A technical look at PCMag's 2026 foldable phone evaluation, breaking down hardware specifications, hinge durability claims, multitasking features, and IP68 environmental protection ratings across leading book-style and clamshell devices.
The iPhone Duo and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 were both Editors' Choice winners at PCMag. The Motorola Razr Ultra, on the other hand, is said to have some of the best battery life among Android devices.
The two main types
Models that open like a book, like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, have an external screen similar in size to that of a regular phone. When they open, they reveal a much larger screen, about the size of a small tablet.
Flip phones, like the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Motorola Razr Ultra (2026), fold in half. They have a small external screen and, when opened, look like a regular phone.
What to expect from durability and use
The hinge is a moving part that can wear out over time. Samsung says the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 can withstand 200.000 folds, while Motorola says 400.000 for the Razr Ultra. Google and Apple haven't provided a comparable number for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and iPhone Duo. As an example, the report estimates that 200.000 folds equates to about 100 per day for more than five years.
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According to the report, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and iPhone Duo are the first foldable phones to be IP68 dust and water resistant. The Razr Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 8, and Galaxy Z Fold 8 are IP48: resistant to dust particles larger than one millimeter and complete immersion in water.
The screens and applications
When opened, book-style models become quite thin and offer a larger surface area for applications. Clamshell phones remain thicker when folded, but are smaller in width and height.
App usage varies depending on screen size and each company's software. Motorola allows you to use almost any app on the Razr Ultra's small external screen, though it warns that some may not work properly. Samsung limits the apps that appear on the Z Flip 8's external screen.
On the large internal screen, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold can display two apps and a small video window at the same time. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 can display up to three apps side by side, and also allows videos or other apps to be displayed in smaller windows. The iPhone Duo automatically adjusts the layout of apps when opened and allows two apps to be used in separate parts of the screen.
In most cases, an app used on the external display will expand when the phone is opened. What happens when you close it is different: the Razr Ultra can continue to display the app on the external display, while the Galaxy Z Flip 8 does not do this by default.
The line in the center of the screen
Foldable phones usually leave a visible line where the screen folds. It's more noticeable when the screen is off or when you look at it from the side, and less noticeable when using apps or watching videos. Oppo says that it has almost eliminated this line on the Find N6, and that the screen will remain without it for 600.000 folds.
New foldable devices don't all launch at the same time. In recent years, Samsung and Google have shown off new models in the summer, while Motorola usually introduces clamshell phones in April or May. The iPhone Duo was announced in September along with the iPhone 18 Pro series. According to the report, there is no specific time when it is best to buy, as long as the model has the features you are looking for.
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