Best Foldable Phone 2026: MKBHD-Awarded Picks That Are Finally Mature
Foldables finally feel mature in 2026. Hinges last, software handles the form factor, and prices have come down enough that they're a real flagship alternative — not a gimmick. We rank the best book-style and flip-style foldables using MKBHD's Best Foldable award (introduced in 2023) as the anchor.
Updated · 5 picks · Rankings reflect MKBHD Smartphone Awards outcomes.
How we picked
Every phone here either won MKBHD's Best Foldable award or placed as runner-up between 2023 and 2025. We sort book-style folds first (more capable as productivity devices), then flip-style.
- #1
Samsung's seventh-gen book-fold won Best Foldable at the 2025 Smartphone Awards. Thinner, lighter, with the most refined hinge yet and Galaxy AI baked in. The most well-rounded foldable you can buy in 2026.
Pros
- Thinnest and lightest big-screen fold to date
- Strongest software ecosystem for foldables
- Seven years of OS updates
Cons
- Inner crease is still visible at certain angles
- Camera system trails non-folding flagships
- #2
Runner-up at the 2025 Best Foldable awards. Honor's Magic V4 is the slimmest book-fold on the market, with hardware that genuinely matches the Z Fold 7. The catch: limited US availability and a less mature update commitment.
Pros
- Slimmest book-style fold available
- Excellent display brightness
- Aggressive pricing in markets where it's sold
Cons
- Limited US availability and software polish
- Update commitment trails Samsung and Google
- #3
Google's second-gen book-fold won Best Foldable at the 2024 Smartphone Awards. Cleaner Android, the best AI-photo features in any foldable, and a wider unfolded aspect ratio that's better for video and reading.
Pros
- Best AI-powered photo editing in a foldable
- Wider unfolded aspect ratio than rivals
- Now significantly discounted
Cons
- Inner display is dimmer than Z Fold 7
- Tensor G4 trails Snapdragon 8 Elite
- #4
2025 Best Small Phone winner — best flip foldable
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
Samsung · 2025 · From $999
Won Best Small Phone in 2025 — partly because the Z Flip 7's 4.1-inch cover screen is now usable as a standalone device. The best flip phone ever made, and the most pocketable flagship on this list.
Pros
- 4.1-inch cover screen genuinely useful
- Most pocketable flagship
- Galaxy AI integration
Cons
- Battery life shorter than book-style folds
- Still expensive at $999
- #5
MKBHD's 2023 Best Foldable winner. The OnePlus Open is now widely available used at $700–$900, undercutting current-gen folds by a lot. Hinge holds up, software is solid, and the hardware is still impressive two generations in.
Pros
- Big discount vs current-gen alternatives
- Excellent hinge that ages well
- Genuinely useful split-screen software
Cons
- Limited remaining update window
- OxygenOS missing some Galaxy AI niceties
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are foldable phones worth it in 2026?
Yes — they're finally mature. Hinges last, prices have dropped, and software handles the form factor properly. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (2025 Best Foldable) and Galaxy Z Flip 7 (2025 Best Small Phone) lead the category.
Book-style or flip-style foldable: which should I get?
Book-style (Z Fold 7, Magic V4, Pixel 9 Pro Fold) for productivity, video, and reading on a tablet-sized inner screen. Flip-style (Z Flip 7) for pocketability and a standalone-usable cover screen.
Do foldable phones break easily?
Modern foldables (2024+) have largely solved the durability concerns from earlier generations. The 2025 Best Foldable winner — Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 — is the most robust hinge mechanism Samsung has shipped.
About this list
We index every phone that won or placed in MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025) and surface the strongest matches for this category. Award badges link to the full award history. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.