The Motorola Razr Plus (2024) and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 are among the newest wave of clamshell-style foldable phones. The current iteration of flip phones with folding screens have been around for four years now.

Over that time, the phones’ design, durability and features have improved while their prices have dropped. The new Motorola Razr (2024) starts at $700 before discounts. And while Samsung and Motorola rule the roost in terms of flip phones in the U.S., companies like Oppo and Xiaomi lead the pack abroad.

These new flip phones have large cover displays, ranging from 3.4 inches on the Z Flip 6 to 4 inches on the Razr Plus. Motorola even lets you run pretty much any Android app you want on the outer screen too.

The clamshell phones on this list have good cameras, and aside from folding in half are just like using a regular candy-bar-style phone.

Best flip phone foldable: Motorola Razr Plus (2024)

When we consider the Motorola Razr Plus on its own terms, it’s outstanding. And perhaps more importantly, it’s a delight to use. The 4-inch cover screen makes the Razr feel like two phones in one. You can use pretty much any app on the outer display, as well as respond to messages, watch videos, make video calls and even play games — all without opening up the Razr Plus.

Add to that a long battery life, fast charging, improved cameras and an IPX8 rating that certifies that the Razr Plus will survive temporary dunking and you realize just how much value Motorola has poured into its flagship foldable. Its $1,000 price is steep, but you’re getting one of the best clamshell style foldables you can buy.

Best Samsung flip phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

For better or worse, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 foldable is packed with artificial intelligence.

It can take a rough sketch and turn it into artwork or help you have a conversation in French or Korean despite only knowing a few words of either language.

The new autofocus/autozoom feature lets you prop the phone in a half-open position and the Z Flip 6 will automatically zoom in or out (switching between the main and ultrawide cameras) to get a photo that best suits the moment.

Samsung’s latest clamshell style foldable has a new 50-megapixel main camera; a smaller hinge and crease; a larger battery and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

But all this comes at a higher starting price: $1,099, which makes it hard to appreciate the Galaxy Z Flip 6 for the absolute great phone that it is.

Best foldable under $700: Motorola Razr (2024)

The 2024 Motorola Razr is an impressive example of a foldable phone that doesn’t break the bank. Yes, you’ll have to make some compromises when it comes to camera quality (shots aren’t quite as remarkable as what you’ll get on the pricier Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 or Motorola Razr Plus, for instance, and night mode isn’t great), but you’ll still generally get high-quality images on both the rear and internal cameras. The phone also has great battery life (it can last for over a day and a half), and that crease in the internal display is hardly noticeable when you’re using your phone like usual; we could barely see it when watching videos or scrolling through photos and apps.

The biggest selling point, though, is that 3.6-inch cover screen, which is convenient for quickly replying to a text, pulling up the camera and controlling your music. You can also take advantage of fun Moto features like gesture selfie, which automatically snaps your photo after you show your palm, and auto smile capture, which takes a picture when everyone in the frame is smiling. But the coolest feature, in my opinion, is External Display Preview mode, which shows a preview of the photo you’re snapping using the cover screen. It’s a prime example of how the 2024 Razr serves as a practical device that effectively utilizes both displays.

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