TechTonic:The future unfolds

Over the past few years, a new breed of devices has quietly crept into the market: phones that fold, flip, bend and unfold into mini-tablets. Once a quirky experiment for early adopters, foldable phones are positioning themselves not just as geek toys but as aspirational gadgets for the tech-savvy crowd. These devices not just promise multitasking, media bingeing and creative work, but there is a little bit of “wow factor” too.

While the idea shines and the phones remain niche and pricey, they are slowly gaining ground. And as more players enter the race, the category is becoming even more interesting and the lineup compelling. Here’s a look at the standout models currently on the market.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

(Rs 1,74,999 onwards)

Flagship productivity powerhouse | 8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner display | 6.5-inch AMOLED cover screen | Snapdragon elite-tier chipset | Up to 1 TB storage | 200 MP triple rear camera | Improved, slimmer hinge | S-Pen support

Why it stands out: The Fold 7 is Samsung’s most refined big-screen foldable yet. It is a tablet-sized workspace, which offers split-screen productivity, strong cameras and excellent display quality, a must for multitaskers.

Vivo X Fold 5

(Rs 1,49,999)

Cinematic content machine | 8.03-inch AMOLED inner display | 6.53-inch cover display | 120 Hz refresh rate on both screens | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 16 GB RAM | 512 GB storage | ZEISS optics with triple 50 MP cameras | 6,000 mAh battery with fast charging

Why it stands out: A creator-friendly foldable that blends big, beautiful displays with ZEISS-powered photography. Great for video, editing and long hours of streaming thanks to its large battery.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

(Rs 1,72,999)

16 GB RAM | 256 GB ROM | Tensor G5 octa core processor | 48 MP rear camera |

5016 mAh battery | AI-driven editing tools | Premium build

Why it stands out: Google’s foldable approach focuses less on hardware flash and more on intelligent software. It is built for users who want AI-assisted workflows, top-tier photography and smooth app transitions across folded states.

Motorola Razr series

(Rs 79,999-Rs 99,999)

Compact flip design | Large external cover screen | Lightweight build | Strong selfie camera performance | Fast charging | High refresh-rate inner display

Why it stands out: A stylish, more affordable entry point into foldables. Perfect for those who want pocketability and fashion-first design without giving up modern features or a smooth display experience.

Each brand interprets the foldable concept in its own distinct way. Samsung treats the large inner display as a full-fledged productivity canvas, perfect for multitasking and on-the-go work.

Google imagines it as a playground for AI, blending smart assistance with powerful computational photography. Vivo leans into cinematic visuals and ZEISS-powered lenses, crafting a foldable that appeals to creators and content lovers.

For users, too, the device serves different purposes. For a power user, a foldable becomes a mini-laptop on flights and in coffee shops; for filmmakers, it doubles as a pocket-sized monitor and mobile edit bay; and for everyday users, it is simply a more immersive way to scroll, stream and shop.

Adding to the foldable hype is the release of the Galaxy Z TriFold that folds twice and has a triple-panel design that opens inti a massive 10-inch screen. This underscores just how far the segment has already come. Apple is also rumoured to join the foldable bandwagon by 2026.

Should you care about a foldable?

Sure, if you work on the go (writing, editing, reading), love to read long articles or ebooks on a bigger screen, do multitasking and creative work, watch lots of videos or consume media, or simply like your gadget to stand out. But if you mostly use your phone for calls, WhatsApp, social media or basic tasks, a good slab phone will still do the job.

The road ahead

Currently, foldable phones are like the early electric cars of a decade ago — promising, eye-catching, but still waiting for the “mass adoption moment”. For now, they belong to the premium-leaning, the early-adopters and the enthusiasts. Yet with improving hardware, falling costs and rising consumer interest, foldables could unfold into something more serious.