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6 Best Folding Phones (2026): Samsung, Apple, Google, Motorola
You may be scoffing as you read this. The best folding phones? Really? Aren’t those just gimmicks? I'm here to tell you they're pretty darn useful. And yes, there are quite a few now (even Apple is in on the action), so you have options. Folding phones are an evolution of the traditional single-screen slab of glass we've all been using for nearly two decades.
They largely come in two forms: a folding flip phone or a folding book-like phone, enabling you to either relive the glory days of small phones or expand your multitasking options while on the go. A folding phone is a personal decision—arguably even more than a traditional smartphone, since it hinges (heh) on what style you prefer. We have tested almost all of them, and these are our favorites.
Check out our other mobile buying guides, including the Best Android Phones, Best iPhones, Best Cheap Phones, Best Samsung Phones, Best Google Pixel Phones, Best Motorola Phones, Best Phones With a Headphone Jack, and Best Phones You Can't Buy in the US.
Updated October 2026: We've added the Apple iPhone Duo, more on the Z Flip8 after testing, and updated prices.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 features fresh proportions for a form factor that feels just right and purpose-built. It is shorter and wider than the Galaxy Z Folds you might be used to, yet when you open it up, it feels even more tablet-like than ever. The crease is significantly less obvious than previous models, and the Fold8 is lighter and easier to handle than the larger Fold8 Ultra. You lose a little bit of screen real estate, but it's marginal.
The front 5.5-inch screen has a nice 10:16 aspect ratio that doesn't cause ridiculous letterboxing. I also found I opened the inner 7.6-inch screen far more often than with the Ultra, and you can comfortably have three apps side by side in split-screen mode. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset ensures the smoothest of rides with apps and games. The Fold8's 4,800-mAh battery (Samsung's first with silicon-carbon battery technology) lasts about five to six hours of screen-on time.
Where the Fold8 loses ground compared to the more expensive Ultra is the camera. The Fold8 has a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 50-megapixel ultrawide, with two 10-megapixel selfie cameras on the outer and inner screens. The Ultra adds a more powerful 200-megapixel main camera and a 10-megapixel telephoto offering 3X optical zoom, making it the better choice for photographers. That said, the Fold8 still takes great photos and will serve just fine for most folks.
If you've been on the fence about foldables, the Fold8 could be the tablet-phone combo to tempt you down. It's pricey at $1,900 (the Ultra is $200 more), but there are already offers popping up, and we'll see more as we head into the holiday season.
The iPhone Duo is astonishingly good for a folding-phone debut, and we're impressed by its polished hardware, graceful hinge, and durability. The outer screen is big enough to be useful, and it opens to a small tablet size with a clever nanotexture finish that almost completely hides the crease. But it is heavy at 254 grams (the Fold8 above only weighs 201 grams).
The side-by-side view for optimized apps on the inner screen is lovely, and Apple has shifted iOS navigation elements to the right, which works well in apps that take advantage of it. As a great choice for multitaskers, you may even consider working on the iPhone Duo. The battery life is excellent, and you’ll likely have around 40 percent left after an average day’s use.