Best Folding Phone Outside the US
You can import it into the US and hope it works perfectly fine on your carrier, but the Honor Magic V3 is the best booklike fold for anyone in the UK, Europe, or other markets where the phone is sold (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It’s one of the world’s slimmest folding phones, and that means using the external screen feels pretty normal, like a single-screen device (that’s good!). Open it up, and you get a 7.92-inch expansive screen. These displays are gorgeous, and Honor wins out on other basic functions too, like great battery life, a solid triple camera system, and amenities like wireless charging.
Where it falls short is software. Honor has made strides in improving it since its predecessors, but there are still some quirks, like weird transitions between the front and inside screens. The software support on this phone also doesn’t last as long as what Google and Samsung offer, which is a shame considering it’s nearly as expensive.
| Specs |
|---|
| External display: 6.43-inch, 120-Hz LTPO, OLED |
| Internal display: 7.92-inch, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED |
| Processor and RAM: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 12 GB RAM |
| Storage: 512 GB |
| Battery: 5,150 mAh |
| Cameras: 50-MP main camera, 50.5-MP 3.5X telephoto, 40-MP ultrawide, 20-MP front camera, 20-MP inner selfie camera |
| Updates (from date of manufacture): Four years of Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates |
| Extras: Wireless charging, IPX8, fingerprint sensor, NFC |
| Carrier compatibility: Not officially supported in the US; available in the UK and Europe |
Other Folding Phones to Consider
Razr 2025 series
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Motorola Razr+ (2025): There is technically a third phone in Motorola’s latest Razr lineup: the Razr+ 2025. However, it’s nearly identical to last year’s Razr+ 2024, with fresh colors and the improved IP48 rating and titanium-reinforced hinge. It sits in an awkward middle ground, though. It’s not as affordable as the standard Razr, which offers a pretty nice experience for the money. But it’s also not as flagship as the Razr Ultra. It is also the only one of the lineup without the ultrawide camera. I usually love telephoto zoom lenses, but ultrawides are so handy on flip phones for group selfies. If you’re considering this model, it’s also worth considering the Razr+ from 2024, as you’ll see some nice discounts on it throughout the year.
Galaxy Z Flip5 and Fold5
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 for $1,000: The 2023 fifth-generation Galaxy Z Flip5 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a polished flip-style handset with an IPX8 water-resistance rating and a silent hinge. It closes completely flat without leaving a gap in the middle, and this iteration has a larger cover screen on the front, which lets you look at large widgets like the calendar, weather, step count, and timer—plus notifications with the ability to respond to them via a full-size keyboard—without opening the device up. The newer Flip6 doesn’t add many new features—the upgrades are in the software, and the Flip5 has received many of them. Make sure you do not pay anywhere close to MSRP for this phone.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 for $1,250: The Galaxy Z Fold5 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) from 2023 still shares many similarities with the newer Galaxy Z Fold6, though the front screen is not as wide and can be a little annoying to use (apps can feel a bit squished). It’s still an excellent, well-built phone, but you should avoid paying anything near MSRP. Wait for a sale.
OnePlus Open for $1,700: I loved the OnePlus Open (7/10, WIRED Recommends) when it debuted in 2023, so I was sad to see the company announce earlier this year that it scrapped plans for a successor. You can’t buy this phone from OnePlus or Amazon anymore, but it’s available at Best Buy, and you can also find it used. I don’t think it’s worth the MSRP today, so try to find it at a discount. The Open has the best multitasking system I’ve seen on a booklike folding phone. I had Gmail and X open in split-screen, and then Slack hidden away at the bottom—you can easily scroll down to see the full-size third app or bring all three into view next to each other. There’s no wireless charging support. It also has only an IPX4 water-resistance rating, so I’d be really careful using this near a pool. Take into consideration access to repairability and customer service—Google and Samsung have a wider repair network (at least in the US), and fixing a broken OnePlus might be more troublesome.
Xiaomi Mix Flip for $899: Xiaomi’s first flip phone has a lovely design with excellent displays inside and out, long battery life with fast charging, and flagship-level performance, which makes a nice change as flip phones often have middling specs. It also boasts a solid dual-lens camera, opting for telephoto instead of ultrawide alongside the capable main shooter, which is more useful for most folks. The software lets the party down a little; there’s no IP rating, and it is very pricey, but I had fun with this flip phone. —Simon Hill
Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 for $1,399: Launched only in China like its predecessors, Xiaomi has promised a wider release for the Mix Fold 4 at some point (though not in the US). It’s not much thicker than the Honor Magic V3 above, and the screen crease is more pronounced when you open it. Performance and battery life are impeccable, and it supports fast wired and wireless charging. There’s also a versatile Leica-tuned camera. But it doesn’t feel like a huge upgrade over last year’s Xiaomi Mix Fold 3. —Simon Hill
Oppo Find N5 Flip: You can think of this as the spiritual successor to the OnePlus Open. (Both companies are owned by BBK Electronics.) Sadly, it isn’t available in the US, UK, or Europe. It’s the world’s slimmest booklike foldable at just 3.6 millimeters thick when open. The displays are excellent, it has top-end specs like the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor at its heart, not to mention 80-watt wired charging for speedy top-ups. The cameras aren’t as great, though, and Oppo’s software is still clunky and buggy.
Nubia Flip 5G for $499 (£500): This supercute flip foldable has a stylish circular screen on the front. The Nubia Flip 5G (6/10 WIRED Review) is the most affordable foldable we have seen, outside of discounts for other models. Sadly, the front screen is not very practical, and this is a distinctly average performer with limited processing power and battery life. The software is also dated, and we have concerns about Nubia’s update policy. But for folks keen to try a foldable on a limited budget, the Flip 5G is a way to do it. —Simon Hill
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