Both styles have their perks.
There are two main types of foldable phones, clamshell phones and book-style ones. Clamshell designs harken back to the early days of flip phones — compact, square devices that flip open from bottom to top to reveal a traditional bar-style phone. It’s a popular throwback design with advantages like a glanceable front screen that old flip phones of yesteryear did not include (aside from small monochrome ones on models from the early 2000s). By contrast, book-style phones are just that, opening from right to left like a book to reveal a larger, tablet-sized screen inside for more immersive viewing, interaction and productivity. One is not better than the other. It simply comes down to your specific needs.
While you’ll find models of both types among the best foldable phones, you can see in form factor alone that they are markedly different. They’re also designed for very different everyday needs. Clamshell phones are ideal if you want a compact device with glanceable information on an outer screen. By contrast, book-style foldables are best suited for those who want to view content on a larger screen, more like a potential tablet replacement.
Why you’d use clamshell or book style
Back in the day, having a flip phone was “cool,” and it sort of is again. Unlike old models that only had a single screen inside, the latest versions have an outer screen where you can see pertinent information like incoming messages and calls, time and date, weather, calendar details, and with some models, even more apps. The benefit is being able to access what you need without having to open the phone. It’s great for reducing distractions and convenient access to information you need at-a-glance.
When you want a larger screen, flip it open from bottom to top to reveal the standard phone screen. From there, they operate like traditional phones, but with a hinge in the middle. Because of the smaller designs, they’re easier to operate one-handed than book-style foldables. But you don’t get more real estate than you would with a traditional bar phone.
By contrast, a book-style foldable phone is similar in size to a traditional bar phone when it’s closed, albeit a bit thicker. It has a screen on the outside to access basics like messaging, notifications and apps, just as you would on a regular phone. But open it to reveal a larger, tablet-sized screen. This is ideal for consuming content, like videos, books and games, surfing the web, and more.
Book-style foldables are good for productivity, too, including working on the go with widescreen or split screen views, even drag and drop actions. They feel more premium as well, but they are also larger and bulkier. They can also be more delicate with more complex mechanical designs, so you’ll need to handle them with extra care. Get a good foldable phone case that protects the hinge especially.
How to choose
Deciding between these types of foldable phones comes down to personal needs. There are pros and cons to using foldable phones in general. If you want something compact with glanceable information, a clamshell phone is perfect. If you want to watch videos or play games on the go and enjoy a more immersive experience, a book-style foldable makes more sense.
Both types of foldable phones offer special advantage with dual screens, like being able to use two-sided live translations or the outer camera to preview photos. Both can also function as their own stands, sitting upright or in a tented position for photos, video calls and more.
Book-style foldable phones are becoming more popular, with research indicating they may surpass clamshell phone shipments in 2026, especially with exciting new models like the Apple iPhone Duo (see our iPhone Duo hands-on). It’s not just because you can do more on these larger devices, and we rely on our phones for so much. It’s also because buyers are shifting towards premium products with more memory because of the memory shortage. Having one device with more memory that functions as both a phone and a tablet is an attractive proposition.
But book-style foldables also consume more battery since they have to power two large screens. They’re the same size as a traditional phone when closed, usually a bit thicker. Clamshell phones are much smaller, but don’t offer as much power and have less screen real estate. It comes down to what you prioritize most and how you want to use the device.
