Flip/Clamshell Smartphones 2025
Discussion
Having got a bit disillusioned with new Apple iPhone device releases (I currently own an Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max), I am looking at getting a Flip/Clamshell smartphone.
As when unfolded it gives me the same/similar screen size but with the added convenience of being half the size when not unfolded.
Also, you can use the outer screen for most things as well.
Does anyone currently use a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 or a Motorola Razr 50 Ultra and what are your thoughts, etc?
I also understand that the new Samsung Z Flip 7 and Motorola Razr 50 Ultra will be released shortly so maybe worth waiting for the latest tech.
As when unfolded it gives me the same/similar screen size but with the added convenience of being half the size when not unfolded.
Also, you can use the outer screen for most things as well.
Does anyone currently use a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 or a Motorola Razr 50 Ultra and what are your thoughts, etc?
I also understand that the new Samsung Z Flip 7 and Motorola Razr 50 Ultra will be released shortly so maybe worth waiting for the latest tech.
Thread here (although not the latest version but it might give you an idea)
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
My wife's got a Pixel 9 Pro and has just got a Z Flip 6 through work and she loves it... It is a great phone; great technology and all that you need really from a phone.
Camera isn't anywhere near as good as her P9P; but it still takes good pictures
If you need small form phone then that's the answer really
Camera isn't anywhere near as good as her P9P; but it still takes good pictures
If you need small form phone then that's the answer really
Not me but a good friend swapped his 14PM for a Flip6 and just couldn’t gel with it. He sold it within a couple of months as the screen creasing was too pronounced / off putting and the screen opening/closing became an inconvenience.
I fancy trying one but think I’d have the same issues tbh.
I fancy trying one but think I’d have the same issues tbh.
Alorotom said:
He sold it within a couple of months as the screen creasing was too pronounced / off putting
I find that quite odd. You literally 100% cannot see the crease when using the phone in front of you (I.e. normally, although people to the side of you can see it) and everyone that has had a look at it comments that they assumed it would be visible when it isn't.Be warned, very warned. Take out accidental damage cover / or Moto's own cover. They are fragile.
I got through two Motos in a matter of months. A moto Razr 40, and then a Razr 40 Ultra.
The 40 randomly developed a small black dot top right corner, which slowly spread. I then sat on it in my back pocket and a green line went top to bottom. Dead.
I then bought a 40 Ultra - its such a fab phone for all the reasons you like the idea. - I was ULTRA (!) careful wih this one. Took it with me travelling. Survived India for 4 weeks, then in Goa, I put it in a zip lock bag when going to the beach tp keep it sand free. Day 1 on the beach. Lunch, at the table, took it out of the bag. Opened it to a "crunching sound" - ONE grain of sand got in and behind the middle hinge part. You could see and feel it. LIne appeared within a few hours, then the black sea of death spread , making it 100% unusable.
They are very very fragile. Spoke to my mate who has a company that just mends phones and he said, "just don't" - they are absolutey not ready for market yet. (and that's not just Motos - they use the same screens)
I've torn down my 40 Ultra, and I'm about to spend £100 on a new Amoled for it (repairing it myself). They are that good I miss the form, BUT, they are indeed very flawed. I've bought a Moto Edge 50 Neo now for my main phone, and it's superb. I plan to revive the Ultra, then swap sims when doing anything that is not day to day living, like dirt, beach, etc with the Neo.
I got through two Motos in a matter of months. A moto Razr 40, and then a Razr 40 Ultra.
The 40 randomly developed a small black dot top right corner, which slowly spread. I then sat on it in my back pocket and a green line went top to bottom. Dead.
I then bought a 40 Ultra - its such a fab phone for all the reasons you like the idea. - I was ULTRA (!) careful wih this one. Took it with me travelling. Survived India for 4 weeks, then in Goa, I put it in a zip lock bag when going to the beach tp keep it sand free. Day 1 on the beach. Lunch, at the table, took it out of the bag. Opened it to a "crunching sound" - ONE grain of sand got in and behind the middle hinge part. You could see and feel it. LIne appeared within a few hours, then the black sea of death spread , making it 100% unusable.
They are very very fragile. Spoke to my mate who has a company that just mends phones and he said, "just don't" - they are absolutey not ready for market yet. (and that's not just Motos - they use the same screens)
I've torn down my 40 Ultra, and I'm about to spend £100 on a new Amoled for it (repairing it myself). They are that good I miss the form, BUT, they are indeed very flawed. I've bought a Moto Edge 50 Neo now for my main phone, and it's superb. I plan to revive the Ultra, then swap sims when doing anything that is not day to day living, like dirt, beach, etc with the Neo.
I've got a 2 year old Razr and my wife has had original z flip, 3, 4 & 5. She's had a couple of warranty replacements due to screen cracking and hinge issues and the screen protectors don't stay on very long. My Razr, which has been well used, including in my garage as a torch etc, has been no issue and the screen still looks like new.
Just be aware lots of people aren't so "lucky" - take a look on Ebay - almost every Razr for sale under £260 has a black blob somewhere on the screen, once you drill down into the advert. - The blobs spread. I'm careful with my phones. I've only ever broken one, many years ago, dropped onto concrete without a case. I molly-coddled my Razrs....
My Razr 40
My Razr 40 Ultra (those curved lines are not cracks - that's the giant black blob of doom)
My Razr 40
My Razr 40 Ultra (those curved lines are not cracks - that's the giant black blob of doom)
Basil Brush said:
I've got a 2 year old Razr and my wife has had original z flip, 3, 4 & 5. She's had a couple of warranty replacements due to screen cracking and hinge issues and the screen protectors don't stay on very long. My Razr, which has been well used, including in my garage as a torch etc, has been no issue and the screen still looks like new.
Same for me, but I work from home, so mine tends to live on my desk, rather than thrown around in the car etc. It's been flawless so far, and I'll likely get another in a few years time.Supersam83 said:
Thanks all for the feedback.
Looks like they are still ironing out the bugs with this form factor/bending oled screens, etc
I will eagerly wait for the new models to come out in a few months and see what the updates are.
Sadly, nothing yet. The Moto Rzr 50 (just released) uses the same POLED as the 40...Looks like they are still ironing out the bugs with this form factor/bending oled screens, etc
I will eagerly wait for the new models to come out in a few months and see what the updates are.
IMHO they need to design a tougher backing, that still bends.
I had the original Z flip when it was released and it was a perfect form factor, I loved it! Even got a nice dbrand skin for it
That was about all I loved... Cr@p battery life, mediocre specs for the price (which I sort of knew going into it) then the hinge went baggy and loose despite me babying the heck out of it. Then the screen started to black out (no cracks or marks, but if I set it down in the car to use for google maps, within 300 yards it was turned off where whatever was broken got vibrated)
It was gone and replaced with something else before the end of the contract, put me right off them. If they get the screen/hinge issues sorted I'd happily run one again! Otherwise, I'm sticking with used pre owned handsets and a cheap sim only contract for the forseeable
That was about all I loved... Cr@p battery life, mediocre specs for the price (which I sort of knew going into it) then the hinge went baggy and loose despite me babying the heck out of it. Then the screen started to black out (no cracks or marks, but if I set it down in the car to use for google maps, within 300 yards it was turned off where whatever was broken got vibrated)
It was gone and replaced with something else before the end of the contract, put me right off them. If they get the screen/hinge issues sorted I'd happily run one again! Otherwise, I'm sticking with used pre owned handsets and a cheap sim only contract for the forseeable
Supersam83 said:
Thanks all for the feedback.
Looks like they are still ironing out the bugs with this form factor/bending oled screens, etc
I will eagerly wait for the new models to come out in a few months and see what the updates are.
Sadly I think folding phones will always have an issue with reliability.Looks like they are still ironing out the bugs with this form factor/bending oled screens, etc
I will eagerly wait for the new models to come out in a few months and see what the updates are.
My Fold 4 is developing imminent inner screen failure problems for the 2nd time in 3 years, looking at the web I'm not alone, and even on the Fold 6 it's an issue. The review unit of the Oneplus Open MKBHD got sent already had pixel failures in the screen crease.
However love form factor the Fold. Its the most productive phone I have owned by a country mile, the square inner screen isn't good for films etc but is perfect for Outlook, Acrobat, Word etc. Mine is used unfolded 90% of the time, and its probably why the hinge/inner screen dies so quickly.
I'm now looking at a used one from CEX, not because CEX is cheap for used stuff, but because it comes with a 5 year warranty, unlike Samsung who will only give you Samsung care for 2 years on a Fold even if you pay!!!
But I'm hesitating dropping another 4 figure sum on a phone what I know is going to fail much earlier than any slab phone, yes having a 5 year warranty helps, but these devices should now be durable enough to last a decent amount of time, but clearly aren't.
I'm 50:50 on just going back to a slab phone.......
Ive recently replaced the POLED on my Razr 40 Ultra. Cost me £125 all in. Was a fun, if nerve wracking process! I did it because the form factor is just so damn perfect. I've a nice brand new Moto Edge 50 Neo - which is a gorgeous phone, sitting unused now my Rzr is back online, but, Im not selling it as my experience so far with flips isn't great in terms of robustness!
Be interesting to see if CEX has a clause abut phone screens? Otherwise that sounds like loophole of teh century, buying folds / flips from them.
Be interesting to see if CEX has a clause abut phone screens? Otherwise that sounds like loophole of teh century, buying folds / flips from them.
There’s a thread on here about me getting a Flip5, replacing my iPhone 15 Pro Max. I used it on holiday for a couple of weeks then came home and bought an iPhone 16 Pro. Camera not up to standard for decent holiday pictures you would want to show people, battery life had me worrying about boarding passes and tickets as well as not making it until the end of the day, Software I can forgive it as it’s down to preference but it’s now in a drawer and I’ve forgotten the connect the dots PIN thing so I need to take it to a Samsung shop for them to unlock it apparently.
It was half the price of the iPhone but I couldn’t live with it. Form factor was OK, still quite chunky in the pocket as it’s thicker when folded but I found my sweet spot in terms of size with the Pro iPhone having had Pro Max previously. One handed use and flipping it open was a pain and I was always weary of the screen getting damaged. The hinge was also noticeably slacker after just 2 weeks.
Done well, I think there’s definitely a place for it but it’s too flawed in its current form. Interesting to see if Apple ever bother with a flip or whether the downsides mean they won’t bother.
It was half the price of the iPhone but I couldn’t live with it. Form factor was OK, still quite chunky in the pocket as it’s thicker when folded but I found my sweet spot in terms of size with the Pro iPhone having had Pro Max previously. One handed use and flipping it open was a pain and I was always weary of the screen getting damaged. The hinge was also noticeably slacker after just 2 weeks.
Done well, I think there’s definitely a place for it but it’s too flawed in its current form. Interesting to see if Apple ever bother with a flip or whether the downsides mean they won’t bother.
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