5 easy causes I am going to at all times choose a clamshell over book-style folding telephone

This wasn’t at all times the case, however I am going to now take a clamshell foldable smartphone over a cumbersome book-style foldable smartphone in almost all situations.

Positive, there’s not an apparent sensible goal for clamshell foldables like there’s for book-style foldables (carrying a pint-sized pill round with you always may be helpful), however over the previous few years, I’ve come to favor top-down design for a number of causes, together with the truth that it makes the telephone simpler to slip into my pocket, that I can prop up its show in a number of extra helpful methods, its delicate however nonetheless helpful cowl display, and eventually, merely simply how cool it feels to snap this sort of foldable shut.

1

Clamshell foldables are at all times cheaper

The Razr Extremely (2025) and Galaxy Z Fold 7 positively aren’t what I might name inexpensive, however their worth tags aren’t loopy

If we’re trying strictly at their value, clamshell foldables are at all times cheaper in the case of the newest smartphone releases. For instance, this yr, Motorola’s top-tier Razr Extremely (512GB) prices $1,300, whereas Samsung’s well-reviewed Galaxy Z Flip 7 (256GB) is priced at simply $1,100. These costs clearly aren’t low cost, however they’re additionally not in the identical house because the costly because the $2,000 Galaxy Z Fold 7 or $1,700 OnePlus Open, the 2 most notable book-style foldables which are simply obtainable within the US market.

This alone makes clamshell foldable far simpler to suggest, particularly when you think about that high-end commonplace smartphones usually already push into this worth vary. For those who’re bored along with your slab-style telephone, why not strive one thing completely totally different, like a clamshell foldable?

Model

Motorola

SoC

Snapdragon 8 Elite

Show

7-inch foldable OLED (165Hz, 2992 x 1224 pixel decision), 4-inch exterior (165Hz, 1272 x 1080 pixel decision)

RAM

16GB

The Motorola Razr Extremely (2025) is a strong all-around clamshell foldable due to its sturdy design, Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and expansive cowl show. 

2

Sliding a clamshell foldable into my pocket is a lot simpler

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 suits completely in comparison with the cumbersome iPhone 16 Professional or Pixel 9 Professional

It’d sound a bit foolish, however I respect how small clamshell foldables grow to be when folded. It makes it a lot simpler to slip the smartphone into my pants or shorts pocket. Ebook-style foldables just like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (which I have been utilizing for the previous few weeks) additionally get smaller when folded, however they’re nonetheless somewhat taller than the typical smartphone. That mentioned, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is impressively skinny at 0.4-inches (8.9mm) when folded, so it does really feel far smaller in my pocket than previous book-style foldables I’ve used.

Even when I am simply sliding the Razr Extremely (2025) in my satchel once I’m going out, I respect that it takes up much less house in comparison with a normal smartphone or a book-style foldable. Typically, particularly in the case of smartphones, it is delicate issues like this that actually pull collectively the expertise a handset gives.

Model

Samsung

SoC

Samsung Exynos 2500

Show

4.1-inch 120Hz 948 x 1048 Tremendous AMOLED cowl show, 6.9-inch 120Hz 2520 x 1080 Dynamic AMOLED 2X most important show

RAM

12GB

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a strong improve from final yr’s Flip 6, providing a refined cowl display, a thinner design, and a bigger battery.

3

Shortly checking notifications on the quilt display is tremendous helpful

I set the Razr Extremely (2025) in tent mode on my desk for at-a-glance entry

I did not anticipate it, however I like turning the Razr Extremely (2025) right into a clock.

Once I obtained my fingers on the unique Galaxy Z Flip (are you able to consider that was 5 years in the past?), the tiny cowl display was so small it felt completely ineffective, however through the years it is slowly grow to be bigger and I’ve grown to actually respect the additional show as a result of it helps me keep unplugged. I can shortly slide the foldable out of my pocket to examine for an necessary notification, after which simply drop it again in, all with out opening the telephone and getting pulled to the siren name of social media.

You are able to do this with a book-style foldable, nevertheless it’s far simpler to get drawn into the telephone for the reason that cowl display is bigger and in a position to show extra info. In relation to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the quilt display feels just about precisely like a normal smartphone, making it that a lot simpler to dive again into doomscrolling mind-melting TikTok movies.

I’ve began inserting the Razr Extremely (2025) open on my desk in tent mode and both leaving the telephone stationary or choosing it up whereas closed to briefly to swipe through important notifications. It is a easy however very helpful characteristic I’ve come to take pleasure in that helps me keep on job all through the work day.

4

Snapping clamshell foldables shut feels cool

I am sufficiently old to recollect the flip telephone’s glory days

There was simply one thing so satisfying about snapping a basic flip telephone shut that was fully misplaced when slab-style smartphones turned a factor. Now that clamshell foldables are right here, that all-important snap is again. In fact, you can also make the identical closing movement with a horizontal foldable, nevertheless it simply is not as satisfying as closing a smartphone just like the Razr Extremely (2025) with one hand.

I usually discover myself absentmindedly opening and shutting the Galaxy Z Flip 6 or Razr Extremely (2025) as a result of it simply feels so good. Severely, it’d sound like I am making a joke, however once I change to utilizing the Pixel 9 Proor iPhone 16 Pro, I actually miss the satisfying snap of closing a clamshell foldable. It is the kind of factor you’ll want to attempt to actually respect, however then, it is troublesome to return.