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Why Would I Want a Foldable Smartphone?
A single device can do double duty, morphing between a phone and a tablet
(From left) Foldable phones like the Galaxy Z Flip8, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and the Razr Fold tout more screen space, but buyers should weigh their high prices against durability, battery life and everyday comfort.
Courtesy Samsung (2), Google, Motorola
Key takeaways
- Foldable phones come in two styles: compact clamshell models and devices that fold out like a book and expand into a tablet.
- High prices remain a major hurdle, with premium foldables starting at around $1,800, and some models approaching $2,700.
- Buyers should pay attention to durability, battery life, overall comfort and the visible crease where the screen bends.
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Foldable phones seem to be everywhere lately, but I don’t really get the appeal, especially given how expensive they are. Are they just a throwback to flip phones or something entirely different?
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Foldable phones have indeed been grabbing recent tech headlines.
Samsung, a pioneer in the space, recently unveiled three new Galaxy Z Fold and Flip-branded models, the company’s eighth foldable generation since its 2019 debut. Rival Google followed suit with the next version of its Pixel Pro Fold; it has been selling a foldable Pixel for more than three years.
For its part, another rival, Motorola, has sold a book-style foldable, the Razr Fold, since May, and other Razr foldables longer than that.
And then Apple, a holdout all these years, finally plunged in with the iPhone Duo.
Stratospheric prices
As mentioned, none of these phones comes cheap. Samsung’s new shorter and wider passport-style Z Fold8 starts around $1,900, while the top-of-the-line Z Fold8 Ultra starts at $2,100 and maxes out at $2,700 with 1 terabyte of storage. Ouch.
The latest Pixel 11 Pro Fold from Google has a $1,899 starting price.
Apple’s Duo starts at $2,000 for 256 gigabytes but climbs to a whopping $3,200 for 2 terabytes, a record price tag for an iPhone and more in line with one of its more expensive Mac computers.
Such stratospheric sums make foldables a tough sell for any buyer, but especially older folks on tight or fixed budgets.
“The launch of Apple’s first foldable iPhone will mark a turning point for the foldable segment,” said Francisco Jeronimo, vice president of client devices at the International Data Corporation (IDC) research firm. “This move is likely to boost category awareness and drive consumer interest. Apple tends to be a catalyst for mainstream adoption of new categories.”
Globally, IDC forecasts 12.6 percent year-over-year growth for foldables, with shipments reaching 22.9 million units in 2026. The market will accelerate to 18 percent growth next year and reach around 27 million units. According to IDC, Apple is expected to capture 40 percent of the global market in 2027.
Two classes of foldables: clamshell and phablets
All foldable phones have both an outer and an internal display and come in two main options. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip devices and some Motorola Razrs epitomize the clamshell category: models that fold down and snap closed, nostalgically evoking old flip phones. But a hint is all there is; these phones don’t otherwise resemble their predecessors in design, functionality or cost.
These are regular-sized phones that fold in half into a compact device that fits in a purse or pocket. Without having to unfold it, you might rely on its outer cover screen to text, display widgets, control music or follow a map. When you open the phone, you can interact with it like any conventional full-sized smartphone.
But you can also prop it up like a right angle on a table or flat surface and take selfies. Or, in tabletop mode, watch videos on the top display and have playback controls on the bottom screen.
You can also watch videos hands-free or perform other functions by standing the phone up like a tent.
The flip-style Razrs start at around $800 for a new model, with Motorola throwing in earbuds. Older Razrs that are still available cost between $200 to $300 less.
Meanwhile, with a starting price of $1,200, Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Flip8, while not exactly inexpensive, is a tad easier on your bank account than the company’s other foldables.
Those would be the phablets, so named because when unfolded horizontally like a book, they morph from a conventional pocket- or purse-sized smartphone into a mini tablet with a comparatively large inner screen.
If you can afford one, a phablet can be appealing, especially to older adults who’ve been schlepping both a phone and a tablet around. Now you can conveniently get by with essentially two devices built into one. But money shouldn’t be the motivator; in most cases you would still come out financially ahead by buying a separate phone and a modestly sized tablet.
The extra real estate on this pseudo-tablet screen is ideal for watching movies, TV shows or other streaming content, and it can also be useful for people who want to multitask.
Android iterations have been tailored to take advantage of tablets within foldables. When one is opened like a book and in split-screen mode, you can drag a pair of apps from a task bar to use them side by side.
You may tackle work on one screen while simultaneously watching YouTube videos on another. Or sneak a peek at your calendar while in a virtual meeting with coworkers on the other screen. You might also find it easier to read an e-book off the tablet display.
I did mention two “main” classes, but as noted above, Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold8 (not to be confused with the Z Fold8 Ultra) has proportions closer to a passport.
And with Apple also adopting a passport-style device with theirs its iPhone Duo, it's a safe bet that that design may quickly become even more prominent.
Creases and other concerns
Alas, high prices are not the only potential drawback buyers should keep in mind.
All that folding has raised concerns about the phones’ long-term durability and the strength of the hinges where they fold, especially given the high cost of repairs. The good news is that improvements have been made through the years, and the devices have undergone extensive testing. Granted, you will have already spent a lot, but you might want to consider an extended warranty.
More concerning for many people is a visible crease at the very juncture where the screen bends. The indent, which you can typically feel as well as see, can be an eyesore, or at the very least a distraction.
Strides are being made there, too, with manufacturers managing to make the crease less noticeable than on earlier foldables.
Tech website Tom’s Guide wrote that while the latest Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra “doesn’t have a crease-free display — it’s the closest Samsung has ever got to one.”
PC Magazine echoed those thoughts, saying the Z Fold8 Ultra is “almost free of the dreaded phone crease.”
Judging by early impressions, the iPhone Duo also mostly does away with the crease.
Apart from the crease, potential buyers should pay attention to the overall quality of the displays as well as attributes that matter on any smartphone.
Consider the battery life, which is likely to be shorter than on conventional smartphones, though you should still expect at least a full day of use, which is what Apple claims for the iPhone Duo. Weigh in camera quality and, to the degree you can pick one up before making a purchase, the weight and overall feel in your hand.
Check the level of water and dust resistance as well, measured by IP (Ingress Protection) ratings. The software matters, too, with Android for the longest time the only game in town when it came to foldables. Even then, various phone makers tweak Android and offer features that may be unique to their brands, including how they integrate artificial intelligence.
For the iPhone Duo, Apple redesigned the iOS layout and moved certain controls to accommodate the form factor, providing longtime iPhone users with something that is likely to feel familiar yet somewhat different.
Bonus tip: Verify your Facebook ID with a selfie
Meta-owned Facebook has launched a free, selfie-based process called Facebook Verified to ensure that a person behind a profile on the world’s largest social network is who they say they are. Users can get this “badge” by recording a short video selfie, which the Meta-owned company then checks against existing profile photos to confirm a match.
Facebook says the process only takes a few minutes.
Though it will be made available globally, Facebook will launch the feature in phases in select unnamed markets, so you may not see the option right away.
Meta says that once a badge is verified, it will appear across Facebook Marketplace, Dating, Groups and eventually in Feed posts. If you happen to be checking out a dating profile of someone who has completed the process, you will see a Verified badge on that person’s account.
Facebook adds a disclaimer: Just because you see the badge does not guarantee that the individual is trustworthy or that Facebook endorses their beliefs.
This story, originally published on Aug. 4, 2026, has been updated to reflect Apple’s launch of the iPhone Duo.
The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.
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