Foldable phones represent one of the most significant innovations in smartphone design since the introduction of the touchscreen. If you're new to foldable technology or considering your first flip phone, this guide will explain everything you need to know about how these remarkable devices work, the terminology you'll encounter, and what makes them special.
The modern foldable phone era began in 2019, and the technology has matured rapidly since then. Today's flip phones are reliable, feature-packed devices that offer a unique combination of compact portability and full smartphone functionality. Let's explore what makes them tick.
What Is a Foldable Phone?
A foldable phone is a smartphone with a flexible display that can bend, allowing the device to be folded for portability. There are two main form factors in the foldable market: flip phones and fold phones. This guide focuses primarily on flip phones, which fold vertically like the classic clamshell phones from the early 2000s.
When unfolded, a flip phone provides a standard smartphone experience with a full-sized screen, typically around 6.7 to 6.9 inches. When folded, the device becomes remarkably compact—roughly half its open size—making it easy to slip into a small pocket or clutch bag. This combination of full functionality and exceptional portability is the core appeal of the flip phone form factor.
Flip phones fold vertically, making a regular phone compact. Fold phones fold horizontally, turning a tablet-sized screen into a phone-sized device. Both use similar display technology but serve different use cases.
The Technology Behind Flexible Displays
The magic of foldable phones lies in their displays. Creating a screen that can bend thousands of times without breaking required entirely new materials and manufacturing processes. Understanding these technologies helps you appreciate what makes your flip phone special.
Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG)
Most premium foldable phones today use Ultra-Thin Glass technology. Despite sounding contradictory—glass that bends—UTG is real glass processed to be incredibly thin (around 30 micrometres) while maintaining flexibility. Samsung pioneered this technology and has refined it over multiple generations.
UTG provides several advantages over purely plastic displays: better optical clarity, improved scratch resistance, and a more premium feel under your finger. The glass layer is typically covered with a protective polymer coating that adds durability and provides the smooth touch experience you feel when using the screen.
OLED Display Technology
Foldable phones use OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) panels rather than LCD technology. OLED displays are inherently flexible because they don't require a rigid backlight layer. Each pixel in an OLED screen produces its own light, allowing the display substrate to bend without affecting image quality.
The OLED panels in flip phones are typically high-quality units with vibrant colours, deep blacks (since pixels can turn completely off), high refresh rates (usually 120Hz), and excellent viewing angles. These are the same display technologies used in premium non-folding phones, ensuring your flip phone delivers a first-class visual experience.
The Hinge: Engineering Marvel
The hinge mechanism is arguably the most critical component in any foldable phone. It must allow smooth opening and closing, maintain precise alignment, support the flexible display without damaging it, and last through hundreds of thousands of fold cycles.
How Modern Hinges Work
Current flip phone hinges are sophisticated multi-part mechanisms, sometimes containing more than 60 individual components. Samsung's Flex Hinge, for example, uses a CAM mechanism design that distributes the stress of folding evenly across the display. Motorola's hinges use a teardrop design that creates a larger radius when folded, reducing stress on the screen.
These hinges are designed to operate smoothly across a range of angles. Many flip phones can remain partially open, which enables unique features like FlexCam photography (using the phone as its own tripod) or propping the device up for hands-free video calls.
When manufacturers state a phone is rated for "400,000 folds," this means the hinge has been tested to that number in laboratory conditions. Opening and closing your phone 100 times a day would take over 10 years to reach this limit.
Dust and Water Resistance
Protecting the hinge from dust and debris was initially a challenge for foldable phones. Modern designs incorporate brush-like sweepers that clean particles from the hinge area during each fold, along with improved sealing to prevent ingress. Most current flip phones achieve IPX8 water resistance ratings, though dust resistance remains less comprehensive than sealed traditional phones.
Understanding Key Specifications
When shopping for a flip phone, you'll encounter various specifications. Here's what the most important ones mean for your daily experience.
Main Display
The main display is the interior foldable screen you use when the phone is open. Specifications typically include size (measured diagonally in inches), resolution (pixels, affecting sharpness), refresh rate (Hz, affecting smoothness), and peak brightness (nits, affecting outdoor visibility). Most flagship flip phones offer displays around 6.7-6.9 inches with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rates.
Cover Display
The cover display (also called external or outer display) is the screen on the outside of the phone, visible when folded. Cover display sizes have grown significantly over generations—early models had tiny notification windows, while 2025-2026 phones offer cover screens up to 4 inches that can run full apps.
A larger cover display means more functionality without opening your phone. You can read and respond to messages, check the weather, control music, take selfies, and even run apps—all from the external screen.
Cameras and FlexCam
Flip phones typically have their main cameras on the outside of the device, which means you can use these higher-quality cameras for selfies by using the cover display as a viewfinder. This feature, often called FlexCam or similar, gives you flagship camera quality for both front and rear photos.
The folding design also enables unique photography angles. By partially folding your phone and using the bottom half as a stand, you can take stable low-angle shots, time-lapse videos, or group selfies without needing a tripod.
Modern flip phones combine three engineering breakthroughs: flexible OLED displays, ultra-thin bendable glass, and precision hinges rated for hundreds of thousands of folds. Together, these technologies create devices that are both genuinely innovative and reliable for everyday use.
Common Questions from New Users
Will the crease bother me?
All current foldable phones have some visible crease where the screen folds. Modern devices have significantly reduced crease visibility compared to early generations—you'll notice it at certain angles and lighting conditions, but most users report forgetting about it during actual use. The crease is rarely visible when viewing content head-on.
Are flip phones durable enough for daily use?
Yes. Current-generation flip phones are designed for intensive daily use. The hinge mechanisms, display materials, and overall construction have been refined over multiple generations. Major manufacturers offer warranties that cover hinge defects and provide accidental damage protection plans for additional peace of mind.
How is battery life?
Battery life has improved substantially in recent flip phones. While the compact form factor limits battery size, efficient processors and software optimisation mean most users can easily get through a full day of moderate use. Flagship models also support fast charging, getting you to 50% in around 30 minutes.
The Benefits of Going Foldable
Beyond the novelty factor, flip phones offer genuine practical benefits that traditional smartphones can't match.
Portability: The ability to fold your phone in half makes it dramatically more pocketable. It's particularly popular with people who wear fitted clothing or carry small bags.
Focus and digital wellbeing: Many users find that having to deliberately open their phone creates a natural barrier against mindless scrolling. The cover display lets you handle quick tasks without getting sucked into your apps.
Photography flexibility: The FlexCam features and unique shooting angles enabled by the folding design genuinely expand your creative possibilities.
Statement piece: Let's be honest—flip phones turn heads. They're conversation starters and represent cutting-edge technology in your pocket.
Getting Started with Your First Flip Phone
If you're ready to make the jump to foldable technology, the good news is that the transition is straightforward. Modern flip phones run standard Android operating systems with all the apps and features you're used to. The learning curve is minimal—mostly learning to appreciate the new form factor's benefits.
We recommend exploring the cover display capabilities of whatever phone you choose, as this is where flip phones truly differentiate themselves. Take time to customise which apps and widgets appear on your external screen, and experiment with FlexCam modes to discover new ways of capturing photos and videos.
Welcome to the foldable future—we think you'll love it here.