A brief history of foldable phones

Take a journey through the incredible tech and visionary makers that have made foldable screens the hottest trend in handsets. 

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The idea of foldable phones is nothing new. Who could forget the classic clamshell flip phones of the ‘90s and 2000s?

But foldable screens? That’s something else entirely.

While they started out as a cool party trick – something interesting that tech heads could show off to their equally obsessed friends – they’ve quickly leapt over into the mainstream. And while we mostly have Samsung and their Z Flip and Z Fold handsets to thank for this, they’re not the only company that have been changing the game.

Here’s how foldable phones have evolved over the years, and why there’s never been a better time than now to discover their wonders. 

Royale Flexpai: A folding first

While the Samsung Fold was the most anticipated, it wasn’t actually the first foldable phone released.

That title belongs to the Royale Flexpai, which launched in 2018. It set itself apart from other phones because its massive 7.8-inch screen was fully bendable in multiple directions – which is a pretty cool trick.

But don’t feel bad if you haven’t heard of Royale or their Flexpai, because the phone was only available in China. And while its bendable screen was interesting, reviews of the hands-on experience claimed it wasn’t quite the must-buy that Royale would have been hoping for.

The Samsung Fold: Everything changes

Before it was released, the world treated the Samsung Fold with equal parts wonder and scepticism.  

After all, a phone with a screen you could unfold was something that we’d been dreaming of for a long time. Although because good things come to those who wait, the handset was delayed a few times, as Samsung worked to make sure the Fold was the absolute best it could be.

At launch, the device sent ripples of chatter around the world, with all the biggest outlets in tech journalism sharing their two cents on the new phone.

The general consensus was that if you could afford it – and weren’t afraid to try the new unfolding screen – the Fold was a pretty incredible piece of technology that delivered on its promise: to deliver a tablet-size screen that you could fit in your pocket.

Huawei Mate X: The X factor

At the same time that Samsung was bending the rules with the Z Fold, Huawei was working on its own foldable piece of tech wizardry. Called the Mate X, this phone boasted an even bigger screen than the Z Fold.

The major difference was that while Samsung’s screen folded inward like a book, the Mate X folded outward. This meant that users could either use one half of the screen (which looked and handled like a traditional smartphone) or fold it out for the full-screen experience.

Just like Samsung’s model, the Mate X was delayed, allowing manufacturers extra time to ensure everything was just right. The wait was worth it, with those lucky enough to get their hands on the phone heaping praise on the screen.

In fact, the major problem with the phone was that it only launched in China – though its successor, the Mate Xs did eventually make it over to our shores.

Samsung Z Flip: Folding phones get fashionable

Unveiled with a glitzy ad that aired in the United States during the Academy Awards, the Z Flip mixed futuristic looks with a cutting-edge screen.

Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold, the Z Flip folded out vertically like a flip phone, revealing a 6.7-inch screen. Called the Infinity Flex display, it offered a neat split-screen mode that allowed you to use one app on the top half of the phone, and another on the bottom half.

Reviews weren’t shy about heaping praise on the Z Flip, with many saying that it was the first foldable phone that really nailed how stylish the category could be.

Microsoft Surface Duo: Are two screens better than one?

While it doesn’t technically include a folding screen, this innovative phone from Microsoft is still worth mentioning.

Just like the Samsung Z Fold, you open and close the Surface Duo the same way you would a book. But unlike the Z Fold, the Surface Duo wasn’t made with a foldable single screen, but rather two 5.6-inch screens that sat next to each other.

Because of the small gap between the two screens, this phone worked best when you were multitasking – running one program on one of the screens, and a completely different one on the other.

Add in other positives like stylus compatibility, and you’ve got a useful phone that perhaps didn’t get the attention it deserved.

Samsung Z Fold2: Small improvements, big difference

When the Samsung Z Fold2 launched in 2020, it was everything that you could want in the next iteration of a revolutionary phone.

Multitasking was better, more apps made use of the large screen and the crease down the middle was less noticeable. But most importantly, that gorgeous 7.6-inch screen was even tougher than the first Z Fold.

With the improvements that Samsung made, the Galaxy Z Fold2 was proof that foldable phones weren’t going away anytime soon. Companies were going to keep iterating on them, and more people were going to give them a shot.

Z Flip3: Folding screens never looked so good

While the Z Fold series gets most of the attention, it’s easy to forget the little pocket rocket that is the Z Flip.

The third iteration (well technically the second iteration, but it was named the Z Flip3 to stay consistent with the Fold3) was announced in August 2021. It retains the stylish clam-shell look of the Z Flip series, but is stronger, faster and all-round better.

An improved front camera allows you snap a quick selfie – even when the phone is closed – while the dual-rear camera means you’ll be capturing Insta-worthy shots with ease. Display wise, the 1.9-inch front cover screen makes life easier, while the unfolding screen is even more durable than before.

The Samsung Fold3: Better than ever

Also announced in August 2021, the Z Fold3 takes what was already brilliant and makes it even better.

Samsung added in much-requested stylus support, with both the S Pen Pro (for serious artists) and the S Pen Fold (for taking notes on the go) compatible with the Z Fold3. They also did some tinkering under the hood, giving the Z Fold3 more grunt – and even making it waterproof.

But the unfolding screen is always going to be the hero. Still coming in at an impressive 7.6 inches when unfolded, it blows other handsets away. And with a new protective screen for better scratch resistance, the Z Fold3 is built to last.

Best of all, Samsung made the Fold3 the most affordable yet. Launching at $2,499 for the 256GB version and $2,649 for the 512GB version, it’s proof that foldable screens are becoming more and more affordable.

Shop the stylish and sleek Galaxy Z Flip4 5G or get your hands on the truly incredible Galaxy Z Fold4 5G. For more information, check out the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 review and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 review.

You can also pair your foldables with the latest Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro to experience the connected power of the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem.