10 Ways Foldable Phones Are Redefining Productivity and Entertainment

A phone that becomes a tablet on demand sounds like a party trick, until it saves a frantic morning. Picture this on the metro: a half-folded device propped on the seat rail, video call on top, notes below, and a quick spreadsheet peek on the side. That blend of screens and modes captures the promise of foldables. The category has matured fast: Android added large-screen smarts, brands toughened hinges and seals, and prices dipped during sales. Yet the story isn't a straight climb. Shipments wobbled in 2024–25 worldwide and locally, even as the tech got better. The result is a fascinating split: a niche that punches above its weight for productivity and entertainment, while still courting mainstream acceptance. Let's unpack the 10 ways foldable phones are redefining productivity and entertainment before spending ₹70,000 to ₹1.5 lakh. 

10 Reasons Why Foldable Phones Are a Game-Changer for Productivity and Entertainment; Photo Credit: Pexels

1) Multitasking that actually saves time

Foldables earn their keep with multitasking that feels native, not bolted on. Android's large-screen push (12L onward) brought a taskbar, easy split-screen and drag-drop across apps; Android 15 let users pin the taskbar for quicker switching, while Android 16 continues to refine external-display and desktop-mode behaviours. On a book-style foldable, that means three apps up at once without the juggling act. Samsung's Galaxy AI layers on Note Assist to transcribe, translate and summarise on-device, handy after a long client call, while Gemini on newer foldables adds multi-app control for everyday actions. The result feels less like “phone plus” and more like “ultralight laptop, sometimes”. For meetings, pair with a Bluetooth keyboard and you can knock out a deck between airport gates. 

2) The cover screen becomes a command centre

Flip-style foldables turned the once-tiny “peek” screen into a proper control panel. On the latest models, the cover display runs richer widgets and even full apps, so quick replies, maps peeks, timers, and to-do triage happen without opening the phone. Samsung's newest Flip adds Gemini, Now Bar and Now Brief to the cover for planning and bite-sized summaries, great for scanning day highlights or pulling a quick translation at the tea stall. These micro-interactions shave seconds all day and keep the big screen fresh for deeper work. You feel it most when commuting: music controls, ride updates, calendar nudges, all on the outer screen. Tiny convenience, big life upgrade. 

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3) Pocket tablet, no shoulder bag

A book-style foldable unfolds into a near-8-inch canvas that handles documents, diagrams and detailed reading with less squinting. Microsoft has optimised Outlook's two-pane layouts on tablets and foldables, so your inbox list sits left and the open email lives on the right, no constant back-and-forth. Toss in Word or PowerPoint and you can review comments or tweak slides on the go. For those who juggle agendas and inbox zero, this layout reduces taps and mental context switches. It's a small but constant productivity lift, especially on days spent bouncing between meetings and cabs. 

Get top foldable smartphones from Amazon; Photo Credit: Pexels

4) Streaming that finally fits life here

Video rules the small screen. The OTT audience here crossed ~547 million last year, and smartphones remain the primary viewing device, an overwhelming majority watch online video on phones. That context matters: unfold for a mini-cinema during long rides, refold for quick reels in queues. Android's size-compatibility tools have also improved how stubborn apps render on unusual aspect ratios, reducing awkward letterboxing over time. Big display + better fit + cheaper data turns a foldable into a pocket multiplex for cricket, K-drama and comfort reruns. Long trips feel shorter; single-screen phones start to feel cramped. 

5) Gaming: gorgeous screens, but mind the fps fine print

High refresh inner displays make racers, shooters and MOBAs look silky, and the larger canvas helps with touch accuracy. Yet frame-rate support depends on game publishers. Titles like BGMI selectively enable 90/120fps on specific models; support changes with patches and device whitelists. If gaming tops the list, check current fps support for your model before buying or during sale season. That said, sustained performance on newer chips and better cooling in 2024–25 foldables mean longer sessions without throttling, and flip phones with larger cover displays let you handle chat or music without jumping out of the match. 

6) Creators: sketch, shoot, summarise

Foldables double as portable studios. The S Pen on Galaxy Fold models turns the inner screen into a canvas; Galaxy AI's Note Assist can transcribe and summarise recordings, even translate PDFs, handy for research or client notes. The big screen helps with video timelines, quick thumbnails in Canva, or Lightroom edits where sliders need precision. Flex Mode props the phone like a tiny tripod: shoot food reels on a café table or time-lapses of monsoon skies without buying extra gear. The point isn't replacing a full workstation; it's capturing ideas and polishing them before the moment slips away. 

7) Durability: from “careful!” to “carry on”

Early doubts around fragility are easing. Samsung's 2024 foldables introduced IP48, adding dust resistance to the long-standing water resistance, a big win in dusty cities. The 2025 Flip carries that forward. Hinge longevity has leapt too: certification reports place the Fold7 at over 5 lakh folds, a multi-year assurance for normal use. Other brands made strides as well; OPPO touts high fold counts for its Flexion hinge, while devices like OnePlus Open improved robustness (though with a lower IP rating). Real-world care still matters, screen protectors and cases remain sensible, but the category no longer feels like glass on eggshells. 

Get top foldable smartphones from Amazon; Photo Credit: Pexels

8) Prices: a wider ladder, bigger deals

Good news for wallets: foldables now start around ₹70,000 in sales or street pricing. The Tecno Phantom V Fold has hovered near ₹69,999, while OPPO's Find N3 Flip sits around ₹69,994 at major retailers. Motorola's Razr 50 Ultra, launched far higher, has seen steep offers dropping it into the ₹68–70k band during promotions. On the other end, premium book-style devices like the OnePlus Open remain closer to ₹1,49,999 new, but bundle and exchange deals often sweeten the pot. This spread gives students, freelancers and founders more choice: flip for pocketable style and cover-screen smarts; book-style for tablet-class workspaces. 

9) The adoption reality: niche, but influential

Despite the buzz, foldable shipments slowed in 2024 and are set to dip or stay flat in 2025 before a potential rebound. Analysts point to high prices, perceived fragility and a “why fold?” question for the average buyer. Locally, shipments remain under the million-unit mark for the year, even as mainstream smartphone sales stay robust. Interestingly, design splits differ by quarter: at one point in 2024, book-style “folds” took a larger share than “flips”, suggesting productivity buyers lean to the tablet form. For now, foldables shape design trends and push software forward, even as they serve a smaller, more demanding slice of users. 

10) Smart buying checklist (2025)

Software support. Flagship Samsung foldables now promise long support windows, while Motorola typically offers three OS upgrades and four years of security on newer Razr models, important if you keep phones for five-plus years. Desktop modes. Samsung DeX remains the simplest phone-to-screen desktop experience for presentations and light work; recent guidance notes changes to the DeX for PC app on newer One UI versions, but wireless DeX to displays still works on supported models. Service and care. OPPO offers two free screen-guard/back cover replacements within warranty on the Find N3 Flip; Samsung provides a one-time inner screen-protector attachment within the first year and has comprehensive Care+ plans. Ingress protection. Newer Samsungs carry IP48; check IP ratings on rivals before trips to the coast or festival season. Tick these boxes, and a foldable feels less like a gamble and more like a daily advantage. 

Products Related To This Article

1. VIVO X Fold5

2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 5G Smartphone with Galaxy AI

3. Tecno Phantom V Fold 2

4. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 5G Smartphone with Galaxy AI

5. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold 5G

Foldables no longer live on the fringe. They compress a tablet, a notepad and a tiny tripod into a device that slips into a jeans pocket. For work, the gains are clear: fewer taps, better layouts, smarter notes, and faster context switches. For entertainment, the recipe sings, big screen, richer cover interactions and a sea of OTT content designed for the phone first. The caveats are honest, too: not every app scales perfectly, game fps support varies, and premium book-style models still command a hefty sum outside sale windows. But the direction of travel looks set: stronger hinges, better dust resistance, longer software support and smarter AI. If a phone doubles as your office and your cinema, a foldable feels less like a flex, and more like the obvious choice. Shop these foldable smartphones online.

Disclaimer: The images used in this article are for illustration purposes only. They may not be an exact representation of the products, categories, and brands listed in this article.