Form factors: smartphone terms explained

10 terms. Back to the full glossary.

Foldable phone: A phone with a flexible screen that folds, either like a book or like a clamshell. Foldables cost more, are thicker and need more care with water, dust and drops. Check software updates, hinge warranty and the crease. Related: Book-style foldable, Flip (clamshell) phone, Hinge, Screen crease.
Book-style foldable: A foldable that opens sideways like a book into a small-tablet-sized screen. It is good for multitasking and reading. It is heavier and thicker than a flip. Many have a cover screen for use closed. Related: Foldable phone, Hinge, Screen crease.
Flip (clamshell) phone: A foldable that folds in half vertically into a compact square. It is pocket-friendly. Cover screen size and what it can do vary, as do battery and camera trade-offs. Related: Foldable phone, Cover screen, Hinge.
Cover screen: A small outside display on a foldable that shows notifications and some apps when closed. Size and app support differ. A bigger cover screen means fewer times you need to open the phone. Related: Flip (clamshell) phone, Foldable phone.
Hinge: The mechanism that lets a foldable open and close. Quality decides durability. Makers quote fold test numbers under their own conditions. Dust ingress is a common concern. Related: Foldable phone, Screen crease, IP rating.
Screen crease: The visible line or dip where a foldable screen bends. It is more or less visible depending on design and viewing angle. You can feel it with a finger. It cannot be fully removed today. Related: Foldable phone, Hinge.
Candy-bar phone: The standard slab-shaped phone with a fixed screen on the front. It is the most durable and cheapest design. Most phones are candy-bar. Related: Foldable phone, Compact phone.
Compact phone: A phone with a smaller screen, typically under about 6.3 inches, that is easier to use with one hand. Compact phones usually have smaller batteries. Fewer options are available, so check the trade-offs. Related: Weight and thickness, Candy-bar phone, mAh.
Gaming phone: A phone built for games, with extra cooling, high touch sampling, shoulder triggers or fans, and often a large battery. It can hold performance longer, but tends to be bulkier and have less refined cameras. A regular phone with good cooling may be enough for casual gaming. Related: Vapour chamber and cooling, Touch sampling rate, Bypass charging, Game frame rate.
Rugged phone: A phone designed to withstand drops, dust, water and extreme conditions. They are thick and heavy and often have lower-end specs for the price. Useful for field work. Related: MIL-STD-810H, IP rating, Drop rating and drop resistance.