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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, just unveiled three new Galaxy Z Fold and Flip-branded models, the company’s eighth foldable generation since their 2019 debut. Rival Google is expected to follow suit this month 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.
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.
A new Pixel Fold from Google will likely cost as much, if not more than, the $1,800 starting price of the existing model. Such stratospheric sums make them tough sells for any buyer, but especially older folks on tight or fixed budgets.
Apple may finally take the foldable plunge
What’s more, if the widespread speculation pans out, Apple, a holdout all these years, may finally bite the bullet and introduce the first foldable iPhone in September. It will almost certainly carry a lofty price tag as well.
“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 20 percent year-over-year growth for foldables, with shipments reaching 20.3 million units in 2025. The U.S. market is projected to climb from 3.6 million units to 5.5 million. Even so, foldables remain a niche segment: just 2.2 percent of the global market overall, and 4.4 percent in the U.S.
Two classes of foldables
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 Razrs epitomize the clamshell category: models that fold down and snap closed in a way that nostalgically hints at old flip phones. But a hint is all there is; these phones don’t otherwise resemble their predecessors in design, functionality or cost.
Essentially, these are regular-sized phones that fold roughly in half into a compact device that easily 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 this 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 that are closer to a passport.
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 their 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 ZFold8 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.”
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. 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, at least ahead of any announcements from Apple, the only game in town when it comes 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.
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.
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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