Are Foldable Phones Finally Worth Buying This Year?

For years, foldable phones were expensive experiments. Now in 2024, the market has shifted entirely. With prices dropping below $700 and major upgrades to hinge durability, folding screens are ready for everyday users. If you are tired of the standard glass rectangle, this might be the perfect time to upgrade your smartphone.

The Dropping Cost of Entry

Price has always been the biggest hurdle for folding phones. Early models cost nearly two thousand dollars and felt like delicate prototypes. Today, manufacturers have streamlined their production lines. This competition directly benefits your wallet.

The Motorola Razr 2023 completely changed the pricing structure for clamshell folding phones. It launched with a retail price of $699, but major carriers and retailers frequently drop that price down to $499 during sales events. This makes it significantly cheaper than a base model Apple iPhone 15 or Samsung Galaxy S24.

If you want a device with a massive outer screen, you have premium options that still keep the price under four figures. Both the Motorola Razr+ and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 sit at the $999 mark. You no longer have to pay a massive premium just to get a phone that folds in half.

Massive Improvements in Durability

If you read reviews of foldables from 2020, you will see complaints about peeling screen protectors and broken hinges. The class of 2024 has largely solved these problems.

Samsung introduced the Flex Hinge for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5. This new teardrop design allows the phones to close completely flat. Because there is no longer a wedge-shaped gap near the hinge, dirt and pocket lint have a much harder time getting inside and scratching the internal screen.

Water resistance is also standard on premium foldables now. Both of Samsung’s current folding devices feature an IPX8 water resistance rating. You can drop them in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes without ruining the device. While dust resistance is still something you need to be careful with, rain and accidental spills will not destroy your phone.

Manufacturers are also using much stronger Ultra Thin Glass on the inner displays. While it still feels softer than the thick glass on a standard iPhone, it can withstand everyday tapping, swiping, and typing without showing permanent dents.

Book-Style vs. Flip-Style Phones

If you decide to buy a foldable this year, you need to choose between two very different form factors.

Flip-Style Phones These phones look like normal smartphones when open but fold in half like a classic clamshell phone from the early 2000s. The main benefit here is portability. A phone like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 fits perfectly into small pockets or tiny purses. The large 3.4-inch outer screen allows you to check maps, reply to text messages, and control Spotify without ever opening the main device.

Book-Style Phones These devices open up to reveal a tablet-sized screen. They are built for productivity and media consumption. The OnePlus Open, which costs $1,699, is currently leading the pack in this category. It features a nearly invisible screen crease and a brilliant software system called Open Canvas. This software lets you run three apps on the screen at the same time. Google is also in the mix with the $1,799 Pixel Fold. The Pixel Fold gives you top-tier camera performance and a wider front screen that feels exactly like a normal phone when closed.

Battery Life and Processing Power

Battery life was a massive problem for early foldables. Powering a massive internal screen drained batteries by mid-afternoon. Companies fixed this issue by using highly efficient internal processors.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, found in the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and OnePlus Open, runs much cooler and drains significantly less power than older chips. You can easily get a full day of heavy use out of these devices.

Charging speeds have also seen massive improvements. The OnePlus Open packs a large 4,805 mAh battery and supports 67W fast charging. If you forget to plug your phone in overnight, you can charge the device from zero to 100 percent in just 42 minutes.

Aggressive Carrier Subsidies

You do not always have to pay the full retail price out of pocket. To make these phones more appealing to the general public, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are running massive trade-in promotions throughout 2024.

You can often trade in an older standard phone, like a three-year-old Samsung Galaxy S21, and get up to $1,000 off a new foldable in the form of monthly bill credits. By taking advantage of these carrier deals, you can bring the monthly cost of a premium foldable down to the exact same price as a standard flagship smartphone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times can you fold a folding phone before it breaks? Modern foldables are rigorously tested by machines before they hit the market. Samsung guarantees that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 can withstand 200,000 folds. If you open and close your phone 100 times a day, the hinge is designed to last for over five years.

Do foldable phones have good cameras? Yes, but they are slightly different from standard flagships. Because foldable phones are extremely thin, manufacturers cannot fit massive zoom lenses inside them. However, phones like the Google Pixel Fold and OnePlus Open still take incredible, color-accurate photos that rival the Apple iPhone 15 Pro.

Can I put a case on a folding phone? Yes. Major case manufacturers like Spigen, OtterBox, and Case-Mate make specific cases for folding phones. These cases usually come in two pieces that snap onto the top and bottom halves of the device to protect it from drops.