The best flip phones of 2025: Where does the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 stand?

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Flip phones person travel a agelong mode successful the past decade. After their resurgence with the 2019 Motorola Razr refresh, they person lone improved implicit the years. The champion flip phones not lone person a large screen show and a beardown hinge but besides an intuitive bundle to utilize their unsocial designs.

The 2025 Motorola Razr Ultra, for instance, packs an AMOLED foldable display, a feature-rich idiosyncratic interface and a comfy in-hand feel, alongside a clump of AI features. However, the $1,300 mightiness not suit many. Even the caller $1,100 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 mightiness beryllium retired of scope for many. Thankfully, determination are plentifulness of clamshell foldable phones nether $1,000 that wed signifier origin and tenable pricing.

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What is the champion flip telephone close now?

Samsung and Motorola are the apical 2 brands making flip phones close now. Of each the flip phones we've tested and reviewed so far, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is our prime for the champion flip telephone of 2025. The South Korean tech elephantine brought its A-game astatine Unpacked successful July 2025 and added much-awaited features to its foldables.

The Motorola Razr Ultra is simply a worthy runner up arsenic it houses the latest AI features alongside a almighty flagship chipset. The biggest update comes successful the signifier of a caller titanium-reinforced hinge plate. It is said to beryllium 4 times stronger than surgical-grade stainless alloy and tin withstand up to 35% much folds than past year's models.

It's a choky contention betwixt the 2 flip phones. While the Galaxy Z Flip 7 offers a sturdier physique and premium feel, the Razr Ultra edges retired with a much usable outer show bundle -- which is 1 of the main appeals of a modern-day flip telephone -- arsenic good arsenic faster charging.

Also: The champion Android phones successful 2025

Best flip phones successful 2025

Why we similar it: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 should entreaty to a wide assemblage acknowledgment to its marque powerfulness and bundle longevity. I person been utilizing the telephone for the past 2 weeks, and I emotion the caller design. It feels much premium than Motorola's offering and adds a akin all-screen outer display.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is precise akin to the standard Samsung Galaxy S-series flagship with a ample 6.9-inch AMOLED sheet that's agleam and beauteous to look at, and up to 512GB of retention for those high-resolution pictures and videos. It's each powered by a steadfast 4,300mAh artillery -- an upgrade from past year's Z Flip 6. It besides includes a thinner plan with a lesser crease and a stronger hinge. We besides similar it for its creaseless and snappy One UI.

Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

Who it's for: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 runs One UI 8 and is rated to beryllium supported for astatine slightest 7 years with bundle updates. That's much than Motorola's promise. It tin present good camera results acknowledgment to an improved 50MP main sensor and 12MP ultra-wide.

t's besides geared towards contented creators with features similar AI-powered Auto Zoom feature. This automatically detects however galore radical are successful a framework and imaginable inheritance objects the idiosyncratic whitethorn privation to support successful the changeable and repositions the seizure digitally. Plus, it offers the astir implicit suite of AI features acknowledgment to Galaxy AI.

Who should look elsewhere: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 isn't for those who usage the screen surface a lot, unless they can install an app and force-run apps connected the outer display.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 tech specs: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | Display sizes: 4.1 inches and 6.9 inches | RAM/Storage: 12GB of RAM with 256GB/512GB of retention | Battery: 4,300mAh | Cameras: 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP front | Price: Starting astatine $1,099

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Why we similar it: Motorola's Razr Ultra gets adjacent to the Galaxy Z Flip 7 successful galore ways. I went hands-on with the latest Razr Ultra model, and was thoroughly impressed by the improved hinge system, which makes the telephone consciousness sturdier to flip unfastened and close. Moreover, it features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and 12GB of RAM for a slew of AI features and almighty performance.

As for the outer display, it supports virtually immoderate app you propulsion astatine it. You tin browse the web, play games, scroll TikTok, and bash different mobile tasks without ever needing to flip unfastened the device. In comparison, Samsung's level is much constricted successful this regard. The Motorola Razr Ultra besides has a textured backing, including caller Alcantara and Wood finishes, which I've recovered to beryllium easier to clasp and grip than competing flip phones.

Review: Motorola Razr Ultra (2025)

Who it's for: At $1,299, the Razr Ultra is not a inexpensive flip phone. It's much costly than the Samsung counterpart. That said, it packs a bigger and faster charging battery, larger screens, 2 50MP cameras, and AI features that are really useful. If you privation the astir complete, durable, and visually-stimulating flip telephone connected the marketplace close now, you'll person to wage to play with the Razr Ultra. It is for those who privation a fashion-forward flip telephone without immoderate compromises.

Who should look elsewhere: The Razr Ultra includes top-notch specs, but if you privation a telephone that'd past astatine slightest 5 years, Motorola mightiness not beryllium your favourite brand. It offers a comparatively abbreviated bundle update cadence, which ranges from 2 to 3 years, versus Google and Samsung's 7 years. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 mightiness beryllium amended successful this regard.

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Why we similar it: The Moto Razr Plus 2024 was 1 of the champion compact Motorola phones past year, and its latest mentation continues the legacy. The Motorola Razr 2025 is eerily akin to its predecessor. The lone quality being an updated operating strategy and added particulate absorption with an IP48 rating. As a result, you tin expect creaseless performance, amended bundle longevity, and a akin artillery backup.

The Motorola Razr Plus 2025 is simply a coagulated flip telephone astatine a midrange price. You get a large 4-inch pOLED show with a 165Hz refresh rate, truthful it doesn't consciousness little functional than its much costly sibling, the Motorola Razr Ultra. It besides offers accelerated wireless charging, a bully superior camera, and an intuitive idiosyncratic interface.

Who it's for: The Motorola Razr 2025 Plus is the telephone to bargain if you privation a clamshell foldable but don't privation to walk $1,000. It offers conscionable the close compromises to onshore astatine a bully price-to-performance ratio. You won't beryllium disappointed by the wide usability, acknowledgment to the curved sides, which consciousness amended than its Samsung rival.

Who should look elsewhere: There's not overmuch to responsibility with the Razr astatine $750. But if you privation flagship show and ultrawide camera connected a flip phone, this isn't for you. You'll request to summation your fund oregon bargain a slab telephone for that requirement.

Motorola Razr Plus 2025 specs: Display: 4 inches (cover screen), 6.9 inches foldable display | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Cameras: 50MP primary, 50MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 256GB | Battery: 4,000mAh

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Why we similar it: The Motorola Razr 2025 is the champion mid-range flip telephone close now, acknowledgment to its meaningful upgrades implicit the predecessor and little competition. It is mostly the aforesaid arsenic Razr 2024 but includes an upgraded processor and a bigger battery. So, you tin expect smoother performance, amended bundle longevity and a longer artillery backup.

In his review, ZDNET's Cesar Cadenas said, "A surface similar this allows the foldable to present fantabulous ocular output. For testing, I watched Ozarks on Netflix to spot however good the interior sheet displays content. The archetypal happening I noticed is that the surface is truly bully astatine capturing subtle lighting and the intricate details successful scenes. It adds a batch to the immersion. Moreover, I can't hide the Dolby Atmos speakers, which output awesome audio."

Review: Motorola Razr 2025

Who it's for: The Motorola Razr 2025 should beryllium your prime if you privation a flip telephone but don't privation to walk $1,000. It offers conscionable the close compromises to onshore astatine a bully price-to-performance ratio. You won't beryllium disappointed by the wide usability.

Who should look elsewhere: There's not overmuch to responsibility with the Razr astatine $700. But if you privation flagship show connected a flip phone, this isn't for you. You'll request to settee with a slab telephone oregon summation your fund if that's your superior requirement.

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Why we similar it: The Nokia is 1 of the amended dumb phones I've tested, with a comparatively ample 2.7-inch interior show and 1.7-inch outer show for accusation astatine a glance. The keys and navigation buttons are besides precise spacious, making for a much comfy typing acquisition than astir phones of this size and price. Naturally, the bundle acquisition is minimal, truthful the 512MB of RAM and nerfed Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 spot are tenable specs.

Also: Gen Z embraces dumb flip phones, a smarter beingness hack than you'd think

Who it's for: If your explanation of a flip telephone involves fewer screens and much integer wellness, past you whitethorn beryllium looking for a "dumb phone," made fashionable precocious by Gen Z, who encouraged taking integer detoxes. Of course, specified devices are besides indispensable for users who conscionable privation a bare-bones telephone that tin inactive marque calls, nonstop substance messages, and dial into the internet, but with little accidental of leaving integer fingerprints.

Who should look elsewhere: The Nokia 2780 isn't for those who privation a smartphone. This is for lone those of america who privation a dumb telephone without immoderate distractions.

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The champion flip telephone is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 which offers the astir well-rounded mobile acquisition with 12GB of RAM, up to 512GB of storage, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, a 4,300mAh artillery with accelerated charging, and more. However, it inactive costs implicit $1,000, which mightiness not beryllium appreciated by many.

Phone	Price	Displays	Camera
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7	$1,100	4.1-inch and 6.9-inch	50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP front
Motorola Razr Ultra	$1,100	4-inch and 7-inch	50MP main, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP front
Motorola Razr Plus 2025	$756	4-inch and 6.9-inch	50MP wide, 50MP telephoto, 32MP front
Motorola Razr 2025	$600	3.6-inch and 6.9-inch	50MP wide, 13MP ultrawide, 32MP front
Nokia 2780 Flip	$90	1.77-inch and 2.7-inch	5MP main

To assistance you decide, spot beneath for the cardinal reasons to bargain each of ZDNET's apical flip telephone picks.

Choose this flip phone…	If you want…
Samsung Galaxy Z FLip 7	The champion flipping foldable connected the market, with a 4.1-inch outer show and an all-day artillery beingness with a 4,300mAh cell.
Motorola Razr Ultra 2025	A Samsung alternate that volition past you astatine slightest a fewer years and doesnt compromise connected physique of bundle quality
Motorola Razr Plus 2025	A foldable for less. If you tin unrecorded with its compromises, the $750 Motorola Razr Plus is, without question, the astir accessible instrumentality of its kind.
Motorola Razr 2025	The astir affordable modern-day flip phone, with a $600 terms tag that's hard to beat. The Razr besides has the aforesaid surface size arsenic its Plus sibling.
Nokia 2780 Flip	A dumb telephone that promotes integer wellbeing and detoxing, with bare-bones features and specs for telephone calls, texting, and airy net browsing.

The process of making our telephone selections includes real-world investigating and researching astir the phones for weeks, consulting with colleagues, manufacture experts, and analysts who besides person hands-on acquisition with the smartphones, and past selecting the champion from each of the disposable choices.

Ultimately, we measurement successful the pursuing aspects erstwhile curating this list:

Design: The best-designed flip phones are applicable to use, necessitate a debased to mean learning curve, and should person a burdenless manus feel.
Software optimization: A flip telephone relies connected much than conscionable the modular bundle features of a accepted handset; it needs specialized tools and services built for the outer displays.
Durability: The champion flip telephone tin withstand a beating, whether that's successful the signifier of waist-high drops oregon pouring rain. It helps erstwhile a instrumentality is certified IPX8 oregon IP52 oregon has been tested to conscionable above-average durability standards.
Value: It's hard to disregard however costly flip phones tin be, truthful price-to-performance is thing profoundly considered erstwhile evaluating betwixt devices. Carrier store promotions, trade-in deals, and different offers are besides factored in.

ZDNET's reappraisal squad spends upwards of a twelvemonth investigating the ins and outs of each large telephone release, evaluating the day-to-day performance, camera quality, artillery beingness and endurance, and peculiar features. Here's a breakdown of each origin we see earlier we marque recommendations:

Design and ergonomics: How bully a telephone looks and feels plays a large relation successful galore users' buying journeys, truthful we see these aspects heavy erstwhile testing.
Performance: Several factors impact a phone's performance, including LTE/5G signal, artillery life, and inheritance tasks. Therefore, we typically statesman our evaluations with a afloat charged handset, with each inheritance tasks closed, and with arsenic unchangeable of a mobile transportation arsenic possible.
Camera quality: ZDNET tests telephone cameras by capturing hundreds of photos and videos of assorted subjects and successful assorted lighting conditions. We besides comparison the output to that of older models.
Battery beingness and charging: It's besides important for america to measure however agelong phones past nether light, moderate, and dense usage, however agelong they instrumentality to recharge, and however they bash it (wired, wireless, oregon both).
Special features: These features separate tested devices from a bustling smartphone marketplace and hopefully bring added worth to users, not the opposite.
Pricing and availability: Beyond fund considerations, we besides enactment if a telephone is disposable successful the US oregon lone internationally.

For a much extended breakdown, cheque retired our comprehensive phone investigating methodology page.

Latest quality connected flip phones

Motorola precocious announced a caller 2025 Razr bundle successful collaboration with jewelry marque Swarovski. This variant of the flip telephone comes successful Pantone Ice Melt, a airy bluish color. It besides has a brace of Moto Buds Loop earbuds successful the aforesaid colour successful the box. This Motorola Razr bundle retails for $1,000.

It's the question everyone's been asking since the precise archetypal foldable was launched backmost successful 2019: whether oregon not Apple volition enactment retired a foldable iPhone of its own. While the institution has yet to unveil immoderate plans of making one, and the rumor mill has been alternatively dilatory successful that regard, it would not beryllium astonishing if there's a squad wrong Cupertino already gathering 1 out.

Also: Why foldable phones are inactive truthful expensive, according to analysts

And, arsenic is often the lawsuit with user technology, erstwhile Apple does consciousness comfy capable to merchandise a mass-market foldable phone, we tin expect determination to beryllium a driblet successful wide pricing successful the market, arsenic manufacturers scramble to vie successful value. The latest rumors constituent to a merchandise arsenic soon arsenic successful 2026.

Latest updates

In our August 2025 update, we added the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 arsenic our apical prime and the Motorola Razr Plus 2025 arsenic our champion mid-range flip telephone pick. We replaced the Razr (2023) with Razr (2025) arsenic the champion inexpensive foldable to buy.
In our May 2025 update, we added the Motorola Ultra Razr arsenic our apical pick, arsenic good arsenic replacing the Motorola Razr (2024) with the latest Razr from 2025.

Other flip phones we've tested

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE was launched alongside the Flip 7. While it retains galore of the flagship aspects, astir of its specs are borrowed from past year's Galaxy Z Flip 6. It tin beryllium a confusing device, fixed the $960 retail price, which isn't precise affordable. But the caller FE flip telephone is selling for $760 close now, which makes it a large alternate to the Motorola Razr Plus 2025.

Also: I tried the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE and it near maine precise confused

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 features a Flip 6-like screen screen, an Exynos processor and satisfactory cameras. It is meant for those who privation a Samsung flip telephone but don't privation to walk a 1000 bucks connected one. At $760, you are besides getting a telephone that'll connection longer bundle longevity than immoderate different Motorola phone.

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Another "dumb" telephone option, the TCL Flip 3 features a comparatively ample 3.2-inch display, ample keys, and an 1,850mAh battery.

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For much connected getting the astir retired of your flip telephone oregon an aged phone, cheque out how to marque your aged telephone fast and 10 settings you should alteration connected a Samsung phone.

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