Foldable smartphones are the brand-new craze, and naming the Best Foldable Smartphone 2024 has not been easy. Samsung really kicked things off five whole phones ago, but this past year, smartphone companies came out of the woodwork to bring their own iterations to the smartphone market.
So, what makes a good foldable smartphone? For years, we were just excited by the gimmick and were ready to accept budget-quality cameras and lessened specs for premium prices. This year, things have begun to change. Brands like OnePlus put thought and care into their fold’s camera specs. Google brought a user interface that literally anyone can pick up and use. Samsung brought improvements to an already well-thought-out flip that made our reviewer praise it.
Here are CGMs winners for Best Foldable Smartphone 2024.
Best Foldable Smartphone 2024:
GOOGLE PIXEL FOLD SMARTPHONE
Writer: Dayna Eileen
Man, 2023 is the year of the foldable. Yes, Samsung has been doing it for a while, but this year, several companies have taken the idea of the foldable phone, refined it and put their own spin on it. Today, we are checking out Google Pixel Fold, and Google has definitely put their special touch on it, for better and for worse.
The Google Pixel Fold is comfortable to hold, easy to get used to, and though the dimensions are a bit different, they still work for many use cases. With a price point that sits on par with other foldables on the market, I could recommend the Google Pixel Fold to users who aren’t power-hungry but are looking for something efficient and user-friendly.
The Google Pixel Fold makes the switch to a foldable easy for the uninitiated but still has a few kinks to work out for future iterations. Its price point is competitive, but other brands offer more for the base cost.
- The first foldable phone engineered by Google, Pixel Fold has all the power of the Google Tensor G2 chip in a thin, pocket-size design; it’s made with polished aluminum and matte glass and comes in elegant colors
- Enjoy seamless multitasking with Split Screen[1]; drag two apps up from the taskbar to quickly open them side by side, or open two tabs in Chrome to shop and compare
ONEPLUS OPEN SMARTPHONE
Writer: Dayna Eileen
Ah, foldables. The area of the smartphone market that doesn’t entirely make sense yet but is far too exciting to ignore. Now, OnePlus has joined the foldable market with the OnePlus Open smartphone, and I have to say, the company is absolutely pushing the foldable forward. With big brands like Samsung, Google and HUAWEI to compete with, OnePlus certainly took on a big fight, but I am very happy to say I think they’ve come out on top.
OnePlus is making a lot of great decisions when it comes to their first foldable. The OnePlus Open comes in at $1699.99 USD for the 512GB model with 16 GB of RAM. The Google Pixel Fold matches that price, and the Samsung Z Fold5 is still priced at almost $1920 USD. The OnePlus Open is by far the best foldable on the market right now, especially for its price point. Though foldables aren’t completely optimized just yet, the OnePlus Open is nearly there and definitely the foldable I would recommend.
The smartphone market isn’t quite ready for foldables, with some apps that just don’t work on the larger format, but the OnePlus Open is by far my favourite foldable to date, with a great camera, beautiful display and insane battery life.
- Free 6 months of Google One and 3 months of Youtube Premium with purchase of OnePlus Open. (New accounts only for each service to qualify)
- Thin & Light Design: The OnePlus Open is the thinnest & lightest foldable in North America*. With aerospace-grade materials & a custom Flexion hinge design, the OnePlus Open delivers a ergonomic user experience. With carbon fiber support structures & titanium alloy, the Open is as durable as it is premium. *Comparison does not include flip-style foldable phones. Thinnest measurement excludes rear-facing camera.
SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FLIP5 SMARTPHONE
Writer: Andrew Wilson
I love this year’s Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5. Ever since they were first released, the idea of having a large phone that can fold down and take up minimal space in my pocket was intriguing. While I generally enjoy the idea of having a smaller-sized phone for the same reason of space-saving, being able to have a larger screen for media consumption and potentially less eye strain is never a bad thing, either.
Almost every aspect of the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 has been improved or refined somehow. This year is certainly worthy of being a daily phone for most people as long as they aren’t overly rough on their devices or want something different from what most people carry. I do wish Samsung had found a way to eliminate the screen crease. I was thrilled with this year’s Z Flip5, and this is well worth the upgrade from any previous year’s Z Flip.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 is the best foldable phones I have had the chance to use to date. Nearly everything on this year’s model has been refined to make the Z Flip5 the nearly perfect phone for those who dare to want something different.
- GALAXY AI IS HERE: Search like never before¹, get real-time interpretation on a call², format your notes into a clear summary³, and effortlessly edit your photos⁴ – all from your smartphone, all with AI
- PURSE, POCKET & PALM PERFECT: Flex the pocket-perfect and powerful Galaxy Z Flip5; With its innovative design, this compact phone is packed with a big personality
