7.6-inch inner display and 6.2-inch cover display | Processor: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 256/512/1,024GB
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 5G is over a year old but it remains one of the nicest foldable smartphones to buy even today. With a highly capable Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset under the hood, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 can handle multitasking loads with ease. With its Windows-like taskbar offering quick access to apps on the main 7.6-inch 120Hz high resolution AMOLED display, you can deal with up to four apps at once and be a multitasking God. The main display even hides the 4-megapixel video call camera. The 6.2-inch 120Hz cover display is best suited for the outdoors and you have a 4,400mAh battery keeping the phone powered up all day. The triple rear camera system comprising a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom offers versatility and great photography capabilities. You even get support for Samsung’s Galaxy S Pen Pro for stylus inputs. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 has already received the Android 13 update and is on its way to get the latest Android 14 update.
Users’ review: Customers like the appearance of the cellular phone, saying it's gorgeous. They also appreciate the picture quality, with a beautiful folding display.
What do we like about this product?
- We like the multitasking ability of the phone, and the immersive tablet like viewing experience
- The support for S-pen stylus just add a cherry on top of the cake
Pros:
- Immersive viewing experience,
- Multitasking capabilities
- Good camera
- Support for S-pen stylus
Cons:
- Users have complained that the phone feels bulky and the hinge is clearly visible
FAQs
1. Are foldable phones durable?
Earlier, foldable smartphones were somewhat fragile, however, things have changed in recent years. Now, smartphone companies promise to offer up to 5-years of durability. For example, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is promised to offer 200,000 folds while OnePlus Open is said to survive 400,000 folds.
2. When was Galaxy Z Fold 5 was launched?
Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 at its Galaxy Unpacked event on July 26 in Seoul, Korea.
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