Last year marked a significant moment for the foldable phone industry. Newcomers Google and OnePlus released their first bendable phones. Motorola and Samsung leveled up their flip phones with larger external screens, making them more useful. And with its $700 2023 Razr, Motorola attempted to fight the notion that foldable phones need to break the bank.
While 2023 was an unexpected period of change for foldables, despite sales actually falling below expectations, 2024 will likely be quieter. Samsung will probably introduce new versions of the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold as it usually does, and there are rumblings of a second-generation Pixel Fold. But these devices are expected to be iterative updates that improve on key areas like design and performance rather than widespread updates that expand what foldables are truly capable of.
That’s not necessarily a negative. Flip phones evolved in 2023, and 2024 will likely be about further polishing what’s worked in the past. However, I’m hoping to see companies like Samsung and others work toward addressing two of the biggest shortcomings of today’s foldables: high prices and a lack of compelling software.
Read more: I Visited Samsung’s Home Turf to See If Foldable Phones Are Really the Future
Google’s Pixel Fold
Brands like Honor, Vivo and ZTE’s Nubia already launched foldable phones in 2024, but Samsung, Google and Motorola typically release new devices later in the year. While nothing is certain until it’s announced, here’s what we’re expecting based on rumors, leaks and previous launches.
-
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 – Samsung’s next book-style foldable will likely get a new processor and some camera tweaks to more closely match the Galaxy S24 family. A Samsung patent has also fueled speculation that Samsung may finally add a slot for the S Pen this time around, just as it has for the Galaxy S Ultra series. But what’s perhaps more interesting is the idea that Samsung could release a cheaper version of the Galaxy Z Fold, as Korean news outlet The Elec reports.
-
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 – Similar to the next Z Fold, Samsung’s next flip phone will also likely get a processor refresh. But the blog Galaxy Club reports that a big camera upgrade may be in store for the Z Flip 6 that would bump up the main camera resolution from 12 megapixels to 50 megapixels. The website also claims the Z Flip 6 will have a slightly larger battery than the Z Flip 5.
-
Google Pixel Fold 2 – Google may be working on a larger screen for the next Pixel Fold. Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, reports that the internal foldable display will measure 8.02 inches, representing a jump from the current Pixel Fold’s 7.6-inch internal screen. The cover screen also sounds like it will be slightly larger, with Young predicting a 6.29-inch external display is in store. Otherwise, we can probably expect the Fold 2 to have Google’s next-generation Tensor chip.
-
Motorola Razr Plus 2024 – A leaked rendering from blog MSPowerUser indicates the next-generation Razr Plus could come in a gray color and will be available through Verizon. The report also suggests the new foldable could launch in the first half of this year, which would line up with the current Razr Plus’ June launch from 2023.
-
OnePlus Open 2 – There haven’t been any leaks about a sequel to the OnePlus Open yet. But if OnePlus does make its foldable phone a regular part of its lineup, the second-generation model likely wouldn’t arrive until October. The OnePlus Open impressed CNET’s Eli Blumenthal with its sleek design, but we’re hoping to see superior cameras and improved software on a future model.
