If you're longing for the days of the satisfying clap of two parts of a phone meeting then these phones are for you.
Or you might be a future thinker, chasing that elusive next big thing feeling with a foldable device, someone who wants that bigger screen to multi-task and then fold it up into a regular size on the go.
Here are the best foldable and flip phones available in Australia.
Best foldable phone: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
RRP $2,699
A great all-rounder the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold has one of the best main cameras you'll find on a foldable phone.
- 6.3-inch external display with 8-inch internal display
- Five to six hours of screen time per charge
- Comes in Obsidian (black) and Porcelain (white)
View on Amazon Read our review
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold gets a lot right with a sleek form factor that makes it almost like any other smartphone when shut. It has the best camera the team at WhistleOut has seen on a foldable so far and battery-life comparable with most foldables.
Here's the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold (256GB) paired with the cheapest plans from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone on a 36-month repayment term:
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#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$113.97/mth
Min. cost $2,737.92
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$129.96/mth
Min. cost $2,753.56
|
|
#3
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Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$139.97/mth
Min. cost $2,763.92
Link not supplied
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Best foldable runner up: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
RRP $2,749
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is our runner-up for best foldable phone with its cameras and price holding it back from a photo finish.
- 6.3-inch external display with 7.6-inch internal display
- Five to six hours of screen time per charge
- Comes in Crafted Black, White, Silver Shadow, Pinl and Navy
View on Amazon Read our review
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is not a bad foldable by any means – it's Samsung's best to date. It has zippy performance and decent battery life. However, it lags behind Google in the camera department and isn't as refined overall.
Here's the Samasung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (256GB) paired with the cheapest plans from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone on a 36-month repayment term:
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 5G 256GB Plans
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#1
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Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$115.36/mth
Min. cost $2,787.96
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$131.36/mth
Min. cost $2,803.96
|
|
#3
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Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$141.36/mth
Min. cost $2,813.96
Link not supplied
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Best flip phone: Motorola Razr 50 Ultra
RRP $1,699
The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is our pick for the best foldable flip phone although there are still a few trade-offs to be considered.
- 4-inch external display with 6.9-inch internal display
- Five hours of screen time per charge
- Comes in Hot Pink, Midnight Blue, Spring Green and Pantone Peach Fuzz
View on Amazon Read our review
Motorola's Razr 50 Ultra presents a compelling case for the flip form factor. The 4-inch external display makes it possible to use the phone fully whether it's open or closed.
Most apps aren't optimised for the smaller screen but it's not something you can do on other flip-style foldables which have a more limited set of features on the external display.
Best flip runner up: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
RRP $1,799
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is our runner-up for best flip-style foldable phone while it's got beefier specs in some regards it's just lacking that unique edge of the competition.
- 3.4-inch external display with 6.7-inch internal display
- Comes in Crafted Black, White, Peach, Blue, Yellow, Mint (green) and Silver Shadow
View on Amazon Read our review
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a great foldable phone with a fast processor, good cameras and better battery life than it's previous outing.
Here's the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 (256GB) paired with the cheapest plans from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone on a 36-month repayment term:
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 5G 256GB Plans
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#1
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Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$88.97/mth
Min. cost $1,837.92
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$104.96/mth
Min. cost $1,853.56
|
|
#3
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Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$114.97/mth
Min. cost $1,863.92
Link not supplied
|
Best mid-tier phone: Nubia Flip 5G
RRP $999
The Nubia Flip 5G is sort of a marvel. It's far from the best foldable but it's an impressive mid-tier option that's friendlier on your wallet.
- 1.4-inch external display with 6.9-inch internal display
- Six hours of screen time per charge
- Comes in Cosmic and Sunshine Gold
View on Amazon Read our review
This mid-tier entry brings the opportunity of owning a foldable device to more people. The Nubia Flip 5G has a great battery life but is average when it comes to performance and camera quality.
Its display looks great but still has a visible crease, but hey, at nearly half the price of most foldables, beggars can't be choosers.
Best classic flip phone: Nokia 2660
RRP $129
If we're discussing flip phones we can't possibly overlook including at least one classic flip phone and it's gotta be the Nokia 2660.
- 1.77-inch external display with 2.8-inch internal display and T9 keypad
- Up to 11 days of battery life per recharge
- Comes in Pink, Green, Blue, Black and Red
View on Amazon
Why not round things out with a curveball? This Nokia dumb phone (feature phone if we're being kind) lets you embrace the classic feel of a flip phone while eschewing from most modern features.
It's a great option for both your kids and older folks with a special emergency contact button.
What is a foldable phone?
Still fairly new to the scene, foldable phones are those smartphones that fold thanks to a hinge mechanic and a flexible screen.
Most foldable phones come with two screens and also come in two form factors. There's the folding slate or tablet-style which looks like a normal smartphone (albeit thicker) which then unfolds like a book to reveal a double-sized screen more akin to a tablet than a phone.
The other common type is a flip-style foldable these are just like the classic flip phones of the past except when you open up the clamshell design there's one large screen instead of a screen and keypad. These phones also typically have a small screen on the top half for use when the device is closed.
Foldables tend to be on the more expensive side of smartphones, usually starting at around $1,000, with flip-style phones being cheaper thanks to their smaller size.
These are the most popular NBN 50 plans with WhistleOut users this week:
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#1
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Exetel
Extra-value nbn50
$60.99/mth
Min. cost $60.99
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#2
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Tangerine Telecom
Value Plus NBN
$59.90/mth
Min. cost $59.90
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|
#3
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Buddy Telco
Editor's Pick
Value nbn - Unlimited
$63/mth
Min. cost $63
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#4
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TPG
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$69.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
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#5
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Kogan Internet
Silver Unlimited
$59.90/mth
Min. cost $59.90
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#6
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iiNet
nbn50 Liimitless
$69.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
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#7
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Dodo
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$68.90/mth
Min. cost $68.90
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#8
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Superloop
Extra-value nbn50/20
$67/mth
Min. cost $67
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#9
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Telstra
Upfront Internet Plan Essential
$105/mth
Min. cost $105
Link not supplied
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#10
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iPrimus
Standard Plus nbn50 Plan
$84/mth
Min. cost $84
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