Best Flip Phones of 2023

Best Flip Phones of 2023،

The flip phone, once considered a relic of the past, is making a surprising and trendy comeback. Emerging from the shadows of obsolescence, flexible-screen flip phones are enjoying a resurgence in popularity, capturing the attention of both nostalgics and those looking for a refreshing break from the ubiquitous panel-style models. And even though these animals were very rare in the smartphone jungle, these days you can spot one in the wild almost daily. But what is the best flip phone? Samsung led the way with its Galaxy Z Flip series and Motorola capitalized on the nostalgia around the RAZR moniker, but other players from the Far East are threatening to steal territory.

In this article, we will focus on the flip phone in the modern era and meticulously list and classify all existing species. Here we go!

The best flip phones in 2023, a summarized list:

Honorable mentions:

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

The most popular flip phone on the market

PhoneArena rating: 8.2/10

Samsung was once at the forefront of foldable smartphone technology, and although in recent years the company was a bit of a laggard, the latest Galaxy Z Flip 5 fixes most issues with previous models. It has a larger, more usable cover screen, the latest Snapdragon processor, and now closes with almost no gaps.

Certainly, the Z Flip 5 isn’t yet at the level of usefulness of the Motorola Razr Plus, but the company gets there with third-party support for cover display widgets. It’s neck and neck between these two, and Samsung fans may want to grab the Z Flip 5 for the familiar OneUI experience and longer software support: four full years.

Motorola RazrPlus

The best cover screen on a flip phone

PhoneArena rating: 8/10

There are two main things that annoy people when they try a foldable phone for the first time. First, obviously they have to open the phone, and second, the main screen is tiny and there’s not much you can do on it. The Motorola Razr Plus takes care of the latter and poses a serious challenge to veterans of the foldable market, like the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

This phone has the largest and most usable cover screen of any foldable in this form factor. The 3.6-inch front screen offers plenty of functionality: you can type on the full-size keyboard, call someone, launch an app, watch a video, and do just about anything you need to do without opening the phone . Which solves the first problem from above.

Further down the spec sheet, the Razr Plus offers a bright and vibrant 6.9-inch main display with a 165Hz refresh rate, a flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a big 3,800mAh battery, and two decent cameras on the back. What’s not to like? Take notes, Samsung!

Oppo Find N3 Flip

The best camera on a flip phone

PhoneArena rating: to be confirmed

Foldable phones are great and all, but there’s been a trade-off for generations now: the camera. The thing is, to make the flip phone thin and light, you have to sacrifice a few things, and the camera is often the first to go. Well, not anymore, as Oppo has launched the successor to its popular and well-received Find N2 Flip model.

The Oppo Find N3 Flip expands on the idea of a do-it-all flip phone with a stunning cover screen and Hasselblad-branded main camera. The Find N3 Flip might just be the first flip phone with a triple camera system, we’re talking about a real camera, not depth sensors or other excuses to increase the number of cameras.

There’s a 50 MP main camera, a 48 MP sensor under the ultra-wide lens, and a dedicated 32 MP telephoto lens with optical zoom! The phone also comes with a Dimensity 9200 chipset, 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, both upgrades over its predecessor’s memory specs. The 4,300 mAh dual battery and 44W fast charging remain.

Huawei P50 pocket

The most stylish flip phone

PhoneArena rating: 8.5/10

Let’s not forget that flip phones were designed to look like a makeup compact (also called a flapjack). Of course, we can no longer say that a certain smartphone model is girly, but we can say that the Huawei P50 Pocket is a very stylish device that our author Iskra (who happens to be a girl) really liked. It’s an exercise in vanity to some extent, but in a world where smartphones are so similar and sometimes just plain boring, we’re all for little panning. The Huawei P50 Pocked has a superb display, a very capable camera system and fast wired charging.

On the negative side, this phone comes with an older Snapdragon 888 chipset and no 5G capabilities and, of course, it doesn’t integrate Google services. But this thing looks pretty.

Honorable mentions

Motorola Razr/Razr 40 (2023)

The most affordable flip phone

PhoneArena rating: 8/10

When Samsung dropped the price of the Galaxy Z Flip line to less than $1,000, everyone hailed the move as the first breakthrough for foldable phones in the affordable category. Now we can argue whether $999 is affordable, but the fact is that it has moved the market forward. Now, several years later, we have the first truly affordable flip phone: the Motorola Razr 40 (known as the Motorola Razr (2023) in the US).

The Motorola Razr costs just $699, which is cheaper than many non-foldable flagships. Sure, the phone is mid-range, but you can get a taste of that experience without breaking the bank. It’s a great gateway to the world of flexible-screen smartphones, and if you really like it, you can upgrade to a better, more expensive smartphone after a year or two.

Are flip phones worth the extra cost?

This is a difficult question. It really depends on what you’re looking for in a phone. If you like being on the cutting edge of smartphone technology and don’t mind paying extra, then yes. Plus, there are now truly affordable flip phones like the Motorola Razr (2023), allowing you to test the experience without breaking the bank.

Are flip phones durable enough?

Folding technology has been around for many years now and most of the problems have been solved. The hinges used by companies are designed to withstand approximately 200,000 bends, or 5 years of heavy use. However, you must be careful and not overuse these hinges. They can be tested under laboratory conditions, but a little care goes a long way. Beware of dust and dirt slipping between the hinge and the screen, as this can break the screen and render it unusable. Overall, flip phones are durable, but not as durable as their more rigid non-foldable cousins.

Is the size and shape of flip phones a factor in battery life?

Several generations ago, the battery life of flip phones was slightly lower than that of regular flagship phones. These days, however, most flip phones come with batteries of 4,000 mAh or more, and the battery life is comparable to that of a similar compact flagship phone. Ultimately, it all depends on the usage scenarios. The nature of flip phones allows them to be used without opening them, which can preserve battery life.

Are there any differences in camera quality between flip phones and traditional phones?

Normally yes. Flip phones need to be thinner and lighter to accommodate the hinge and be able to fold without being too thick. This requires some compromises, mainly on the camera side. Most flip phones come with a dual camera setup consisting of a main camera and an ultra-wide camera. However, we’re starting to see models with three cameras on the back and flagship-grade sensors and lenses. So the answer to this question is “it really depends on the model”.