In the Fold

30 July,2023 08:11 AM IST |  Mumbai  |  Jaison Lewis

Folding phones seem to have popped out of the woodwork over the last few months. Here’s a primer on what’s available and even what’s not

Representation Pic


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Samsung just launched this beauty a few days back and it is available for pre-order right now. The Galaxy X Flip 5 comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 8GB of RAM and you have two storage variants: 256GB and 512GB. The camera is pretty similar to the last gen Flip, it has two 12MP sensors at the rear and 10MP for selfies. The main screen is a 6.7-inch foldable AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate. However, the most significant change is their new cover screen which they call Flex Window. The cover screen is a massive 3.4-inch, much bigger that the 1.9-inch display on last year's model. The battery capacity is the same.

Motorola Razr 40 Ultra

In the past, before smartphones were a thing, Motorola had a wonderful folding device called the Razr, which eventually lost to the iPhone and other smart phones. Their new version is built for the modern smartphone era and it is currently in its fourth iteration. The Ultra version of the Razr 40 runs on a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It has a 6.9-inch 165Hz main display with an FHD+ resolution and a 3.6-inch external display that covers one entire side. It has four cameras in total: A 12MP main camera paired with a 13MP Ultra-wide, on the smaller display, and a 32MP selfie camera on the main display. It runs this entire setup on a 3800 mAh battery that supports 30W fast charging.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Launched along with the Galaxy X Flip 5 is the larger Galaxy Z Fold 5. This is obviously for someone with deeper pockets in more ways than one. The Z Fold 5 has the same new Snapdragon processor as the Flip 5, the 8 Gen 2. It is paired with 12GB of RAM and is available in three storage options: 256GB, 512GB and 1TB. The camera setup is the same as the previous Fold 4 device, 50MP primary, 10MP telephoto and 12MP ultra-wide. The front facing camera is 10MP. The outer screen is a 6.2-inch display, while the unfolded inner screen is a huge 7.6-inch AMOLED screen. Both have a refresh rate of 120Hz. With the Fold also comes Samsung's excellent stylus which can actually make use of the huge display space. Samsung also claims to have improved the hinge. As for battery, this one has a capacity of 4400mAh.

Oppo find N2 Flip

Oppo also offers a pretty good-looking flip phone. The N2 Flip runs on a Dimensity 9000+ Mediatek processor. The main screen is a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution, and the external display is significantly large at 3.26-inches. The main screen has a refresh rate of 120Hz and the other screen has a 60Hz display. It is available only with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The cameras on the rear are a 50MP main and an 8MP ultrawide. Both are Hasselblad branded. The camera on the inner display is 32MP. It has a decent 4300mAh battery with 44W fast charging. With the new Samsung phones launched, expect this to drop in price pretty significantly in a month or so.

Techno Phantom V Fold

Techno is generally known for its low-cost, high value products, so it is a little shocking to see the Phantom V Fold. It is essentially a low-cost option to the Samsung Fold, but it isn't cheap, as you can tell from the price. Here is what you get. The main unfolded display is a 7.85-inch AMOLED with a 2k resolution, while the cover screen is a 6.42-inch AMOLED display both with 120Hz refresh rate. The phone has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage space. There are a total of five cameras on the device. There is a 50MP main, along with a 50MP telephoto and a 13 MP ultra-wide angle on the rear of the phone. Additionally, the device has a 32MP selfie camera on the outer screen and a 16MP on the larger screen. It comes with a 5000mAh battery and a 45W charger included in the box. Under the hood, the phone is running a Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ processor. While all this sounds good there is one thing to note: this is a first-generation product from Techno. With folding phones, the most significant point of failure is the hinge. Most phones on this list have worked on a couple of generations to improve theirs. Since this is a first-generation product, Techno has to still work on its hinge tech a little more.

Motorola Razr 40

If you aren't so keen on spending big bucks on a folding smartphone, the Motorola Razr is also available at a more palatable price minus some of its Ultra features. Despite the cut in costs, it still seems like a pretty good phone. The processor is a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 and it has 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage. It has a 6.9-inch main screen with FHD+ resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. There is a second external screen but it is 1.5-inch 194 x 368 pixels. It has a 64MP main camera paired with a 13MP ultra-wide. The camera on the screen is 32MP. It has a 4200mAh battery with 30W fast charging support. It costs Rs 30,000 cheaper than the ultra, which is a great deal.

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