Best foldables and large-screen phones for South African work in 2026
By the AllThingsMobile team Published 8 min read
Quick answer
If you want one large-screen device for work in South Africa in 2026, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is the best foldable for serious multitasking, but it is expensive. For most business buyers, a big slab phone like the Galaxy S25 Ultra gives better value, easier durability and less day-to-day fuss.
If you want one device for email, documents, calls and travel, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is the best foldable you can buy in South Africa right now. But for most business professionals, a large normal phone like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the smarter buy because it costs far less and is easier to live with every day.
We cannot fairly rank tablets here because this brief does not include live South African tablet prices we can quote. So this guide focuses on the best foldables and large-screen phones you can actually verify now.
Ranked: the best large-screen work devices you can buy now
| Rank | Device | Best for | Verified price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 | Best foldable for real multitasking | From R36,999 |
| 2 | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | Best overall value large-screen work phone | From R15,282 |
| 3 | Samsung Galaxy S26+ | Best premium big-screen Samsung if you want newer hardware | From R22,999 |
| 4 | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Best large iPhone for Apple-first business users | From R30,699 |
| 5 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 | Best budget work phone | From R4,999 |
| 6 | Samsung Galaxy A56 | Best cheap staff phone or backup device | From R800 |
| 7 | Apple iPhone 17e | Best smaller business iPhone if you do not need a big screen | From R16,499 |
If you were planning to buy a tablet, stop and check your workflow first. If you mostly need Outlook, WhatsApp, Teams, PDFs and browser tabs on the move, a foldable or large phone is often simpler than carrying a second device and managing hotspotting.
1. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is the best foldable if you will use the inner screen daily
The Galaxy Z Fold8 is the closest thing here to a phone-and-tablet combo. It makes sense if you often read contracts, review slides, work in split-screen apps or reply to messages while checking another app at the same time.
The problem is price. At from R36,999, it is hard to justify unless the larger inner display saves you time most days.
Who should buy the Z Fold8
- You review documents and presentations away from your desk.
- You use two or three apps side by side.
- You want one pocketable device instead of a phone plus tablet.
Who should skip it
- You mainly do calls, email and chat.
- You want the best value.
- You do not want to be extra careful with a folding inner screen.
If your bigger issue is signal quality on the road, read our guide to Vodacom vs MTN vs Telkom vs Cell C vs Rain for business travel before you sign a contract.
2. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the best buy for most professionals
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the clear value winner for business users who want a large screen without foldable cost or foldable compromises. It starts at R15,282 and gives you a 6.9-inch display, Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 12GB RAM, storage up to 1TB and a 5000mAh battery.
This is the phone to buy if you want one device that can handle long days, travel, hotspotting, meetings and heavy app use without feeling fragile. It is also much easier to justify than a foldable if you are buying for yourself or for a company.
Why it ranks above newer and pricier options
- Big 6.9-inch display for documents, dashboards and video calls
- Flagship chip for demanding work apps
- 5000mAh battery for long workdays
- Far cheaper than the Z Fold8 and iPhone 18 Pro Max
Worked contract example
Example: the Galaxy S25 Ultra is listed on Vodacom at R729/month over 48 months with 1GB data, on Telkom at R849/month over 36 months with 2GB data, and on Vodacom at R849/month over 36 months with 1GB data. The 48-month deal lowers the monthly bill, but you stay tied to the phone for longer.
You can check current offers on our latest phone contract deals page or compare models side by side in our phone comparisons tool.
3. Samsung Galaxy S26+ is the safer premium pick if you want newer Samsung hardware
The Galaxy S26+ starts at R22,999, which puts it in a tricky spot. It costs much more than the S25 Ultra, so it is not the value choice, but it still makes sense if you want a newer premium Samsung without moving to a foldable.
It is a sensible option for executives who spend a lot of time on calls, meetings and travel and want a premium large-screen phone with fewer durability worries than a foldable. Cell C also lists it at R899/month over 36 months with 3GB data.
4. Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is the right large iPhone if your work already runs on Apple
The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at R30,699, so this is a premium buy, not a value pick. It is best for people who already work across iPhone, Mac and Apple services and want the biggest current iPhone officially on sale in South Africa.
It ranks below the Z Fold8 and S25 Ultra because it costs a lot, and a foldable gives you more flexibility for side-by-side work. If you are fully in Apple's ecosystem, though, this is the large-screen iPhone to shortlist.
If you want more Apple context for work use, our iPhone business features roundup is a useful next read.
5. Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 and Samsung Galaxy A56 are the practical picks for tight budgets
If you are buying for a small business, a field team or your own startup, these two matter more than the flagships. They cost far less and still cover the basics: calls, email, WhatsApp, cloud docs and video meetings.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 15: best budget main phone
The Redmi Note 15 starts at R4,999, which makes it the strongest low-cost main-phone option in this list. Vodacom lists it at R349/month over 36 months with 1GB data, or R399/month over 24 months with 1GB data.
Samsung Galaxy A56: best cheap backup or staff phone
The Galaxy A56 starts at R800 at Incredible Connection, checked 28 Sep 2026. It has a 6.7-inch display, Exynos 1580 chip, 8GB RAM, 128GB or 256GB storage, a 5000mAh battery and a 50MP + 12MP + 5MP main camera setup.
That makes it a standout option for company fleets, backup phones or staff who mainly need calls, chat and line-of-business apps. You can read more on the Galaxy A56 specs and prices page or in our Galaxy A56 network guide.
If your team mainly works from chat apps, one shared inbox can matter more than buying pricier phones. FlowTriage, made by the team behind AllThingsMobile, brings WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, SMS, email and web chat into one place for staff.
6. Apple iPhone 17e is good, but it is not really a large-screen work phone
The iPhone 17e starts at R16,499 and gives you a 6.1-inch display, A19 chip, 8GB RAM, storage up to 512GB, a 3561mAh battery and a 48MP main camera. It is a solid business iPhone, but it does not really fit the large-screen brief.
Still, some professionals prefer a smaller phone that is easier to pocket and use one-handed. If that sounds like you, the iPhone 17e is a sensible choice, and Vodacom lists it at R699/month over 36 months with 1GB data or R929/month over 24 months with 1GB data.
How to choose between a foldable, a big phone and a tablet
The simple rule is this: buy a foldable if you need tablet-like multitasking in your pocket, buy a large normal phone if you want the best balance of value and durability, and only buy a tablet if you truly need a second larger screen for longer work sessions.
- Choose a foldable if you regularly run multiple apps side by side and read documents on the move.
- Choose a large normal phone if you want fewer compromises, easier durability and better value.
- Choose a tablet only if you are happy carrying two devices and your work really benefits from a bigger canvas.
A quick South African cost example
Example: if you are deciding between one premium phone and a cheaper phone plus another device, compare the real monthly cost first. A Redmi Note 15 on Vodacom at R349/month over 36 months may leave room in your budget for other work tools, while a Z Fold8 asks for a much bigger upfront spend.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best foldable phone for business in South Africa in 2026?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is the best foldable business phone officially on sale in South Africa right now. It is the top choice for multitasking, but at from R36,999 it only makes sense if you will use the larger inner screen often.
What is the best large-screen phone for business if I want value?
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the best value pick in this guide. At from R15,282, it gives you a 6.9-inch display, flagship power and a 5000mAh battery for much less than a foldable.
Should I buy a foldable or a normal flagship for work travel?
Buy a foldable if you work heavily in documents and split-screen apps while travelling. Buy a normal flagship if you want better value, easier durability and less worry on busy trips.
Are tablets better than foldables for work?
Not always. A tablet gives you a bigger canvas, but it also means carrying another device and often relying on hotspotting, while a foldable keeps everything in one pocketable device.
Which network is best for business travel in South Africa?
That depends on where you travel most. Check coverage and current deals from Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C and Rain before you sign, especially if you rely on hotspotting and video calls between cities.
