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The evidence does not show that foldable phones as a group get better or worse 5G than conventional slab phones. Reception and speed depend on the specific model, the regional version, the carrier’s bands, the local network and how the phone is held. Studies that compare foldables and slab phones under identical conditions are not available, so a category-wide ranking would go beyond what is known.
Why form factor alone does not predict 5G performance
Folding a phone changes its size, its internal layout and where the antennas sit, but none of the sources reviewed isolates those changes and measures their effect on 5G. Any difference a user notices is more likely to come from the individual handset’s antenna design, its supported bands and its firmware, or from the place and conditions in which it is used. A slab phone from one manufacturer can perform worse than a foldable from another, and the reverse is also true.
What antenna testing shows about real-world variation
The most directly relevant study is the 2024 article by Huaqiang Gao, Xiaoming Chen, Yuanan Liu and Gert Frølund Pedersen, “Antenna Performance Over-the-Air Testing of 5G Commercial Smartphones,” published in IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, volume 73, article 5502008. The researchers, based at Aalborg University in Denmark, tested 18 widely used commercial 5G smartphones using over-the-air measurements of total radiated power (TRP) and total isotropic sensitivity (TIS) across usage scenarios and frequency bands.
Two findings matter for everyday use:
- Total radiated power in the NR band varied by up to 10 dB depending on which side of the head the phone was held against.
- Total isotropic sensitivity varied by up to 3 dB between hand-only scenarios.
These numbers come from this study’s sample and test setup. The paper shows that handling changes measured antenna performance. It does not report a foldable-versus-slab gap, and it cannot be used to claim that any folding phone is weaker or stronger than a slab.
#1 Best Overall
- The Z Fold3 unfolds into a massive 7.6″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X internal display with 120 Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support, giving you a tablet-like workspace for multitasking, productivity, and immersive media.
Why the network often matters more than the phone
A 2020 field study by Arvind Narayanan, Eman Ramadan, Jason Carpenter, Qingxu Liu, Yu Liu, Feng Qian and Zhi-Li Zhang measured early commercial 5G networks from three carriers in Minneapolis, Chicago and Atlanta. It found that millimeter-wave (mmWave) performance varied with line of sight, obstructions and distance, and that hands or the body could block mmWave signals when no direct path existed.
Those findings describe how the radio environment works. They are not a guide to today’s speeds, because the networks and phones tested belonged to the early years of 5G deployment. The practical lesson still holds: a phone that appears weak in one room or on one street may behave differently a few metres away, with no change to the handset.
Rank #2
- 7.6", Foldable OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1450 nits (peak), 1840 x 2208 pixels, Cover display: 5.8" OLED, 120Hz, HDR,1080 x 2092 pixels, 17.4:9 ratio, 408ppi, 1200 nits (HBM), 1550 nits (peak)
- 256GB 12GB RAM, Octa-core, Google Tensor G2 (5nm), Mali-G710 MP7, Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, 4821mAh Battery, IPX8 water resistant
- Rear Camera: 48MP, f/1.7 + 10.8MP, f/3.1 (telephoto) + 10.8MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide), Front Camera: 8MP, f/2.0, Cover camera: 9.5MP, f/2.2
- 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, CDMA 800/1700/1900, 3G: HSDPA 800/850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/42/46/48/66/71 5G: 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/28/30/38/40/41/48/66/71/77/78/79/257/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Nano-SIM and eSIM
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.
What manufacturer and industry guidance says
The GSMA’s TS.24 V7.0 page, dated 28 October 2025, describes operator guidance on device antenna performance. It notes that handsets are now commonly built with internal antennas and that design choices can conflict with radio performance. It states:
“The increasing focus on design conflicts with radio performance of the antenna systems can lead to service disruption and increased dropped call rates impacting customer experience.”
Rank #3
- Versatile Camera System: High-quality photography with multiple lenses and modes.
- One UI Software: User-friendly interface for an intuitive and seamless experience.
- Foldable Tablet Experience: Combines phone and tablet functionality seamlessly.
- Multi-Window App Continuity: Run multiple apps simultaneously for efficient multitasking.
- Built to last, the Fold5 includes IPX8 water resistance, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, an Armor Aluminum hinge, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and support for S Pen (sold separately) — combining rugged engineering with productivity.
This is institutional guidance from the GSMA rather than a consumer test. It explains why standardised test conditions matter, but it does not rank foldable phones against slab phones.
Check the exact model, region and carrier
Band support is set per model and per market, so the phone family name is not enough. Samsung’s US specification sheet for the Galaxy Z Fold5 lists sub-6 GHz and mmWave support along with a US band list. The same sheet notes that 5G service is available in select markets and depends on carrier availability and other factors. A Fold5 sold in another country can carry a different band set, and an older or newer foldable can differ from it entirely. Before buying, confirm three things:
Rank #4
- Connectivity Technology: NFC
- Operating System: Android 13.0
- Memory Storage Capacity: 512.0 GB
- Camera Description: Rear
- Battery Charge Time: 79.0 minutes
- The exact model number and regional variant (the model code printed on the box or in Settings).
- That your carrier supports the bands listed for that variant, including sub-6 GHz and mmWave if you need both.
- Whether your carrier’s own coverage map shows 5G in your area.
How to compare two phones fairly
If you want to know whether a foldable gets the same reception as your current phone, the comparison only works if the conditions match. Use this sequence:
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- Test in the same spot, ideally a place you can return to, and note any obstructions such as walls, glass or metal.
- Set both phones to the same network mode, for example 5G standalone or 5G with LTE fallback, and confirm which mode is active in the status bar or signal details.
- Hold each phone the same way and record which side of the head or body it rests against.
- Repeat each test several times over a short period and record the averages, not a single reading.
The table below lists what to record for each test.
Best Value
- Cutting-Edge Foldable Design: Experience the future of mobile technology with the innovative foldable display of the Google Pixel Fold.
- Powerful Photography: Capture stunning photos with the advanced camera system, featuring a telephoto lens and ultrawide lens.
- Long-Lasting Battery: Stay connected all day with the impressive 24-hour battery life.
- Blazing-Fast 5G Connectivity: Enjoy lightning-fast download and upload speeds with 5G network support.
- Ample Storage: With 256GB of storage, you can store countless photos, videos, and apps without running out of space.
| Factor | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier and plan | Carrier name, plan and SIM type | Band access and priority differ by carrier |
| Regional model | Model code and market | Supported bands vary by regional variant |
| Location | Address or spot, distance from the tower if known, obstructions | Line of sight and blockage change results |
| Network mode | 5G standalone, non-standalone or LTE only | Changing mode changes which radio path is used |
| Grip and orientation | Hand position, side of the head or body, case on or off | The antenna study found up to 10 dB variation by side of the head |
| Outcome metric | Signal strength, reception quality, dropped calls, speed, latency | A speed test alone does not isolate antenna performance |
Cases and troubleshooting
Samsung states that a cover can affect call reception or data services depending on the network environment. If a foldable seems weak on your carrier, a reasonable check is to take the case off for a few minutes in the same spot and compare the reading. The sources reviewed do not show that any specific replacement case improves 5G, so a case should be treated as a possible variable to rule out, not a fix to buy.
What is not established
The evidence does not show that the hinge, the folding display or the thicker folded body makes a foldable systematically better or worse at holding a 5G connection. It also does not provide a current matched-pair test of foldable and slab phones on the same carrier and in the same conditions. Individual user reports of weak or strong reception on a particular model are not proof of a category effect. No single numeric difference between the two form factors can be stated.
The figures in this article describe specific studies: the 2024 antenna tests of 18 phones in Denmark and the 2020 field study in three US cities. They should not be read as a foldable-versus-slab measurement.
Carrier bands, device software and network coverage change over time, so check the current specification for the exact model and market before relying on any band list.
In short, a foldable is not automatically the better or worse choice for 5G. The phone’s own antenna design, its regional variant, your carrier’s bands and the spot where you use it will decide the result, and those are the factors to verify before buying or troubleshooting.
Quick Recap
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