Buy Bookstyle foldables
Looking for a book-style foldable? Here you’ll find all the book-style foldable phones: devices that unfold into a small tablet, with a standard phone screen on the outside. Handy if you read a lot, look at maps or want to use two apps side by side. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a device that takes up less space in your pocket, have a look at clamshells; all foldable models are listed together under foldables. We compare the current prices across all shops, 100% independently. Use the filters for brand, screen size or price and find the best device straight away.
What should you look out 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 normal phone; when unfolded, you have a screen of around 8 inches. When choosing one, look out for 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 folding style suits you yet? All foldable phones are listed together at foldables, whilst clamshell models are listed separately at clamshells.
Book-style or clamshell?
Both fold, but with opposite aims. 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-sized screen that fits in your trouser 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 standard mobile phone
A clamshell model is heavier and thicker than a standard top-of-the-range handset: expect it to weigh well over 200 grams and have a casing that consists of two layers when folded shut. The inner screen is made of plastic and has a slight crease down the middle, which is particularly noticeable when viewed at an angle in direct light. The hinge is the most vulnerable part, and replacing a cracked screen is considerably more expensive than with a standard mobile phone. You should therefore consider not only the purchase price, but also the 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 for the device you’re considering.
Price: this is the most expensive category of phones
New clamshell models start at around 1,300 euros and go up to over 1,800 euros for the most expensive imported models. Prices only really come down once a model is a year old or is on special offer; if the saving amounts to hundreds of euros, it’s often wiser to buy the previous generation rather than the latest model. For this, also check out phone deals. If you want to try out the foldable design without spending this much, a clamshell is the cheaper place to start.
Which brands make book-style foldables?
The range available in the Netherlands is smaller than the global range: 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 a standard warranty everywhere.
- Honor Magic V series: known for strikingly thin and light bodies, but not every generation makes it to Dutch shops.
- Oppo Find N series: technically impressive and very slim, though Oppo does not officially release these devices in Europe; here, they are available from import shops.
- Xiaomi Mix series: the book-style Mix Fold remains exclusive to China; only the clamshell model from this series was officially released in the Netherlands.
Would you prefer to compare devices based on specifications? Put two models side by side in our phone comparison tool, or start with the selection guide if you’re just starting out.
