Nothing beats the coolness quotient of a flip phone! Ever since the return of the form factor in 2019’s Motorola Razr, flip phones quickly became the go-to for fashion-conscious buyers. After years of improvement and innovations, the best flip phones in 2024 are not necessarily the priciest or most obvious ones you can find on the shelves!
Take the newly announced HMD Barbie Phone as an example. This one is not even a smartphone! As a basic feature phone, it manages to make the concept of digital detox desirable to youngsters by subscribing to the ‘Barbie fever’. It’s got the ability to make calls, send texts and click photos but you can flip it shut when not needed.
If the in-your-face Barbie pink is too much, you can consider the saner Nokia 2660 Flip, which serves as the underpinnings of the Barbie Phone!
However, not everyone seeks simplicity or digital detox – there are many who love to add some degree of complexity to life. For them, the new wave of Android flip phones might just be what the doctor ordered – brimming with features and smartness that you might only use once!
Just look at the new Motorola Razr 50 Ultra. It has a cover display that wraps around the main cameras and lets you run all the apps in a compact window. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 furthers the cause of AI on foldable phones by bringing certain Galaxy AI features that could render the enthusiastic intern in your firm useless!
Jokes aside, these flip phones are trying their best to be as useful as possible, that too, at all kinds of price segments to make the form factor more accessible.
Hence, join us as we explore the best flip phones that money can buy in 2024 and figure out what works best for you.
All Motorola Razr Phones In Chronological Order: From Razr V3 To The Latest Razr 50 Ultra
Does Apple Have Plans For A Foldable iPhone?
The most popular flip phones to buy in 2024
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: The best one
OS: Android
If the best is all you seek, then nothing comes close to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6. It is sheer brilliance!
Relying on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform, the Flip 6 is the torchbearer for generative AI phones in this niche segment. The 3.4-inch folder-shaped cover display lets you access miniaturised versions of your favourite social media apps and show customised widgets – how convenient! However, the magic happens when you unfold its large 6.7-inch foldable display. With Samsung’s Galaxy AI-infused One UI 6.1 at the helm, you get a cutting-edge Android experience. The new dual camera system with its superior 50-megapixel image sensor promises better imaging and videography in all kinds of lighting.
And lastly, the bigger 4,000mAh battery should allow for a whole day’s stamina on a full charge. What more can you ask for from your flip phone?
Motorola Razr 50 Ultra: The coolest one
OS: Android
The coolest one is also the newest one on the block! Nothing beats the new Moto Razr!
With a larger 4-inch cover display having a 165Hz OLED panel that leaves almost no front bezel, it is both practical and stylish. The 6.9-inch display on the inside has less visible crease and Motorola has designed a new hinge system to make it more durable. The vegan leather finish on the rear makes it a lot more attractive, especially in the Magenta colourway.
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 under the hood might not be as powerful as most Android flagships but you have ample performance to keep the UI smooth. The Moto AI makes for fun experiences and the new main cameras promise to take nicer photos than its predecessor. The 45W wired charging fills up the 4000mAh battery faster than Samsung’s 25W solution for the Flip 6.
HMD Barbie Phone: The cutest one
OS: Symbian S30, KaiOS
Who said flip phones can’t be cute? If you are yet to get over the Barbie-mania from the summer of 2023, HMD’s new Barbie Phone is the way to go. It’s a flip phone and it’s pink. Need we say more?
The Barbie Phone looks more like a toy phone than an actual one, which is why HMD has to announce it boldly. The mirror finish on the cover and the pink changeable back covers make it quite the conversation starter! You get a matching bead lanyard cable and some cutie stickers to go with the Barbie theme. Even the packaging is labelled as a jewellery box!
Beneath all the Barbie-ness is a tried and tested Nokia 2660 Flip – one of the most affordable flip phones that you can buy. HMD, however, says that the Barbie Phone skips out on social media apps for a complete digital detox. You still have a rear camera for taking photos and support for 4G networks to conduct calls. You can send SMS too.
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra: Most value for money
OS: Android
You will find a couple of discounted older-spec flip smartphones on e-commerce websites but none of them offer a value-for-money proposition like the Razr 40 Ultra. For almost HKD 7,499, you cannot get a better deal than this.
The Razr 40 Ultra is based on the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 platform, thus ensuring flagship-class performance. Motorola’s questionable software update practice raises doubts but the 3.4-inch cover display and the 6.9-inch main display make up for it. The vegan leather back panels painted in those gorgeous Magenta and Peach Fuzz Pantone-branded colours raise the desirability quotient further. You also get decent battery life and 30W charging to fill up the cell quickly.
However, note that the Razr 40 Ultra is over a year old and is likely to be discontinued after the Razr 50 arrives on the scene. Existing users have also raised concerns about the durability of the folding display and a loose hinge mechanism.
Oppo Find N3 Flip: The one with the best camera
OS: Android
The Oppo Find N3 Flip is perfect for those who want to flip but can’t compromise on a good camera system. It isn’t the most cutting-edge flip phone but the Hasselblad-tuned main camera delivers on its promises.
The Find N3 Flip is the only flip smartphone with a versatile triple camera system. The main 50-megapixel wide sensor is accompanied by a 48-megapixel ultrawide shooter and a 32-megapixel telephoto shooter with 2x optical zoom. With Hasselblad filters and enhancements, it makes for a highly capable pocket shooter that flips shut into half.
The triple camera unit, however, restricts the size of the cover display, which at 3.2 inches is much smaller than what Samsung and Motorola have to offer. The MediaTek Dimensity 9200 chipset offers top-tier performance and Oppo’s ColorOS UI ensures a smooth experience. With a 4,300mAh cell, you get the best battery life of any flip smartphone today and the 44W wired charging fills it up to 50 per cent in 23 minutes.
Nokia 2660 Flip: The most budget-friendly
OS: Symbian S30+
If you seek flip phone thrills but none of the Barbie frills, the Nokia 2660 Flip remains the best option for you.
At a nominal price of HKD 798, the Nokia 2660 Flip is the cheapest way to get a ticket to the Flip Phone Club. Being a feature phone, you have to rely on a T9 keypad and two small screens – one on the inside and one on the cover for Called ID functionality. Although the phone supports a 4G LTE network, you miss out on internet connectivity due to the lack of any social or online apps. HMD markets it as a digital detox device but you do get a rear camera for clicking photos the old way.
You are also assured of great battery life on this one.
Notable flip phone honourable mentions
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
OS: Android
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a good buy at the affordable end of the flip phone segment. Despite its age, the Flip 4 continues to be a fun and reliable flip smartphone running the latest version of Android with Samsung’s latest iteration of One UI. The cramped cover display lacks the functionality of the newer Flip 6 but you get to see notifications and basic phone widgets. The battery life is decent and the onboard camera system is almost as good as some older models of the iPhone.
If you find a Galaxy Z Flip 4 listed at a low price, don’t miss out on the deal.
Motorola Razr 50
OS: Android
The Motorola Razr 50 is expected to make an impact in the midrange flip smartphone segment and this time, you can expect it to be priced more aggressively. Based on a mid-tier MediaTek Dimensity 7300X chipset, the Razr 50 utilises the Razr 40 Ultra’s body to offer a potent affordable option. The phone is yet to hit the market but we expect Motorola to price it competitively with respect to other affordable options in the range.
Best AI Phones You Can Buy In 2024: Samsung Z Flip 6, iPhone 15 Pro, Pixel 8 Pro And More
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Review: More Than Just A Style Icon
(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy HMD)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the best Android-based flip phone of 2024.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the best Samsung flip phone of 2024.
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is the latest flip phone launched in 2024.
