Buy Bookstyle Foldables
Looking for a book-style foldable? Here you'll find all book-style foldable phones: devices that unfold into a small tablet, with a regular phone screen on the outside. This is handy if you read a lot, look at maps, or want to use two apps side by side. If you’re looking for a device that fits more easily in your pocket, check out clamshells; all foldable models are listed under foldables. We compare current prices from all retailers, 100% independently. Use the filters for brand, screen size, or price to instantly find the best device.
What should you look for in a book-style foldable?
A book-style foldable is a foldable phone that opens like a book: when folded, you use it as a regular phone; when unfolded, you have a screen that’s around 8 inches. When choosing one, pay attention to four things: the weight, how thick the device is when folded, how dust- and water-resistant the hinge is, and how long you’ll receive updates. You can see the current models and prices in the overview above.
Not sure which fold style is right for you? All foldable phones are listed together at foldables, and clamshell models are listed separately at clamshells.
Book-style or clamshell?
Both fold, but with opposite goals. A book-style foldable makes your screen bigger; a clamshell makes your phone smaller. That difference pretty much determines your entire choice.
Choose book-style if you read a lot, send emails, watch videos, or want to use two apps side by side: you’ll get a small tablet screen that fits in your pants pocket.
Choose "clamshell" if size and price are more important: these models are more compact, lighter, and usually hundreds of euros cheaper.
What you’re giving up compared to a regular phone
A clamshell model is heavier and thicker than a standard high-end phone: expect it to weigh well over 200 grams and have a two-layer casing when closed. The inner screen is made of plastic and has a slight crease in the middle, which is especially noticeable in oblique light. The hinge is the most fragile part, and replacing a cracked screen is significantly more expensive than with a regular phone. Therefore, don’t just look at the purchase price, but also at repair costs and the warranty period.
Dust and water resistance also vary by model. More and more clamshell models are water-resistant, but a hinge never seals as tightly as a solid casing. Check the IP rating on the specifications page of the device you’re considering.
Price: This is the most expensive category of phones
New clamshell models start around 1,300 euros and go up to over 1,800 euros for the most expensive imported models. Prices don’t really drop until a model is a year old or part of a promotion; if the difference is hundreds of euros, it’s often wiser to buy the previous generation rather than the latest. Check out phone deals for more options. If you want to try out the foldable design without spending that much, a clamshell is the more affordable starting point.
Which brands make book-style foldables?
The selection in the Netherlands is smaller than the global selection: several manufacturers keep their book-style models in Asia.
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series: the most readily available book-style model in the Netherlands, with seven years of updates, a wide range of accessories, and standard warranty coverage everywhere.
- Honor Magic V series: known for its strikingly thin and lightweight designs, but not every generation makes it to Dutch stores.
- Oppo Find N series: technically advanced and very thin, but Oppo does not officially release these devices in Europe; here, they are available through import shops.
- Xiaomi Mix series: the Mix Fold clamshell model remains exclusive to China; only the flip model from this series was officially released in the Netherlands.
Would you rather compare devices based on specific specs? Put two models side by side in our phone comparison tool, or start with the selection guide if you’re just starting out.
