Best Folding Phones of 2026
Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, is PCMag’s top pick at $1,999. On Android, the Galaxy Z Fold8 is the best book-style foldable, and the $799.99 Motorola Razr is the most affordable.
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Quick answer
Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, is PCMag’s top pick at $1,999. On Android, the Galaxy Z Fold8 is the best book-style foldable, and the $799.99 Motorola Razr is the most affordable. Best overall: Apple iPhone Duo, $1,999. Best Android: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, $1,899.99. Best flip: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8, $1,049.99. Most affordable: Motorola Razr (2026), $799.99.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Apple iPhone Duo | iPhone owners | $1,999 |
| Best Android | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 | Android | $1,899.99 |
| Best flip | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 | a compact flip | $1,049.99 (PCMag) |
| Most affordable | Motorola Razr (2026) | the lowest price | $799.99 |
This list draws on PCMag’s[1] folding phone picks (updated October 2026) and CNET’s[2] foldable guide, with prices checked October 2026. For regular phones, see best phones.
Which should you buy? Our quick picks
How do they compare?
| Phone | Price | Style | Reviewed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone Duo | $1,999 | Book | PCMag (Editors’ Choice); CNET hasn’t reviewed |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 | $1,899.99 ($1,699.99 sale at Samsung) | Book | PCMag; CNET |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra | $2,099.99 ($1,899 at CNET) | Book | CNET |
| Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold | $1,899 | Book | PCMag; CNET |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 | $1,049.99 (was $1,199.99) | Flip | PCMag; CNET |
| Motorola Razr Ultra (2026) | $1,499.99 | Flip | PCMag |
| Motorola Razr (2026) | $799.99 | Flip | PCMag (Editors’ Choice); CNET |
The picks in detail
1. Apple iPhone Duo
Best for: iPhone ownersPCMag’s[1] top foldable has durable hardware, an anti-reflective inner screen that hides the crease, faster performance than Android rivals and class-leading battery life, plus Apple Pencil support. PCMag dislikes the button placement and the move to Touch ID. Apple sells it from $1,999 (256GB).
Price (Oct 2026): $1,999 Source
Pros
- Best battery life among book foldables
- Crease is hard to see
- Apple Pencil support
Cons
- Touch ID instead of Face ID
- Awkward buttons
- No telephoto camera
2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8
Best for: AndroidPCMag’s[1] best Android foldable (Editors’ Choice) is light, has a much smaller crease, a video-friendly aspect ratio and nearly 17 hours of battery life in PCMag’s test. It has no telephoto camera and is still vulnerable to grit. Samsung lists it at $1,899.99, with sale prices around $1,699.99.
Price (Oct 2026): $1,899.99 Source
Pros
- Light, strong build
- Smaller crease
- Long software support
Cons
- No telephoto camera
- Average cameras
3. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8
Best for: a compact flipPCMag[1] and CNET[2] both recommend it, and CNET rates it above the other foldables it has reviewed. It has top-tier build quality, a more useful outer screen and water resistance. It costs more than last year’s Flip and has no zoom camera. PCMag saw it at $1,049.99.
Price (Oct 2026): $1,049.99 (PCMag) Source
Pros
- Great build quality
- Useful cover screen
- Waterproof
Cons
- Pricier than last year
- No zoom camera
4. Motorola Razr (2026)
Best for: the lowest pricePCMag’s[1] affordable pick (Editors’ Choice) lasted over 19 hours in its battery test, is compact and has respectable cameras. The screens could be brighter and performance is average. CNET[2] notes a $100 price increase and three years of OS updates.
Price (Oct 2026): $799.99 Source
Pros
- Long battery life
- Cheapest major foldable
Cons
- Average performance
- Only three OS updates (CNET)
5. Motorola Razr Ultra (2026)
Best for: battery life in a flipPCMag[1] got 21 hours of battery life from the Razr Ultra, with bright screens and fast wired charging. It costs $200 more than the previous model, has no processor upgrade and limited software support.
Price (Oct 2026): $1,499.99 Source
Pros
- 21-hour battery
- Bright displays
Cons
- $200 price increase
- Limited software support
6. Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Best for: camerasPCMag’s[1] camera pick has the best cameras on a foldable, excellent screens and Google’s full AI features, but it’s expensive and slower than competing foldables. CNET[2] rates it 8.4.
Price (Oct 2026): $1,899 Source
Pros
- Top foldable cameras
- Excellent screens
Cons
- Expensive
- Slower processor
Also considered
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: Bigger 8-inch inner and 6.5-inch cover screens, 5,000mAh battery and 200MP camera; $2,099.99 list.
TCL Flip 4 5G: PCMag’s[1] basic flip phone pick at $109.99 at T-Mobile; limited apps and poor cameras.
Book or flip?
Book-style foldables (iPhone Duo, Fold8, Pixel 11 Pro Fold) open into a small tablet. Flips (Z Flip8, Razr) fold a normal phone in half to fit in a pocket. For a head-to-head of the two biggest book foldables, see iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold8.
Durability
The iPhone Duo is rated IP68. The Fold8 is rated IP48 (PCMag[1], CNET[2]), which means limited dust protection, and PCMag notes it’s still vulnerable to grit. For non-folding options, see best Samsung Galaxy phones, best iPhone and best Android phones.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best folding phone?
What is the cheapest good foldable?
Does Apple make a folding iPhone?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- PCMag: The best folding phones (Oct 2026) (pcmag.com)
- CNET: Best foldable phone (cnet.com)
- Apple: iPhone Duo (apple.com)
- Samsung: Galaxy Z Fold8 (samsung.com)
Related
iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8
The iPhone Duo lasts longer, is rated IP68 and has the faster chip, but it’s heavier and starts $100 higher. The Galaxy Z Fold8 is lighter, often on sale for $1,699.99, and runs Android.
best ofBest Phones of 2026
The iPhone 17 and Pixel 11 both start at $899 and are the best flagship values. Spend more for zoom, or less with the $599 Pixel 10a.
best ofBest Samsung Galaxy Phones of 2026
The Galaxy S26 ($849.99 on sale) is the best Samsung phone for most people. The S26 Ultra adds the S Pen and 5x zoom, the Z Fold8 is WIRED’s favorite foldable, and the A37 is the budget pick.
best ofBest iPhone to Buy in 2026
The iPhone 17 is the right iPhone for most people. Save $200 with the 17e, or pay $1,199 for the 18 Pro’s variable-aperture camera and longer zoom.
best ofBest Android Phones of 2026
The Pixel 11 is the best Android phone for most people, and it’s often $150 off at Best Buy. Get the S26 Ultra for the biggest screen and S Pen, or the Pixel 10a to save money.
comparisonSamsung Galaxy Z Fold8 vs Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Both cost about $1,900. The Fold8 is much lighter, faster and better for productivity, but it dropped the telephoto. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold has IP68 dust resistance, Qi2 magnets and a 5x telephoto, but it’s heavier.