Remember flip phones from the old days?

Flip phones…There’s a nostalgia for slapping your phone shut at the end of a text or phone conversation. It’s something we Gen Z-ers didn’t really get to witness.

Have you noticed the number of flip phones around lately though? That’s right. They’re making a comeback and we’re incredibly excited. Flip smartphones are the new wave of flip phones providing fantastic performance and camera quality. They’re easy to hold, easy to store and have really decent battery life too.

The latest smart fold phones such as Samsung Galaxy Fold, the Motorola Razr as well as the Huawei MateX are fantastic choices. They have an enhanced user experience while retaining the nostalgic flip nature.

>> 7 Best Basic Dumb Phones 2023: Inexpensive Mobiles With Long Battery Lives

Don’t believe they’re making a comeback? The #flipphone tag on TikTok has amassed mover 226 million views. In fact, @thedigifairy talks about the fall of the Apple aesthetic and the rise in vintage tech nostalgia:

It sounds like minimal phones and tech are ‘out’, and – as a result – customisable, vintage phones are in. We’re talking hard-to-track Motorola Razr hot pink flip phones but most importantly, modern-day flip smartphones. We’re here to showcase the best flip phones to look out for in 2023.

Moreover, go really Y2K and use our stationery student discounts to decorate your flip phones with stickers, like this one!

Best foldable phones 2023

1. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 — from £1,499

One of the new foldable phones on the market, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the best foldable phone overall and outperforms old Samsung flip phones without a doubt. Its outer screen is fantastic for quickly viewing your messaging app notifications, skipping songs or taking a peek at Google Maps, whereas you can enjoy bigger apps and multi-tasking when you fold the Galaxy Z Fold 3 out.

If you want the Fold 3 over the Flip 3 then we can see why. When it comes to 5G flip phones, you’ll need some good battery life. The Fold 3 longer battery life, a stronger display measuring 7.6-inches (with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is great for streaming) and IPX8.

Its wide 24.5:9 aspect ratio makes it the best flip phone to read ebooks, as well as watch films or surf the web. Lastly, it’s also made with strong metal sides and has Gorilla Glas Victus, making it a powerhouse of a flip phone overall.

One downside is while it comes with S-pen support, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 doesn’t come with an S-pen in the box, so you’ll have to buy it separately. 

What’s in the box?

• 1 x Galaxy Fold 3
• 1 x USB-C cable
• 1 x printed setup guide and instructions
• 1 x SIM card tool.

Technical specs

• Weight: 271 g
• Dimensions:
  • Unfolded: 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4 mm
  • Folded: 158.2 x 67.1 x 14.4-16 mm
• OS: Android 11, upgradable to Android 12
• Screen size: 7.6 inches
• Resolution: 1768 x 2208 pixels
• CPU: Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Kryo 680 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 680)
• RAM: 12GB RAM
• Storage: 256GB
• Expandable storage: 512GB
• Battery: Li-Polymer 4400 mAh
• Rear camera: 12MP, 12MP, 12MP
• Front camera: 4MP, 10MP

Pros

• Fast refresh rates (dual 120Hz displays)
• Lots of foldable apps.

Cons

• No S pen
• A bit bulky.

Get a Samsung student discount.

2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 — from £749

The best alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2. Like the flip 3, it also has a 120Hz refresh rate which makes streaming videos and playing games a  great experience. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a square 5:4 aspect ratio. This is obviously smaller than the Fold 3, but it’s great if a smaller flip phone is what you’re after.

While the first Samsung Galaxy Fold may be a cheaper alternative, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a serious upgrade that’s worth the price. Its interior display is bigger, measuring 7.6-inches, compared to 7.3-inches for the original Fold model. They’ve also replaced the notch with a small selfie camera. 

If having a zoom function on your camera is important, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has an additional 12-megapixel telephoto lens for 2x optically zoomed shots. Lastly, its battery should last you the full day, measuring 4,500mAh battery, with the old Samsung flip phone measuring just 3,300 mAh.

What’s in the box?

• 1 x Galaxy Z Fold 2
• 1 x 25W wall charger
• 1 x USB-C cable
• 1 x Documentation.

Technical specs

• Weight: 282 g
• Dimensions:
  • Unfolded: 159.2 x 128.2 x 6.9 mm
  • Folded: 159.2 x 68 x 13.8-16.8 mm
• OS: Android 10, upgradable to Android 11
• Screen size: 7.6 inches
• Resolution: 1768 x 2208 pixels
• CPU: Octa-core (1×3.09 GHz Kryo 585 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 585)
• RAM: 12GB RAM
• Storage: 256GB
• Expandable storage: 512GB
• Battery: Li-Polymer 4500 mAh
• Rear camera: 12MP, 12MP, 12MP
• Front camera: 10MP, 10MP.

Pros

• 120Hz refresh rate
• Matte glass back for premium feel.

Cons

• Still quite pricy.

Get an Amazon student discount.

3. Huawei Mate Xs — From £749

One interesting thing about the Huawei Mate Xs is it’s protected inside a clam shell, making it really durable. In fact, It features an improved Falcon Wing hinge design that’s super strong and makes it easier to unfold the Huawei Mate Xs. Huawei has also improved the durability of the phone with a quad-layer construction using polyamide film.  

It has a bigger screen than the Galaxy Fold phones, measuring 8-inches when unfolded and reveals a truly marvellous display. In terms of its camera, you’re in for a real treat. Built with Leica technology, it features a whopping 40MP f/1.8 primary camera which is incredible for low-light conditions and portraits.

It also has an 8 MP, f/2.4 telephoto lens fixed at 52mm and 3X zoom and a 16 MP, f/2.2, 17mm ultra-wide lens, giving you tons of options for zoomed-in photos and close-ups.

One downside? As with all Huawei models, you won’t have access to Google Play or Google apps in general. If this isn’t a problem and you’re after clamshell mobile phones in particular, don’t give the Huawei Mate Xs a miss.

What’s in the box?

• 1 x Huawei Mate Xs
• 1 x 55W charging brick (region-dependent)
• 1 x USB-C to USB-C cable
• 1 x SIM ejector tool
• 1 pair of USB-C earbuds.

Technical specs

• Weight: 300 g
• Dimensions:
  • Unfolded: 161.3 x 146.2 x 5.4 mm
  • Folded: 161.3 x 78.5 x 11 mm
• OS: Android 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play Services
• Screen size: 8.0 inches
• Resolution: 2200 x 2480 pixels
• CPU: Octa-core (2×2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2×2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 512GB
• Expandable storage: None
• Battery: Li-Polymer 4500 mAh
• Rear camera: 40MP, 8MP, 16MP
• Front camera: None.

Pros

• Superb camera functions
• Best foldable phone with a large screen.

Cons

• No Google apps.

Get a Huawei student discount.

Best clamshell foldable

4. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 — from £849

One of the latest lines in the Samsung Galaxy fold series, it’s a gorgeous flip phone and is available in seven colours:  Cream, Green, Lavender, Phantom Black, Gray, White, and Pink.

This light and compact flip phone is made with Armor Aluminium, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and has an IPX8 water and dust resistance rating. This 6.7-inch flip smartphone has a dynamic AMOLED display with a fast 120Hx refresh rate, which is fantastic for watching videos and playing games. Plus, its 1.9-inch Super AMOLED panel on the front works great for checking notifications, meaning you don’t need to be constantly flipping your phone open.

Thanks to its Flex Mode, you can open the device at quite a wide-angle to take calls or even hands-free selfies, as it can prop up on any stable surface. The Z Flip 3 has the same dual camera set up as the Z Flip 5G, with a 12MP main sensor and a 12MP ultrawide lens, plus a 10MP selfie camera.

While it’s one of the best flip phones out there, it is a bit costly. Yet its 3,300mAh of battery life might just be enough to sway you.

What’s in the box?

• 1 x Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
• 1 x SIM ejection pin
• 1 x USB-C to USB-C charging cable
• 1 x Documentation.

Technical specs

• Weight: 183 g
• Dimensions:
  • Unfolded: 166 x 72.2 x 6.9 mm
  • Folded: 86.4 x 72.2 x 15.9-17.1 mm
• OS: Android 11, upgradable to Android 12
• Screen size: 6.7 inches
• Resolution: 1080 x 2640 pixels
• CPU: Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Kryo 680 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 680)
• RAM: 8GB RAM
• Storage: 128GB
• Expandable storage: 256GB
• Battery: Li-Polymer 3300 mAh
• Rear camera: 12MP, 12MP
• Front camera: 10MP.

Pros

• Two decent options for internal memory
• Knox security system to improve data security.

Cons

• Battery isn’t the biggest.

Get a Samsung student discount.

5. Nokia 2720 Flip — £114.99

The cheapest foldable phone on this list, the Nokia 2720 Flip phone is super light compared to the Samsung models mentioned or the Motorola Razr. It’s the modern day’s answer to the old Nokia brick.

It has its own OS known as KaiOS, which does mean you’re limited to only a few apps. But if it’s simplicity you’re after, then the Nokia 2720 Flip might just be the best flip phone for you, 

This Nokia flip phone has a tiny screen with a resolution of just 240 x 320, a 2-megapixel camera (but unfortunately no selfie camera), a dual-core 1.1GHz CPU, and just 512MB of internal storage. This does mean multitasking on the app will be more of a struggle compared to the modern-day Smartphone, but if you’ll mostly be mono-tasking then this shouldn’t be an issue.

Don’t fret though, the Nokia 2720 Flip has Bluetooth and 4G LTE support, which means you won’t have to deal with slow data speeds when streaming media. Unfortunately, this does mean no 5G capabilities with the Nokia 2720 Flip.

Finally, this cheap flip phone comes with tons of pre-installed apps. The Nokia 2720 Flip comes with Google Maps, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Unfortunately no Instagram, Messenger or Spotify though. 

While it’s not a phone of technological wonders, it’s one of the best modern flip phones for a digital detox.

What’s in the box?

• 1 x Nokia 2720 Flip
• 1 x Quick start guide
• 1 x Charger
• 1 x USB cable.

Technical specs

• Weight: 118 g
• Dimensions: 192.7 x 54.5 x 11.6 mm
• OS: KaiOS
• Screen size: 2.8 inches
• Resolution: 240 x 320 pixels
• CPU: Dual-core (2×1.1 GHz Cortex-A7)
• RAM: 512MB
• Storage: 4GB
• Expandable storage: None
• Battery: Li-Ion 1500 mAh
• Rear camera: 2MP
• Front camera: None.

Pros

• Neat, simple design
• Big buttons for ease of use (but may take getting used to).

Cons

• The plastic build may feel cheap.

Get an Amazon student discount.

And those are the best flip phones for 2023 rounded up! Don’t forget to sign up to Student Beans to get offers on all of the foldable phones mentioned above.

Do flip phones have Bluetooth?

Some flip phones have Bluetooth, but not all. Flip phones with Bluetooth include the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, Nokia 2720 Flip, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3, Samsung Galaxy Fold, Huawei Mate Xs, and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2. 

Are flip phones coming back?

Yes! Flip phones are coming back, at last. Even if you love your smartphone, nothing beats the nostalgic days of flipping your phone out to take a call and then slapping it shut. Brands like Samsung, Huawei and Nokia are still producing flip phones to this day. 

Flip phones tend to last longer in battery life too and are popular for taking abroad or to music festivals. However these days you often see smartphone flip phone hybrids that give the innovation of a modern-day smartphone with a nostalgic feel of a typical flip phone.

What to look for in a foldable phone

Firstly, when buying a foldable phone, you need to consider if the size is even worth it. If you need extra space, a phablet or a phone on the larger side might be one for you. 

Secondly, you’ll need to read up on the durability of these phones too. Foldable phones like the Galaxy Fold have water and dust resistance, which prolongs the longevity of this type of phone compared to say a Motorola Razr.

Another thing to consider is how you’ll use both screens. There’s usually a larger internal screen and one on the exterior. Can one run more apps than the other? How will it display them?

In summary, here are the top things to consider when buying a flip smartphone:

• Screen size
• Dust and water resistance
• Weight
• Photography and video features
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Folded screen size vs unfolded screen size
• Storage

Besides the deals mentioned before, you can get other types of discounts with us too, such as tech discounts, student deals on gadgets and much more.