5 easy causes I am going to all the time choose a clamshell over book-style folding cellphone

This wasn’t all the time 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 might 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 cellphone simpler to slip into my pocket, that I can prop up its show in a number of extra helpful methods, its refined however nonetheless helpful cowl display screen, and eventually, merely simply how cool it feels to snap any such foldable shut.

1

Clamshell foldables are all the time cheaper

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

If we’re wanting strictly at their value, clamshell foldables are all the time cheaper in terms of the most recent 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 area because the costly because the $2,000 Galaxy Z Fold 7 or $1,700 OnePlus Open, the 2 most notable book-style foldables which can be simply obtainable within the US market.

This alone makes clamshell foldable far simpler to suggest, particularly when you think about that high-end customary smartphones usually already push into this worth vary. If you happen to’re bored together with your slab-style cellphone, why not strive one thing completely completely 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 because of 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 matches completely in comparison with the cumbersome iPhone 16 Professional or Pixel 9 Professional

It would 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. E-book-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 just a little taller than the common smartphone. That stated, 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 area in comparison with a normal smartphone or a book-style foldable. Typically, particularly in terms of smartphones, it is refined issues like this that basically 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 fundamental show

RAM

12GB

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

3

Rapidly checking notifications on the quilt display screen is tremendous helpful

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

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

After I bought my arms on the unique Galaxy Z Flip (are you able to imagine that was 5 years in the past?), the tiny cowl display screen was so small it felt completely ineffective, however over time it is slowly grow to be bigger and I’ve grown to essentially respect the additional show as a result of it helps me keep unplugged. I can shortly slide the foldable out of my pocket to test for an necessary notification, after which simply drop it again in, all with out opening the cellphone 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 cellphone for the reason that cowl display screen is bigger and capable of show extra info. With regards to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the quilt display screen 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 cellphone stationary or selecting it up whereas closed to briefly to swipe through important notifications. It is a easy however very helpful function I’ve come to get pleasure from that helps me keep on activity all through the work day.

4

Snapping clamshell foldables shut feels cool

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

There was simply one thing so satisfying about snapping a traditional flip cellphone shut that was solely misplaced when slab-style smartphones grew to become a factor. Now that clamshell foldables are right here, that all-important snap is again. In fact, you may 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. Critically, it would 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 that you must attempt to actually respect, however then, it is troublesome to return.