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When you stop to think about it for a moment, the idea of a phone with a folding screen is the kind of thing to come straight out of science fiction.
The fact that engineers have turned it into a reality is remarkable. You can now enjoy a full smartphone experience in a device that folds into a small square, or take your phone and turn it into a small tablet.
It's still relatively early days for the technology too, so the best foldable phones are just going to get better over the next few years.
But if you can't wait that long, then we are here to help.
These are the best foldable phones in Australia right now
Motorola RAZR 50 Ultra
Motorola has captured a real elegance in the design of the RAZR 50 Ultra. From the vegan leather finish of the back to the huge 4-inch external display, the 50 Ultra is a gorgeous phone.
It doesn't have the newest processor on board, but it is definitely no slouch. The extra screen size on the outside means you can run most apps on the outside of the phone, giving it a massive versatility not found in other flip devices.
The camera takes great photos, too. Motorola has opted for a telephoto and a wide angle lens combo, which helps take great portrait photos.
Ultimately, it's the combination of its usability and its design that makes this my favourite folding smartphone.
Nick Broughall
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
Samsung listened hard to feedback on last year's Flip 5 foldable. This year's model has a boosted main camera, bigger battery and a more robust build, despite measuring in the same.
Samsung is pushing hard on the phone's AI capabilities this year. Features like using both internal and external screens to live translate a conversation is amazing, though I found the image generation functions less impressive.
With its better cameras, powerful processor and solid battery life, the Galaxy Z Flip6 is a good option for Samsung fans, though I'd argue the Motorola is a better option for most people.
Nick Broughall
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
Samsung didn't spend a lot of time overhauling the specs on the Galaxy Fold6.
While it boasts a newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and now as an IP rating for dust for the first time, it also has the same camera array as the Fold5 and only minor dimension differences.
It's still a great phone, capable of handling every task you throw at it. But it also saw a price increase, and given the lack of significant hardware improvements, that was a bit hard to swallow.
Instead of hardware, Samsung pushed a lot of AI functionality into this year's premium smartphones, and while some are fantastic, like live translate, others are questionable, like any AI image creation.
Nick Broughall
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a bit long in the tooth now, with the Fold6 available now as well. But it's still worth consideration.
It's packed with power, impressive battery life and a stunning 7.6-inch folding screen on the inside partnered with a dynamic 6.2-inch AMOLED display.
Both screens boast a 120Hz refresh rate, so everything looks great and performs well.
Plus, the triple camera array on the rear of the phone is exceptional, letting you take great photos in either folded or open modes.
Nick Broughall
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
The 2023 iteration of the Galaxy Z Flip is a bit older now, but it's still worth thinking about. It offers an impressive design with a robust hinge that is genuinely great to open.
It brings Samsung's excellence with performance to this class of phone, which is made even more useful with the 3.4-inch external display. The external screen gives you access to an array of apps and functions previously unavailable on a Samsung Flip phone.
Unfortunately, camera performance doesn't quite meet the same standards as the Fold5 or the newer Flip6. The fold design does let you prop the phone for nice selfies, though.
Nick Broughall
How we chose the best foldable phones
I've reviewed hundreds of phones over my career, and more than 20 since I launched BTTR. In that time I learned that review sites - including this one - are subjective by nature. Everybody has a different opinion of what is best.
So for this guide, I’ve recommended my top foldable phone choices from the models I have tested.
As I continue to test more folding smartphones, I’ll update this guide to ensure it is regularly up to date.
What to look for when choosing the best foldable phones
Whether you're after one of the models listed above or something completely different, the decision factors you need to consider when buying a new foldable phone are the same.
Folding style
If you've decided you want to buy a foldable phone, the first question you need to answer is what style of foldable you want to buy.
There are two varieties: The first are foldables that open up like a book; turning a device that looks like a phone into a device that looks like a tablet.
The second are the type that open like a clamshell, which swap from a compact square-ish shape to a more traditional phone design.
Once you've decided that, the choice gets much easier due to the limited range of each on the Australian market.
Camera requirements
Mobile phones are now so good at taking photos they effectively replace the entire compact digital camera market.
For foldable phones, the quality of the camera array can be quite stark. Understand your needs as a mobile photographer, and then look for the best model to suit those needs.
You'll want a phone with multiple lenses on the back, and a high quality selfie lens as well if you're into that type of thing.
Battery life
For the vast majority of smartphones, you will get between 1-2 days worth of use before the battery runs out.
There are a few things you can do to maximise your phone's battery. Firstly, choosing a device with a larger battery can help. A 4,000mAh battery is more likely to last longer than a 2,800mAh battery, for example.
You can also choose a smartphone with an effective low-power mode. This mode will switch off a bunch of features when the battery starts to run low. This lets you prioritise battery over functionality.
Additionally, devices with fast charging can be plugged in for just a few minutes to recover a decent amount of battery power.
Performance
Your new phone needs to be able to do whatever you ask of it. The processors that power your phone can vary dramatically in performance.
If your phone is mostly for browsing Facebook or sending text messages, then you probably won't need a powerful processor. If you want to edit photos or play high-quality video games, you are going to need a processor built for performance.
Benchmark scores are an easy way to understand how good a processor is at doing its job. It's not foolproof though. Plenty of manufacturers have cheated to make their benchmark scores look better than they really are.
Having a high-performing mobile plan will also help you get the most out of your phone, so make sure you check your plan inclusions every year.
Price
Foldable screens are still fairly new, which means that foldable phones are still on the expensive side.
If your heart is set on a foldable phone, expect to pay over $1,000, even when the product is discounted. Newer models will typically set you back $1,500 and up. If that's too much, you could always consider a refurbished phone.
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