5 easy causes I will at all times choose a clamshell over book-style folding cellphone

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

Certain, there’s not an apparent sensible goal for clamshell foldables like there may be 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 desire 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 one of these foldable shut.

1

Clamshell foldables are at all times cheaper

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

If we’re trying strictly at their value, clamshell foldables are at all times cheaper relating to the newest smartphone releases. For instance, this 12 months, 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 accessible within the US market.

This alone makes clamshell foldable far simpler to advocate, particularly when you think about that high-end commonplace smartphones usually already push into this worth vary. Should you’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 stable 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 matches completely in comparison with the cumbersome iPhone 16 Professional or Pixel 9 Professional

It’d sound a bit foolish, however I recognize 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 a bit 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 recognize that it takes up much less house in comparison with a normal smartphone or a book-style foldable. Typically, particularly relating to smartphones, it is refined issues like this that actually pull collectively the expertise a handset presents.

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 primary show

RAM

12GB

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a stable improve from final 12 months’s Flip 6, providing a refined cowl display screen, a thinner design, and a bigger battery.

3

Shortly 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 anticipate it, however I like turning the Razr Extremely (2025) right into a clock.

After I acquired 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 actually recognize 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 cellphone and getting pulled to the siren name of social media.

You are able to do this with a book-style foldable, however it’s far simpler to get drawn into the cellphone because the cowl display screen is bigger and in a position to show extra info. In terms of 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 putting 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 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 cellphone’s glory days

There was simply one thing so satisfying about snapping a basic flip cellphone shut that was totally misplaced when slab-style smartphones turned a factor. Now that clamshell foldables are right here, that all-important snap is again. After all, you can also make the identical closing movement with a horizontal foldable, however 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 swap 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 it’s essential attempt to really recognize, however then, it is tough to return.