Foldable phones – from experiment to work phone

When the first modern foldable phones appeared, the technology was genuinely impressive. A screen that could actually fold in half felt like something out of the future.

But there were also questions. How long will the screen last? What happens to the hinge after thousands of folds? And can you really trust a device like that as your primary work phone? A lot has changed since then.

From flip phone to foldable smartphone

The idea of a phone that folds in half isn't actually new.

During the 1990s and 2000s, so-called clamshell phones were common. The Motorola Razr became one of the most recognizable models and made the flip mechanism part of the phone's design. But it was the phone itself that folded – not the screen.

When smartphones took over, physical buttons were replaced by large touchscreens, and for many years, virtually all phones looked more or less the same.

That changed in 2019 when Samsung launched the Galaxy Fold. Instead of two separate parts, the phone had a flexible screen that could fold in half. The technology was impressive, but the first generation also showed how difficult it was to build a foldable smartphone that could handle everyday wear and tear. Since then, the technology has evolved rapidly.

Fold or Flip – what's the difference?

Today, there are two main types of foldable phones.

A Fold looks like a regular smartphone when closed but opens up to a much larger screen. The idea is to combine a phone and tablet in one device.

A Flip works the opposite way. The phone has roughly the same screen size as a regular smartphone when open but folds down to a much smaller form factor.

The difference is primarily about what you want from the fold. Fold gives you more workspace. Flip gives you a smaller phone in your pocket. For those who use their phone extensively for work, the Fold format is particularly interesting. The larger screen provides more room for documents, email, video meetings, and multiple apps at once.

How does the screen on a foldable phone work?

A regular phone screen is protected by relatively thick and rigid glass. That works well – until you try to fold it.

Foldable phones use much thinner and more flexible materials. Modern models combine multiple layers and so-called Ultra Thin Glass, an extremely thin glass that can bend along with the screen.

At the same time, the hinge must control how the phone opens and closes while protecting the delicate screen. That's one reason why developing foldable phones has taken time. Manufacturers haven't just had to develop a flexible screen – the entire phone structure has had to be adapted.

How durable is a foldable phone?

This is probably the most common question about foldable phones. And today's models are significantly more durable than the first generations.

Samsung, for example, states that their Galaxy Z Fold and Flip models are designed and tested for around 200, 000 folds. If you open and close the phone 100 times a day, that equals over five years of use. The hinge is hardly something that needs to be handled with kid gloves during a workday.

However, foldable phones have a different construction than traditional smartphones. The flexible inner screen is softer than the glass on a regular phone and can be somewhat more sensitive to sharp objects and hard pressure.

Do foldable phones handle water and dust?

Here too, development has moved quickly.

Early foldable phones lacked the water resistance that had become standard on many premium phones. A hinge with moving parts made it much harder to keep water and particles away from the phone's interior.

Newer models have improved significantly. Several modern foldable phones have IP ratings for water and some protection against particles.

That doesn't mean all foldable phones are completely dust- or sand-proof. Small particles are still something to be careful with, since both the hinge and the flexible screen contain moving and sensitive parts. If you work in an office, it's hardly a major concern. On a construction site or in other dusty environments, however, there's reason to think twice about which phone is the best fit.

The crease in the screen – is it visible?

Yes, on many foldable phones you can still see and feel a crease where the screen folds. But the technology has improved with each generation.

When the screen is viewed straight on, the crease is often much less noticeable than when the phone is viewed from the side or when light reflects across the screen. For most users, it's more a characteristic of the technology than something that interferes with use.

Why choose a Fold as a work phone?

This is where foldable phones become really interesting for businesses. A regular smartphone is good at many things, but screen size still limits how comfortable it is to actually work on it.

A Fold changes that equation. Open the phone and you get a much larger workspace for things like:

• Email and calendar

• Documents and presentations

• Spreadsheets

• CRM and business systems

• Video meetings

• Multitasking between multiple apps

For those who often work on trains, at airports, at client sites, or between meetings, it can reduce the need to pull out a laptop for simpler tasks. It's still a phone – but it can handle much more of the work that previously required a tablet or laptop.

Why choose a Flip?

The Flip format solves a completely different problem. Here, the goal isn't a larger screen but a smaller form factor.

When the phone is in use, you get a regular smartphone experience. When you're done, you fold it up and get a much more compact device.

The outer screen on modern Flip models also lets you check notifications, calendar, messages, and other information without always opening the phone.

For those who don't need a larger workspace but want a compact work phone, Flip can be an interesting alternative.

What is a TriFold?

The next step is phones that can fold in two places.

They're usually called TriFolds and can unfold to an even larger, almost tablet-like screen. That makes the line between smartphone, foldable phone, and tablet even less distinct.

For businesses, the format could be particularly interesting for users who need a large workspace but still want to carry their device in a pocket.

Apple's foldable iPhone takes the Fold format to the next level: iPhone Duo

Apple has now introduced its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone 18 Duo.

Like other phones in the Fold category, it can be used as a regular smartphone when closed and opens up to a larger screen when you need more workspace. The screen is actually 80% larger than the one on the new iPhone 18 Pro.

Apple's entry into the market also shows how far the category has come. Foldable phones are no longer just experimental products for tech enthusiasts. They're becoming an established alternative to the traditional smartphone.

Read more about the new iPhone 18 models and the foldable iPhone Duo here: iPhone 18 for work – new features that simplify your workday

Fold, Flip, or regular smartphone – what's best for work?

It depends on how you use your phone.

Choose Fold if you work extensively from your phone and want a larger screen for multitasking, documents, and apps.

Choose Flip if you primarily want a full-size smartphone that takes up less space when you're not using it.

Choose a regular smartphone if durability, simple construction, and price are more important than the ability to fold the screen.

For many businesses, the most important question is probably no longer "will a foldable phone hold up?" The question is more about what you could do with the extra screen space.