5 Foldable Phones Leading Breakthrough Mobile Technology: The 2022 CRN Mobile 100
Samsung has cornered the foldable phone market, but some interesting players are beginning to emerge in this niche field. CRN highlights some of the brands bringing foldable technology to the smartphone space.
We all remember our flip phones back in the early 2000s – they were convenient and added a level of portability and durability other phones were lacking. So, the concept of a folding phone isn’t new, but when companies began perfecting screens that could fold to turn our smartphones into flip phones, it wound up being more than a fun trip down memory lane. We suddenly remembered how cool and useful a foldable device could be.
What started as a mobile phone novelty has gained considerable momentum as foldable mobile phone sales reached 7.1 million units in 2021 (a significant 264.3 percent increase from 2020), and market researcher IDC says the trend will continue, predicting mobile foldables hitting a market value of $29 billion in 2025.
IDC notes that with 7.1 million units shipped in 2021, foldables did not represent a major portion of overall smartphone sales, but the devices managed to take a third of the premium ($1,000-plus) Android market.
Nabila Popal, research director with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, said in a statement: “While the importance of foldable is no longer in question to any brand that wants a share of the premium Android space… Vendors should continue to keep a close eye on the overall foldable market as it continues to grow and attract new players to the market.”
As part of CRN’s 2022 Mobile 100, here are five cool foldable phones available in 2022:
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
Of course, first on the list needs to be the innovator in the foldable world: Samsung. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 stuns with its huge 7.6-inch internal display boasting a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. (It’s smaller external display refreshes at the same rate). Specs-wise, the Fold 3 packs a punch with the zippy Snapdragon 888 processor, 12GB of RAM, up to 512GB of storage and a respectable 4,400mAh dual battery. On the optics front, Fold 3 dazzles with three 12-megapixel rear cameras, a 10-megapixel front-facing camera. But hold the phone: We’ve got a fair amount of innovation going on with a sneaky under-display hidden 4-megapixel selfie camera. Other notable additions include S Pen support, and a side-mounted fingerprint reader. The Fold 3 can currently be had at around $1,499 – a hefty price tag that may be the reason this tech is staying niche for now.
More Specs on Samsung.com
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
Only Samsung could outdo itself in the foldable market as the Flip 3 outsold the Fold 3 (according to market researcher IDC) with its attractive compact folded footprint featuring a 6.7-inch internal display. Notifications pop on the 1.9-inch external display. Inside, you’ll find the same proven Snapdragon 888 processor, 8 gigabytes of ram and up to 256 gigabytes of storage. The Flip features two 12-megapixel rear cameras and a 10-megapixel front-facing camera. Keeping the power running is a 3,300mAh battery. Security is handled with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The Flip lists for $1,199.
More Specs on Samsung.com
Oppo Find N
Oppo may have provided just what the foldable market needed: a viable alternative to Samsung’s top-dollar offerings with some new advancements – including a near-creaseless folding screen. The Find N provides a stubbier form factor as a phone and unfolded is more square than rectangular, giving it a more comfortable experience as a phone when folded. The Find N packs in a Snapdragon 888 5G chip with up to 512GB of storage and 12GB RAM. It’s folding AMOLED screen shines with 800 nits of brightness, 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1,920x1,792 pixels. The outer display also utilizes AMOLED. Already feature-packed, the Find N makes room for a 3-camera setup with a 50-megapixel main 24mm lens. Pricing starts at 1,200.
More Info on Oppo.com
Motorola Razr 5G
Many of us may remember a time before iPhones when flip phones were king and the sleek Motorola Razr sat atop the throne. Launching in 2020, the revamped Razr 5G carried an air of nostalgia, folding much like the original - down to a svelte 14mm. But surface similarities end when you unfold the Razr to expose the large 6.2-inch, 21:9 display. A 2.7-inch external display allows you to keep track of notifications and offers some media control. The 48-megapixel camera morphs into a front-facing selfie machine when folded. The Razr is dressed to impress with specs as well, blazing along with the Snapdragon 765G chip, 8 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of storage. The small but ample 2,800 mAh battery keeps the Razr’s lights on. The Razr 5G is priced at $1,399.
More Specs on Motorola.com
Huawei Mate Xs
Huawei may be on Uncle Sam’s naughty list and its devices are effectively banned here in the U.S., but it’s important to consider the Chinese company’s offerings and how they impact global competitors like Samsung. With the Mate Xs, the company has produced a very unique foldable that by all accounts stands up to or exceeds Samsung’s flagship foldable, the Fold3. The MateXs offers up a Kirin 990 5G chipset, and up to 512GB storage with 8GB RAM. Mate Xs comes equipped with a quad camera setup with a 50-megapixel 27mm lens leading the charge. An 8-inch foldable OLED wows with 2,480x2,200-pixel resolution with a folded AMOLED measuring 6.6 inches. This foldable powerhouse is priced more like a flagship laptop than a smartphone at $2,259.99.
More Specs on Huawei.com