The right way to Select Between a Flip Cellphone and a Folding Cellphone

For some time after the primary iPhone got here out, approach again in 2007, it felt like we knew what all smartphones would seem like from then on out: Massive, rectangular “sweet bars.” It’s not a nasty strategy, because it retains issues easy and lets the apps take middle stage, however there’s no denying that the sheer number of the pre-iPhone panorama had a particular form of pleasure to it. 

Lastly, the usual set by the iPhone lastly has some lasting competitors. There have been just a few makes an attempt to interrupt away from the sweet bar strategy since 2007, together with my beloved Xperia Play gaming cellphone (which had a PlayStation controller built-in), however nothing actually caught till the appearance of versatile OLED screens.

Over the previous few years, two main codecs that deviate from the iPhone form have been embraced by firms together with Google, Samsung, and Motorola. These foldable telephones have caught round lengthy sufficient to span a number of generations, proving they’re not only a flash-in-the-pan gimmick. Even when they’re nonetheless a small % of the general market, they appear like the perfect alternative we have now to flee the unique iPhone’s dominance.

However there’s nonetheless one query in thoughts—which form of foldable cellphone is best?

Proper now, the foldable telephones with essentially the most help are available in two variations: one which opens horizontally like a guide, and one which calls again to the flip telephones of the ‘90s and early 2000s, opening vertically like a make-up compact. These are inclined to get referred to as “folding telephones” and “flip telephones,” respectively, which is a bit annoying to me on condition that they each technically fall beneath the umbrella of “foldables,” nevertheless it’s the language I’ll use for the remainder of this comparability.

Every have their professionals and cons, and with the releases of latest shining examples just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Motorola Razr Extremely, I’ve lastly gotten prolonged hands-on time with each. I do suppose there’s a transparent winner right here, however relying on who you’re, each provide compelling options to the non-folding brick you’ve most likely been carrying round for the previous decade.

Portability

By far, the factor that stands out to me most about foldables is portability, however folding telephones and flip telephones every have completely different priorities on this case.

Folding telephones, for example, don’t are inclined to look that completely different from non-folding choices after they’re closed, and may really be a little bit thicker. The Galaxy Z Fold 7, for example, is 0.35 inches thick when folded, whereas the iPhone 16 Professional is 0.32 inches thick. That’s not dangerous in any respect, particularly in comparison with earlier fashions or options just like the 0.4 inch thick (when folded) Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold, nevertheless it additionally doesn’t instantly make folding telephones look extra transportable. 

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 (left) subsequent to an iPhone 15 Professional (proper).
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt

The catch is that, when unfolded, folding telephones provide far more display area than a traditional cellphone, providing you with a greater worth for the true property they take up in your bag or pocket. In that approach, they are often seen extra as transportable tablets, with widespread choices just like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold each boasting impressively massive 8-inch shows when unfolded. They’re not small gadgets general, however they supply essentially the most show you may get whereas taking on as little area as attainable. Plus, they will really get fairly skinny when unfolded, with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 particularly being simply 0.22 inches thick when absolutely stretched out.

Flip telephones, in the meantime, do really offer you a smaller general package deal. With these, you don’t get extra display area, however as a substitute pack a traditional cellphone’s display area into much less general space. When unfolded, they seem like another sweet bar cellphone, however when folded, they name again to the clamshell telephones of many a millennial’s youth.

Razr Extremely midway between being flipped open.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt

Sadly, that does imply they could be a little thicker than a non-folding cellphone when folded up, with the Razr Extremely hitting 0.62 inches thick and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 reaching 0.54 inches thick. On the flipside, they’re a lot much less tall on this mode—the Razr Extremely is simply 3.47 inches tall and the Z Flip 7 is definitely a little bit shorter at 3.34 inches tall. Provided that the iPhone 16 Professional is 5.89 inches tall, that compromise may simply be value it for anybody who’s quick on bag or pocket area.

Plus, like folding telephones, flip telephones additionally are typically thinner than their non-folding counterparts when unfolded. The Razr Extremely is 0.29 inches thick when opened up, and the Z Flip 7 is a slender 0.26 inches thick.

Which strategy to portability will enchantment extra to you most likely relies upon extra in your priorities—would you like one thing that takes up the identical area as a traditional cellphone, however packs extra into that package deal, or would you like one thing with an general smaller profile than a traditional cellphone when it’s folded up? Personally, as somebody with small and even nonexistent pockets, I favor the latter, however instances may be made for each. Since that is my article, although, flip telephones are taking the win for now.

Usability

The following large benefit to folding and flip telephones is their enhanced function units. Certain, they tuck away effectively, however if you even have them unfolded and in your fingers, what do you get on your further funding?

For folding telephones, the reply is apparent: extra display area. This may be nice when searching the web, studying a guide, or multitasking with side-by-side apps, nevertheless it sadly has a downside to it. As a lot as I in contrast folding telephones to tablets earlier, they’ve an Achilles heel: side ratio.

Whereas tablets have a tendency to make use of rectangular screens that work effectively for gaming and movies, a folding cellphone’s primary show is basically simply two common smartphone screens side-by-side—subsequently, these gadgets often should attempt to contort content material to suit right into a extra sq. area.

Multitasking on the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt

Meaning lots of cropping and letterboxing. As I found whereas reviewing the Z Fold 7, most apps nonetheless don’t make good use of a folding cellphone’s further show area, particularly video ahead ones like TikTok. Gaming fares a little bit higher, however help is dependent upon the developer. You’re not essentially getting a worse expertise when utilizing an unoptimized app on a folding cellphone’s primary show, however you’re additionally not making a lot use out of your further funding, which I’ll get into in a bit.

To be honest, folding telephones additionally include cowl screens, so you should use them like a traditional cellphone whereas they’re closed. That’s nice for fast one-handed use, and more moderen fashions just like the Z Fold 7 have now made certain their cowl screens are now not thinner than the shows on non-folding telephones (a giant challenge on older fashions), which suggests you’ll be able to swap over to utilizing the duvet display for a extra conventional side ratio. However once more, that also implies that until you’re planning to make use of apps in a side-by-side multitasking mode, or use text-based apps which are extra simply resized, you’ll be able to’t depend on getting the identical expertise that you’d on a typical pill.

Razr Extremely absolutely unfolded.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt

Flip telephones, in the meantime, basically function precisely like non-folding telephones when opened. Meaning no side ratio points, but additionally no bonuses. In case you’ve used a smartphone at any time over the previous few many years, you’ll know what to anticipate. That mentioned, like folding telephones, additionally they include cowl screens to make use of after they’re folded up, and these can have some toy-ish allure to them. They’re not as useful as a folding cellphone’s cowl display, which is basically the identical as a non-folding cellphone’s primary display, however these smaller shows are an effective way to shortly examine messages, learn the time, or entry minimalist variations of choose apps in a rush. They gained’t have the ability to open each app, however utilizing the duvet display whereas folded could make flip telephones further helpful when you like to make use of your cellphone with one-hand, as they’re general smaller than even non-folding telephones on this type issue. I’d nonetheless give cowl display usability to folding telephones general, nevertheless it’s a pleasant contact.

Earlier than I transfer on, I must also point out one further function that each folding telephones and flip telephones have. As a result of they’ve cowl screens proper subsequent to their rear cameras, it is simple to take selfies with them. That’s a boon for influencers and social media butterflies, since rear cameras are often way more highly effective than the pinhole cameras constructed into most telephones’ primary shows. Normally, folding and flip telephones will function pinhole cameras as effectively, however you’re most likely higher off turning the cellphone round to take your selfies with a extra highly effective digicam setup.

A selfie taken utilizing the Razr Extremely’s rear digicam.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt

Total, folding telephones do have extra you are able to do with their screens than flip telephones, so I’ll give this class to them, however be aware that not each app goes to take up the entire display if you unfold them.

Worth

Whether or not you’re shopping for a folding cellphone or a flip cellphone proper now, each come at a premium. The price of manufacturing a sturdy display and all these transferring elements is simply an excessive amount of for foldable gadgets to compete on pricing with comparable non-folding configurations proper now. However for my cash, flip cellphone pricing is loads simpler to abdomen.

Sure, you get much less general display area with a flip cellphone. However with first rate choices like the bottom Motorola Razr beginning at $700 (and all the way down to $600 at time of writing), getting a flip cellphone simply feels extra attainable for the common individual at this second. Granted, these extra cheap fashions do have compromises, like weaker chips and smaller cowl screens, however even top-of-the-line flip telephones, just like the Razr Extremely and the Galaxy Z Flip 7, nonetheless don’t break the $1,500 mark.

In the meantime, folding telephones are inclined to price greater than even a very good laptop computer. The 2 hottest ones proper now, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, begin at $2,000 and $1,800, respectively. That’s loads to spend on further display area that lots of apps can’t even make use of.

With that in thoughts, I’m going to have to present pricing to flip telephones. You’ll have the ability to make nice use out of each little bit of your greenback on these gadgets, and due to their uncommon side ratios, I simply don’t suppose folding telephones can say that but.

Do you have to get a flip cellphone or a folding cellphone?

Razr Extremely cowl display.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt

In case you’re the kind of individual to go all-out when shopping for a tool, getting a folding cellphone is definitely tempting. You’ll get extra display area, it’ll make an incredible dialog piece, and producers often deck these fashions out with essentially the most highly effective chips they will muster.

However for everybody else, I believe a flip cellphone continues to be the higher alternative. They merely provide extra worth on your cash, whereas nonetheless with the ability to pull off neat tips like taking selfies with their rear cameras or exhibiting texts on their cowl screens. Plus, they really have folding telephones beat on the subject of portability.

This might change over time, if telephones with different uncommon type components begin to make extra of a dent within the “sweet bar” look. However for now, flip telephones do an incredible job of providing one thing new whereas nonetheless becoming into the sweet bar ecosystem when wanted. Folding telephones, in the meantime, are simply too unusual when opened up for many builders to hassle with supporting.