The best Foldables 2023 compared
| Editors’ choice | Last year’s winner | Best foldable clamshell | Clamshell import | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Device | ||||
| Image |  |  |  |  |
| Internal display | 7.6” OLED 2208 x 1768 pixels 120 Hz refresh rate | 7.6” OLED 2208 x 1768 pixels 120 Hz refresh rate | 6.67” OLED 2640 x 1080 pixels 120 Hz refresh rate | 6.8″ OLED 2520 x 1080 px 120 Hz refresh rate |
| External display | 6.2″ OLED 2268 x 832 px | 6.2” OLED 2268 x 832 pixels | 1.9″ OLED 260 x 512 px | 3.26″ OLED 382 x 720 px |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | Snapdragon 888 | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ |
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 256 / 512 GB | 256 / 512 GB | 128 / 256 / 512 GB | 256 GB UFS 3.1 |
| microSD | ❌ | |||
| Software | One UI 4.1 based on Android 12 | One UI 3.x based on Android 11 | One UI 4.1 based on Android 12 | ColorOS 13 based on Android 13 |
| Camera | Main: 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS Ultra-wide angle: 12 MP, f/2.2 Telephoto: 10 MP, f/2.4. OIS | Main: 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS Ultra-wide angle: 12 MP, f/2.2 Telephoto: 12 MP, f/2.4 | Main: 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS Ultra wide-angle: 12 MP, f/2.2 | Main: 50 MP, f/1.8 Ultra-wide-angle: 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Selfie | 4 MP, f/1.8 | 4 MP, f/1.8 | 10 MP, f/2.4 | 32 MP, f/2.4 |
| Battery | 4,400 mAh 25 W wired charging 10 W wireless charging | 4,400 mAh 25 W wired charging 10 W wireless charging | 3,700 mAh 25 W wired charging Wireless charging | 4,300 mAh 44 W wired charging |
| Connectivity | 5G / Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi Direct / Bluetooth 5.2 / NFC | 5G / Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi Direct / Bluetooth 5.2 / NFC / UWB | 5G / Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi Direct / Bluetooth 5.2 / NFC | 5G / Wi-Fi 6 / Bluetooth 5.3 / NFC |
| IP certification | IPx8 | IPx8 | IPx8 | ❌ |
| Dimensions | Closed: 67.1 x 155.1 x 15.8 mm Opened: 130.1 x 155.1 x 6.3 mm | Closed: 67.1 x 158.2 x 16.0 mm Opened: 128.1 x 158.2 x 6.4 mm | Closed: 71.9 x 84.9 x 17.1 mm Opened: 71.9 x 165.2 x 6.9 mm | Closed: 75.2 x 85.5 x 16.02 mm Opened: 75.2 x 166.2 x 7.45 mm |
| Weight | 263 g | 271 g | 187 g | 191g |
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| Rating | Read the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review | Read the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review | Read the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review | Read the Oppo Find N2 Flip review |
| Check offer* | ||||
As you can see, our foldables list is clearly dominated by Samsung smartphones. Of course, this is also due to the fact that the new Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 models are even better than their predecessors. We also deliberately left their predecessors in the list because they are also possible alternatives in the round of this expensive smartphone category in terms of price.
Note: Models like the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold and the Huawei Mate X are not listed for obvious reasons: Availability Stateside.
Here’s what to look out for when buying foldables
Different types exist:
Basically, we can distinguish two types when it comes to foldable devices:
- Clamshell models like the Z Flip 4, which offer a normal smartphone-sized display when fully opened
- Foldables in a book or booklet form factor, where the usual smartphone screen’s surface area is almost enlarged to a tablet form factor
Clamshell devices are much more compact in size, folding horizontally like how the first foldable phones once did. Meanwhile, they also come with small external displays like the Galaxy Z Flip 4, on which you can control music or read notifications. Foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 3, on the other hand, are folded vertically and offer significantly more multitasking possibilities due to the larger display area. Moreover, they are fully usable even when folded due to a generous outer display.
Who are foldables suitable for?
Foldable smartphones are unfortunately very expensive for most of the available models and offer manufacturers a lot of room for experimentation. Thus, the target group must also be equally well off and would not think twice about dropping four figures at a moment’s notice. In addition, they will also have to be patient and live with the fact that the new features and hardware components are sometimes not yet completely mature.
The large booklet format is a good choice for users who also need to be productive on the go. You benefit from the large display which allows you to use office applications in a more productive manner with the option of stylus support for selected models. A practical feature of the clamshell models is how you can place it half open and thus, for instance, making it useful for content creators to record a video hands-free in front of the smartphone camera.
So foldables are perfect for early adopters who like to be the first to check out “state-of-the-art” technologies and have deep pockets.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: The Foldable King of 2023
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 looks almost exactly like its predecessor but it has shrunk a bit. You still view content on an inner AMOLED display that measures a proud 7.6-inches when fully opened. The outer display is a bit smaller at 6.2-inches, but it provides access to all the smartphone’s functions.
As you can read in our comparison between the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Samsung has also improved the performance of the foldable. A Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC is now at work inside, but RAM and internal storage have remained the same. Besides the specs mentioned, Samsung has improved the quality of the under-display camera. You can find out how good the smartphone feels and what it is capable of in the Z Fold 4 review.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Still an attractive alternative
As expected, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 ceded the title of the class leader to its successor. In the direct comparison between Z Fold 2 and Z Fold 3, you can read in detail on areas where Samsung had improved. In addition to the usual updates to the camera and processor, Samsung has above all worked on making the Z Fold 3 even more robust and also optimized at the hinges. Samsung even managed to improve the price, which has now been lowered to $1,799. As of January 2023, it is currently available for around $1150.
In his review of the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Antoine not only anointed the device as the best foldable on the market to date but also sees the launch of this model as the first real launch point for this niche product segment. Previous generations suffered from teething problems, and now, armed with IPX8 certification, a more robust build, and an improved display, it is safe to say that Samsung foldables are here to stay!
Since the original asking price of $1,799 was considered expensive, it may be advisable to purchase it on contract from a mobile service provider. Thankfully in 2023, you can usually find the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 for a discount.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: Best compact model
We are now able to hold it in our hands: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4! In our hands-on, the smartphone proved to be a bit more robust and of higher quality than its predecessor. Samsung has also improved its performance with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC. Apart from that, you can look forward to the faster Quick Charging, which is again not super fast, as is typical for Samsung.
You can now charge the Z Flip 4 at 25 watts. Apart from that, there are only a few innovations in the latest iteration of the Flip smartphone. What has changed in detail can be read in our comparison between the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3.
Oppo Find N2 Flip: Is the import-only model the best?
Even though buying Oppo smartphones is currently under threat even in Europe, it is worth mentioning Oppo’s Find N2 Flip, a compact foldable phone that wants to compete with the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and proved to be a worthy rival in NextPit’s review.
The AMOLED panel measures a stately 6.8-inches when opened, but it is also a real eye-catcher and very functional when closed: We find another 3.26-inch AMOLED screen on the outside, so you can save yourself many an opening procedure with this device. Oppo combines the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage under the hood.
A 50 MP main camera leads the dual-cam setup, and a 32 MP selfie snapper is also on board. The battery offers a capacity of 4,300 mAh and can be charged with up to 44 W. Antoine Engels already tested the Oppo foldable and you can already check out his complete impressions with the Oppo Find N2 Flip.
As with most Chinese brands, you can only buy the Find N2 Flip in the US through third-party importers on marketplaces with limited availability.
Other foldables worth mentioning
The market for foldable smartphones has grown by a few devices this year, so we also want to discuss foldables that were recently introduced but have neither reached the shelves nor been tested extensively by the NextPit editorial team. Smartphones like the Google Pixel Fold or the Huawei Mate X3, which we would like to at least briefly mention here.
Google Pixel Fold
The Google Pixel Fold was officially presented at Google I/O 2023 and is the first foldable smartphone from Mountain View. The price of 1,899 dollars is similarly hefty as that of its foldable competitors. The Google Pixel Fold, with its 7.6-inch OLED display on the inside and foldable, will be available for pre-order on May 10 and will reach shelves on June 20, 2023.
On the outside, there is another screen with a diagonal of 5.8 inches. The foldable Android smartphone is powered by a Google Tensor G2, together with 12 GB of RAM and 256 or 512 GB of internal program storage. Typical for Google, not expandable via microSD card. The battery has a capacity of 4,821 mAh and can be charged with 30 W. Finally, the camera setup should be mentioned, which consists of two front cameras (8 and 9.5 MP) and a triple main camera.
The latter unit consists of a 48 MP Quad PD main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 10.8 MP ultra-wide-angle, and another 10.8 MP telephoto camera with a 5x lossless and 20x “Super Res” zoom. In addition, there is an LDAF, as well as a flicker sensor.
Huawei Mate X3
The Huawei Mate X3, for its turn, is one of many foldable smartphones from the Chinese manufacturer. In fact, Huawei is one of the manufacturers that were the first to launch a foldable on the market, together with Samsung. However, the manufacturer has been subject to the US embargo since 2019, which makes the smartphone unattractive even in Europe due to the lack of Google Mobile Services and 5G support.
In the end, even the otherwise superior technology of a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, an inwardly folded 7.85-inch AMOLED main display (2,496 x 2,224 px), and a 6.4-inch outer panel does not help over that. Even with the price of 2,199 Euros, Huawei does not seem to show any understanding that, without access to the Google Play Store, it will be difficult to compete in the tough foldables market outside the Chinese Walls.
Short take
These are the models that we could agree on with the NextPit editorial team from a subjective point of view. Compared to the other devices, the Microsoft representative has fallen out of favor in our assessment. Nevertheless, we wanted to mention the Surface Duo 2 because it is the only foldable that relies on a solution with two independent displays.
Let us know in the comments which model is your foldable favorite and if you agree with our picks.
NextPit’s best phones lists
Our selection of the best foldable smartphones has been updated as of May 2023, previous comments were kept and may appear out of context.
