Foldable smartphones from R13,000 in South Africa

Foldable smartphones are much cheaper in South Africa in 2025 than previous years, with several options available for under R20,000.

As is the case with many cutting-edge innovations, foldable smartphones were very expensive in the early years of the technology.

When MyBroadband looked at the options available in August 2023, the most affordable option was the Oppo Find N2 Flip at R28,999.

That was more expensive than that year’s iPhone Pro model, which boasted much better performance and cameras.

Top-end foldables continue to be very pricey in 2025. At the moment, the most expensive smartphone in South Africa is a foldable — the tri-fold Huawei Mate XT — with a price tag of R69,999.

However, there are also many cheaper foldable smartphones available. Consumers in South Africa could buy three to four older or lower-spec foldables for R69,000, if they so chose.

Although booklet-style foldables officially sold in South Africa will typically cost well over R30,000, there are various lower-cost clamshell-style models.

The most affordable model officially available in South Africa is the Blackview Hero 10, which packs some impressive hardware with a R12,999 price tag.

Launched roughly a year ago as the world’s most affordable foldable, its main display is a 1,080 × 2,560 foldable OLED, while the 1.19-inch OLED cover screen boasts a 390 × 390 resolution.

The primary exterior camera system consists of a 108MP main camera and 8MP ultrawide sensor, while the internal display features a 32MP selfie shooter.

The Hero 10’s big drawbacks are its lack of 5G support and a lower screen refresh rate than what has become standard on most mid-range and flagship models.

The second most affordable option with official local support is a much better-known model, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, which was launched about two years ago.

MyBroadband found this clamshell-style foldable was selling for less than R18,000 from multiple online stores. One seller on Takealot was offering a graphite model with 256GB storage for R17,500.

The Z Flip 5 boasts a 6.7-inch 2,640 x 1,080 internal foldable OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 3.4-inch 720 x 748 OLED cover display with 60Hz refresh rate.

The latter is much larger than the Blackview model and supports a wider range of apps, making it far more useful while closed.

While not as widely sold as the Samsung, Oppo’s Find N2 Flip is another option to consider. It was available for R19,999 from MTN at the time of publication.

While there are no other locally supported foldables in South Africa selling for under R20,000 new, there are several other options for those willing to risk a parallel or “grey” import.

Amazon.com is selling various foldables, such as the booklet-style Google Pixel Fold, for under R20,000 including shipping and import taxes.

However, if something goes wrong with your device — which may be a particular concern when it comes to foldable screens — you may struggle to find parts or a local repair shop.

Several online tech stores in South Africa may offer limited warranties on imported smartphones, although they may charge slightly more than when you import the device yourself.

At the time of example, GeeWiz was offering a parallel-imported 2024 Motorola Razr for R15,995, while Zeek Online was selling a 2023 Motorola Razr+ grey model for R19,995.

The table below compares the specifications of the three most affordable foldable smartphones in South Africa in June 2025.

Blackview Hero 10

Oppo Find N2 Flip

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5