The Galaxy Z Flip is the best folding phone so far, but it still isn’t for everyone. It’s a regular phone size when unfolded and a little coaster of a thing when closed. The specs are high-end but not the best available, and it’s undoubtedly fragile. But if it appeals and you can afford it, there’s a lot of fun to be had with its completely new form factor, top performance and solid battery life.

Undeniable wow factor; Excellent battery life; Great performance;

Very expensive; Fragile display; Can’t use it closed;

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is the flip-phone-style foldable smartphone with a 6.7-inch display that collapses in half. Its novelty will turn heads, but so will its extraordinarily high price.

Neat folding concept, Cool splitscreen UI, Durable flip design

Incredibly expensive, Cover Display is tiny, First-gen limitations

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is a tantalising, desirable look at one possible future of the smartphone. A big phone that folds into a compact square is surprisingly pleasing to use, much easier to pocket and has the side benefit of adding a bit of distance between you and your phone.

Pros: a screen that folds in half, big screen made pocketable, stands on its own, good camera, day+ battery life, exciting and different, One UI 2, good gestures, wireless charging and powersharing, nano sim and esim

Cons: durability unknowns, no dust or water resistance, high cost, no headphone socket, no telephoto camera, no expandable storage

It’s been a little over a year since foldable display smartphones have become a real thing. Samsung hit a few snags with the launch of the Fold and Huawei took a few extra months to make sure the Mate X could withstand the rigors of day-to-day use.

Incredible performance, Great durability, Coolest phone money can buy

Software still needs improving, Definitely not affordable, Average cameras

Slick, compact design, solid battery life, more durable screen and hinge, side-mounted fingerprint sensor

Mono speakers, very limited water resistance, exterior cover screen could be bigger, somewhat difficult to open with one hand, expensive

The Galaxy Z Flip was the best foldable phone, at least until the Galaxy Z Fold 2 came along. As clever as the design of the Flip is, at a still-high $1,380, it’s hard to recommend this phone over more traditional flagships like the iPhone 11 Pro and Galaxy S20 Plus.

Snapdragon 855 Plus is plenty powerful, Ultra-thin glass aids durability, Compact design when folded, Less expensive than other foldables

Subpar battery life, Exterior smudges easily, Still pretty pricey at $1,380

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is the first really successful folding smartphone. And it is especially perfect for you who love to film or take pictures of yourself!

For the first time, the foldable form factor works and gives the user new, creative possibilities. The build quality is good, and the performance is top notch.

Is not dust and water repellent. The front screen could have been bigger, and the camera lacks optical zoom.