The Phone Shelf

Best foldable phones (October 2026)

Eight foldables on sale in the US plus the iPhone Duo, compared on paper: screens, weight, dust and water ratings, batteries and update promises.

Edited by Yuriy Andreyev

Published October 15, 2026

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra (left) and Galaxy Z Fold8 (right) unfolded on labelled display stands
Photo: ScribblingGeek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (license)

The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the best book-style foldable for most people. It cost $1,899 on the Google Store on October 15, 2026, the same as its August launch price. On paper it is the only Android foldable here rated IP68 for dust and water, and Google promises seven years of OS and security updates, through about August 2033.

If you want a flip phone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 at $1,199.99 has the longest update promise of any flip, seven years. The motorola razr 2026 at $799.99 is the cheapest foldable on this list.

How we picked

We started with every foldable we track from Google, Samsung, Motorola and Apple, then applied the rules on our how we research page: at least three years of promised security updates, support on at least two of the three national carriers, and sold new. Eight Android foldables passed. Each card shows the launch price; the text gives the maker's own store price on October 15, 2026.

The iPhone Duo is a special case. Apple opens pre-orders on October 16 and says it will be available on October 23, so it is not in anyone's hands yet. Apple also publishes no fixed update period; our guide on which iPhone to buy explains why we include iPhones anyway.

We haven't held any of these phones. Every figure below comes from the makers' spec sheets, support pages and stores.

A note on dust

Every foldable here is rated against water, but most are not rated against dust. In an IP rating, the first digit covers solid particles: 6 means dust-tight, while 4 means protection only from objects larger than 1 mm. Samsung's foldables and Motorola's flips are IP48, the razr fold is IP49, and only the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and the iPhone Duo are IP68. For a phone with a hinge that rides in pockets and bags, that first digit is worth checking.

Pixel 11 Pro Fold: the best book-style foldable

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold opens to an 8-inch screen and has a 6.5-inch screen on the outside, both rated 1 to 120Hz by Google. It runs Google's Tensor G6 with 16GB of RAM. The rear cameras are a 48MP wide, a 10.5MP ultrawide and a 10.8MP 5x telephoto, and Google lists a typical battery of 4,806 mAh.

Two things set it apart on paper. It is the only Android foldable here rated IP68, and its support runs the longest: Google promises seven years of Android and security updates from August 2026, through about August 2033, just past Samsung's July 2033 end date. It also keeps a physical SIM slot next to eSIM.

The trade-offs are weight and battery. At 239 g it is heavier than Samsung's Fold8, and the razr fold lists a much bigger battery. On carriers, Google sells unlocked and Verizon versions and T-Mobile announced it, but Google offers no AT&T version. Google says the unlocked model works with any major carrier.

motorola razr fold: biggest battery, fastest charging

Press reports put the razr fold's US launch at $1,899.99 in May 2026, which matches its list price on motorola.com. On October 15, motorola.com sold it for $1,699.99, the lowest price of any book-style foldable here.

On paper it leads the group on battery and charging. Its 6,000 mAh battery is the largest, its 80W wired charging is the fastest, and Motorola lists 50W wireless charging too. It has three 50MP rear cameras, including a periscope telephoto, with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The inner screen is 8.1 inches at 120Hz and the cover screen is 6.6 inches at 165Hz.

Motorola promises seven Android upgrades and up to seven years of security updates; its support page lists them through March 2033. The costs are 243 g of weight and an IP49 rating. It also supports Motorola's moto pen ultra, sold separately.

Galaxy Z Fold8: the lightest book-style foldable

The Fold8 costs $1,899.99 on samsung.com, its August 2026 launch price. At 201 g it is the lightest book-style foldable in this group. Samsung changed its shape this year: it is wider, at 123.9 by 161.4 mm unfolded, around a 7.6-inch inner screen. Samsung's US spec page gives the cover screen as 5.5 inches measured as a full rectangle, or 5.4 inches with its rounded corners; Samsung's press release has the two figures swapped.

It has a 4,800 mAh battery, 45W wired charging, and two 50MP rear cameras with no telephoto. Samsung promises seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, and its US spec page lists security updates through July 2033. The rating is IP48.

If you want a telephoto and a bigger cover screen from Samsung, look at the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra at $2,099.99. It adds an 8-inch inner screen, a 6.5-inch cover screen, a 200MP main camera, a 10MP 3x telephoto and a 5,000 mAh battery, at 215 g and with the same update promise.

Galaxy Z Flip8: the flip with the longest support

The Flip8 costs $1,199.99 on samsung.com, the same as at its August 2026 launch. It is the lightest foldable here at 180 g. It opens to a 6.9-inch screen, has a 4.1-inch FlexWindow on the outside, and runs a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with 12GB of RAM.

What sets it apart from the Motorola flips is support: seven years of OS and security updates, through July 2033. The weak spots on paper are a 4,300 mAh battery, the smallest of any foldable here, and 25W wired charging. One buying note: on October 15, Verizon's site said the Flip8 was available only at Verizon Authorized Retail stores, so Verizon customers may find it easier to buy unlocked from Samsung.

motorola razr 2026: the cheapest foldable

The razr 2026 costs $799.99 on motorola.com, the same as at its May 2026 launch. It opens to a 6.9-inch 120Hz screen and has a 3.6-inch cover screen at 90Hz. Against the Flip8, it lists a bigger 4,800 mAh battery, faster 30W wired charging, and a 50MP ultrawide where the Flip8 has a 12MP one. It also has 15W wireless charging and weighs 188 g.

The cost is support. Motorola's support page lists security updates through June 2030, about four years, and Motorola publishes no Android upgrade count for it. It runs a MediaTek Dimensity 7450X with 8GB of RAM, where the other flips here use Snapdragon chips with 12GB or more.

Motorola's two pricier flips also pass our rules. The razr+ 2026 ($1,099.99) has a 165Hz inner screen and a 4.0-inch cover screen. The razr ultra 2026 ($1,499.99) has a 7-inch screen, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, a 5,000 mAh battery and 68W charging. We didn't give either its own pick: both cost about as much as the Flip8 or more, and Motorola lists security updates only through May 2030 for the razr+ and February 2030 for the razr ultra.

iPhone Duo: the foldable iPhone, shipping October 23

The Duo costs $1,999 for 256GB. Apple announced it on September 9, 2026, opens pre-orders on October 16 and says it will be available on October 23. Until then, every figure here is Apple's.

It opens to a 7.6-inch folding OLED screen and has a 5.4-inch outer screen, both up to 120Hz. It runs the A20 Pro, has a 48MP main and a 48MP ultra wide camera with no telephoto, and is rated IP68. Apple rates video playback at up to 31 hours on the inner screen and up to 44 hours on the outer one. It weighs 254 g, the most of any foldable here, and it uses Touch ID with no Face ID.

Like other US iPhones, the Duo is eSIM only, so you can't move a physical SIM card into it. Our guide to eSIM in the US explains how eSIM works and what to check before you switch.

Book-style foldables side by side

SpecPixel 11 Pro Foldmotorola razr foldGalaxy Z Fold8Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra
Launch price$1,899$1,899.99$1,899.99$2,099.99
Released in USAugust 2026May 2026August 2026August 2026
Screen8-inch OLED 120 Hz8.1-inch LTPO pOLED (book-style foldable) 120 Hz7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120 Hz8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120 Hz
ChipGoogle Tensor G6Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for GalaxySnapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
RAM16 GB16 GB12 GB12 GB
Storage256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB512 GB256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
Battery4,806 mAh6,000 mAh4,800 mAh5,000 mAh
Wired charging—80 W45 W45 W
Rear cameras48MP wide, 10.5MP ultrawide, 10.8MP 5x telephoto50MP main (OIS), 50MP ultrawide/macro, 50MP periscope telephoto (OIS)50MP main, 50MP ultra wide200MP main, 50MP ultra wide, 10MP 3x telephoto
Weight239 g243 g201 g215 g
Water resistanceIP68IP49IP48IP48
Updates promised7 years of OS and security updates7 Android upgrades, 7 years of security updates7 years of OS and security updates7 years of OS and security updates
US carriers (maker and carrier listings)AT&T, Verizon, T-MobileAT&T, Verizon, T-MobileAT&T, Verizon, T-MobileAT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile

Flip phones side by side

SpecGalaxy Z Flip8motorola razr (2026)motorola razr+ (2026)motorola razr ultra (2026)
Launch price$1,199.99$799.99$1,099.99$1,499.99
Released in USAugust 2026May 2026May 2026May 2026
Screen6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120 Hz6.9-inch LTPO Extreme AMOLED (foldable) 120 Hz6.9-inch LTPO Extreme AMOLED (foldable) 165 Hz7-inch Extreme AMOLED (foldable) 165 Hz
ChipSnapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for GalaxyMediaTek Dimensity 7450XQualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
RAM12 GB8 GB12 GB16 GB
Storage256 / 512 GB256 GB256 GB512 GB
Battery4,300 mAh4,800 mAh4,500 mAh5,000 mAh
Wired charging25 W30 W45 W68 W
Rear cameras50MP main, 12MP ultra wide50MP main (OIS), 50MP ultrawide50MP main (OIS), 50MP ultrawide50MP main (LOFIC sensor, OIS), 50MP ultrawide
Weight180 g188 g189 g199 g
Water resistanceIP48IP48IP48IP48
Updates promised7 years of OS and security updates4 years of security updates4 years of security updates4 years of security updates
US carriers (maker and carrier listings)AT&T, Verizon, T-MobileAT&T, Verizon, T-MobileAT&T, Verizon, T-MobileAT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile

What we left out and why

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7. The Fold8 replaced it in August 2026. Samsung still sells it from $1,999.99, its July 2025 launch price, which is more than the newer Fold8, and some versions were out of stock on October 15.
  • Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold replaced it. On October 15, the only version in stock on the Google Store was a Verizon model, and every unlocked version was out of stock, so in practice it is no longer sold new.
  • motorola razr ultra 2025. Motorola still sells last year's model for $799.99. It isn't among the phones we track yet, so we haven't checked its update window or carrier support and can't compare it here.

Sources

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