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  • How Africa’s first caviar won over Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe

    Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the amount of feed Acipenser produces each month. It is about 60 metric tons per month, not kilograms. Business Insider also misstated that Acipenser released male Sturgeon into Lake Mantasoa. This has been removed.

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  • Ozempic influencers are angry after TikTok’s crackdown on weight loss content

    tiktok logo and weight loss community guideline
    TikTok is taking a stand against weight loss content.

    TikTok; Getty Images

    • Ozempic influencers could soon be extinct on TikTok.
    • The video platform is cracking down on weight loss-related content in a new set of guidelines.
    • The changes will restrict or outright ban certain types of weight loss videos.

    TikTok is phasing out weight loss content, and thousands of creators will have to find a new niche to post about.

    The new guidelines, which will go into effect on May 17, prohibit content centered on "extreme" diets, the misuse of medications for weight loss, and more.

    Creators who post about restrictive diets, "using medication or supplements for weight loss or muscle gain," or promoting weight loss products will find the content restricted to users 18 years and older, according to the guidelines. This also applies to content related to anabolic steroid use.

    Weight loss influencers are sharing their reactions to the change and explaining to followers what it means for their future content.

    Over the past two years, weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have taken social media by storm. Viral videos and a catchy jingle can be found all over TikTok.

    "I guess I'm going to be bringing my content to Instagram," one creator with about 10,000 TikTok followers said in a video.

    For content creators, restricted videos hinder their chances of reaching a larger audience outside their followers and can lead to their accounts being banned in more extreme cases. It's prompted some to say they're taking their weight loss-related posts to another platform.

    One user who shares videos about drugs like Ozempic called it "100% discrimination" against diabetics and those with other chronic diseases.

    "I will not remain on a platform that discriminates against people," he said in the video.

    TikTok did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

    Although the guidelines aren't effective yet, TikTok is already promoting a more positive experience around weight loss content.

    Tiktok message
    Looking up weight loss content on TikTok will trigger a supportive message about body image.

    TikTok

    Searching "weight loss" on TikTok will prompt a supportive message before showing videos related to your query.

    "You are more than your weight," the message reads.

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  • Vintage photos taken by the EPA reveal what American cities looked like before pollution was regulated

    Smog over Denver in 1974.
    Smog over Denver in 1974.

    Bill Wunsch/The Denver Post/Getty Images

    • Before President Nixon created the EPA in 1970, water and air pollution weren't federally regulated.
    • In the 1970s, the EPA enlisted 100 photographers to document environmental conditions in the US.
    • The result was 81,000 photos, often filled with smoke, smog, acid, oil, trash, and sewage.

    Don't let the soft, sepia tones fool you — the United States used to be dangerously polluted.

    Before President Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, the environment and its well-being was not a federal priority.

    In the early 1970s, the EPA launched the "The Documerica Project," which leveraged 100 freelance photographers to document what the US looked like. By 1974, they had taken 81,000 photos. The National Archives digitized nearly 16,000 and made them available online.

    Many of the photos were taken before water and air pollution were fully regulated. The Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, and the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972.

    This Earth Day, we've selected 35 of the photos to reflect on how cities across the US have changed — Baltimore, Birmingham, Cleveland, Delaware, Denver, Kansas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco all feature here, in shots filled with smoke, smog, acid, oil, trash, and sewage.

    None of the photos we've selected are pretty, but it's worth remembering what US cities used to be like before we cared what we put into the air, soil, and water.

    In Baltimore, trash and tires cover the shore at Middle Branch beside the harbor in 1973.
    Trash and Old Tires Litter the Shore at the Middle Branch of Baltimore Harbor, 01/1973.
    Trash and old tires on the shore of Baltimore Harbor.

    Jim Pickerell/EPA

    The EPA regulates waste now, and sets criteria for landfills. While the open dumping of waste is banned, it still happens.

    Baltimore City did have some simple techniques to keep the harbor clean.
    A SCREEN PLACED ACROSS JONES FALLS TRAPS TRASH AND KEEPS IT OUT OF BALTIMORE HARBOR. ALTHOUGH NOT FOOLPROOF-A HEAVY RAIN CAN BREAK THE SCREEN-IT IS EFFECTIVE WHEN CLEANED REGULARLY
    Jones Falls, near Baltimore Harbor.

    Jim Pickerell/EPA

    Here, a screen has been placed across the water to trap trash. A heavy rain could break it, but it was effective when cleaned often.

    In Birmingham in 1972, a boy throws a Frisbee against hazy skies.
    TOSSING A FRISBEE ON A SMOKE-FILLED STREET IN NORTH BIRMINGHAM, MOST HEAVILY POLLUTED AREA OF THE CITY
    North Birmingham was the most heavily polluted area in the city.

    LeRoy Woodson/EPA

    Truckers in the 1960s called Birmingham "smoke city," Bham Now reported.

    A house in North Birmingham is barely visible in industrial smog coming from the North Birmingham Pipe Plant.
    Industrial Smog Blacks Out Homes Adjacent to North Birmingham Pipe Plant, this is the Most Heavily Polluted Area of the City
    North Birmingham in 1972.

    LeRoy Woodson/EPA

    North Birmingham was the most polluted area of the city.

    In Cleveland, in 1973, billowing smoke casts a gloom over the Clark Avenue bridge.
    Clark Avenue and Clark Avenue Bridge. Looking East from West 13th Street, Are Obscured by Smoke from Heavy Industry, 07/1973.
    Clark Avenue Bridge in Cleveland in 1973.

    Frank Aleksandrowicz/EPA

    Because Cleveland was an industrial city, the pollution was severe.

    Cleveland's inner city was also a dumping ground.
    EMPTY LOT IN CLEVELAND INNER CITY, ON SUPERIOR AVENUE, BECOMES A DUMPING GROUND
    Superior Avenue, Cleveland.

    Frank Aleksandrowicz/EPA

    In this photo from 1973, an empty lot on Superior Avenue, Cleveland, was filled with trash.

    In Delaware, the city incinerator billows out smoke over the river.
    CITY INCINERATOR ON THE DELAWARE RIVER
    Delaware City's incinerator on the river.

    Dick Swanson/EPA

    In 2016, a report released by New York University said 41 people living in Delaware still die because of air pollution every year, The News Journal reported.

    In Denver, murky light brown sewage is discharged into the South Platte River.
    THE DENVER METRO SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT DISCHARGES INTO THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER
    Sewage discharged into the South Platte River.

    Bruce McAllister/EPA

    The sewage came from the Metro Sewage Treatment Plant, per the EPA.

    Here's a billboard against Denver's smoky skies in the 1970s. The city was known for having a brown cloud of pollution.
    A billboard in Denver.
    A billboard in Denver.

    Bill Gillette/EPA

    In the late 1980s, the air pollution got so bad, the city developed a visibility standard — it asked whether downtown workers could see mountains that were only 35 miles away, The New York Times reported.

    In Kansas City's harbor, on the Missouri River, a local EPA worker points out a dying fish.
    LOCAL EPA WORKER ON A FIELD TRIP POINTS OUT A DYING FISH AT THE INNER CITY VIADUCT AREA JOINING KANSAS CITY, KS, AND KANSAS CITY, MO
    A local EPA worker points out a dying fish in Kansas City.

    Kenneth Paik/EPA

    While the river has been much cleaner since the Clean Water Act was passed, trash and industrial contaminants still end up in it, The Kansas City Star reported. In 2023, NPR reported that volunteers with Missouri River Relief have picked up more than 2 million pounds of trash from the river since the organization began in 2001.

    In Los Angeles, the outline of the sun can be clearly seen because air pollution creates a buffer.
    Los Angeles sun above a railroad near the Salton Sea.
    Los Angeles sun above a railroad near the Salton Sea.

    Charles O'Rear/Documerica

    In 1943, 30 years before this photo was taken, the smog was so bad, the city's residents thought there was a gas attack, according to the California Sun.

    Los Angeles county monitored pollution on the roads, at least.
    AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DEPARTMENT OFFICERS CHECKING FOR VIOLATORS ON HIGHWAY
    Air pollution control department.

    Gene Daniels / EPA

    In this photo from 1972, the air-pollution control department checks for violators.

    In New Orleans, fumes spread over the streets.
    New Orleans KAISER ALUMINUM PLANT SMOKESTACK SPREADS FUMES ABOVE ST CLAUDE AVENUE IN THE CHALMETTE SECTION
    Kaiser Aluminum Plant's smokestack blows out fumes over New Orleans.

    John Messina / EPA

    Fumes billow from Kaiser Aluminum Plant's smoke stack in 1973.

    In an illegal dump in New Orleans, garbage turned to sludge when a lake overflowed into it.
    New Orleans, LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN SPILLS OVER ONTO ILLEGAL DUMPING GROUND THE LAKE IS OVER FULL FROM HEAVY RAINS AND WATER DIVERTED FROM THE FLOODING MISSISSIPPI RIVER BY THE OPENING OF THE BONNET CARRE SPILLWAY
    New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain.

    John Messina / EPA

    In the 1970s, the EPA found 66 pollutants in the city's drinking water. And the city's water is known for its oily taste, per The Washington Post.

    In New Jersey, a photo shows raw and partially digested sewage.
    INDUSTRIAL CONTAMINATION OF THE ARTHUR KILL RIVER AT BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY IN THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA. RIVERS IN THE REGION CARRY RAW AND PARTIALLY DIGESTED SEWAGE, AND CHEMICAL AND INDUSTRIAL WASTES INTO THE WATERS OF THE BIGHT. ACCUMULATION OF THESE WASTES INTO THE WATERS BORDERING THE BIGHT PRESENT ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL STRESSES TO ITS ENVIRONMENT
    Sewage in Bayonne.

    Alexander Hope / EPA

    The sewage was photographed darkening the water in Bayonne, New Jersey, in 1974.

    New York is one of the most photographed cities for "The Documerica Project."
    Illegal Dumping Area off the New Jersey Turnpike, Facing Manhattan Across the Hudson River. Nearby, to the South, Is the Landfill Area of the Proposed Liberty State Park, 03/1973.
    Illegal dumping area off the New Jersey Turnpike.

    Gary Miller / EPA

    Here, a pile of illegally dumped trash ruins the view of Manhattan and the Twin Towers in 1973.

    A photographer snapped this image of an abandoned, waterlogged car in Jamaica Bay, New York.
    An abandoned car sits in Jamaica Bay in New York City in 1973. Landfills and auto salvage yards fall under the EPA's regulations now, though improper disposal still occurs.
    An abandoned car in Jamaica Bay in New York City.

    Arthur Tress/Documerica The

    The abandoned Beetle was photographed in 1973.

    Another car has sunk halfway into the beach at Breezy Point, south of Jamaica Bay.
    All kinds of trash used to be dumped outside New York City, like this car at Breezy Point, south of Jamaica Bay. The EPA helped institute regulations for how the city disposed of trash to prevent dumping in the Atlantic.
    A car dumped at Breezy Point, south of Jamaica Bay.

    Arthur Tress / Documerica

    The EPA now helps regulate how the city disposes of trash to prevent dumping in the Atlantic.

    Though it might not be clear, this is the George Washington Bridge going over the Hudson River, covered in thick smog.
    The George Washington Bridge in Heavy Smog. View toward the New Jersey Side of the Hudson River.
    The George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River.

    Chester Higgins / EPA

    In 1965, a study by New York City Council found breathing New York's air had the same effect as smoking two packets of cigarettes a day, The New York Times reported.

    Seen here is the Statue of Liberty surrounded by oil. It was the result of one of 300 oil spills in the first six months of 1973.
    An oil slick surrounding the Statue of Liberty
    An oil slick surrounding the Statue of Liberty.

    Chester Higgins / Documerica

    Between April and June of that year, 487,000 gallons of oil were dispersed in the New York Harbor and its tributaries, The New York Times reported.

    The EPA estimated about 6 million gallons of coal were dumped into the New York Bight by the Edison Power Plant in Manhattan in the early 1970s.
    CONSOLIDATED EDISON POWER PLANT IN MANHATTAN, NEW YORK. IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT ALL ITS PLANTS DUMP SOME SIX MILLION GALLONS PER YEAR OF RESIDUAL COAL INTO THE NEW YORK BIGHT. STRESS FACTORS GENERATED ON THE BIGHT INCLUDE AIR AND WATER POLLUTION DESTRUCTION OF WETLANDS WHICH ARE NURSERIES FOR MARINE LIFE COASTAL OVER-DEVELOPMENT, AND OCEAN DUMPING OF MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL WASTES
    Edison Power Plant in Manhattan.

    Alexander Hope / EPA

    The New York Bight is a triangular area that reaches from Cape May in New Jersey to the eastern tip of Long Island. The city allowed a ConEd plant to burn coal in the 1970s amid a fuel shortage, The New York Times reported. But coal has caused air and water pollution and destroyed wetlands, according to the National Archives.

    Barges, filled with New York's waste, are pulled down the East River to a Staten Island landfill.
    PART OF THE 26,000 TONS OF SOLID WASTE THAT NEW YORK CITY PRODUCES EACH DAY. TUGS TOW HEAVILY-LADEN BARGES DOWN THE EAST RIVER TO THE OVERFLOWING STATEN ISLAND LANDFILL
    Tugs towing barges filled with New York's waste.

    Gary Miller / EPA

    In the 1970s, New York produced 26,000 tons of solid waste every day, according to the National Archives.

    Rubble is loaded into barges before being dumped offshore, on a debris dump site, in the New York Bight.
    CONSTRUCTION RUBBLE IS LOADED ON BARGES IN THE EAST RIVER IN MANHATTAN, NEW YORK. IT WILL BE DUMPED AT A CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS DUMP SITE OFFSHORE IN THE NEW YORK BIGHT. SLUDGE IS DUMPED 12 MILES OFFSHORE, WASTE ACID 15 MILES AND CHEMICAL WASTES 106 MILES. DREDGE SPOILS AND DERELICT VESSELS ALSO ARE DISPOSED OF IN THE BIGHT
    Construction rubble loaded onto a barge in the East River.

    Alexander Hope / EPA

    There were different distances for dumping different substances.

    This is one of four New York City-owned vessels on its way to dump sludge 12 miles into the bight. In 1973, 5.8 million cubic yards of sludge was dumped, according to the National Archives.
    ONE OF FOUR NEW YORK CITY OWNED VESSELS DUMPING SLUDGE INTO WATERS OF THE BIGHT. IN 1973 THERE WERE 5.8 MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF SEWAGE SLUDGE DUMPED IN THE BIGHT. THE VOLUME IS EXPECTED TO TRIPLE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. DREDGE SPOILS ARE DUMPED SIX MILES FROM SHORE SLUDGE 12 MILES, WASTE ACID 15 MILES AND CHEMICAL WASTES 106 MILES CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS AND DERELICT VESSELS ALSO ARE DISPOSED OFFSHORE
    One of four New York City owned vessels dumping sledge into the Bight.

    Alexander Hope / EPA

    The sludge would settle on the bottom of the ocean, like mud, killing plants, and creating a dead sea, The New York Times reported.

    Acid waste lightens the water here. It was also dumped in the New York Bight, 15 miles offshore, and made up 90% of industrial waste dumped in the area.
    CLOSEUP OF ACID WASTES DUMPED 15 MILES OFFSHORE IN THE NEW YORK BIGHT. THEY MAKE UP 90 PER CENT OF ALL INDUSTRIAL WASTES DUMPED INTO THE BIGHT. MORE THAN THREE MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF ACID WASTES WERE DUMPED IN THE BIGHT DURING 1974. DREDGE SPOILS ARE DUMPED SIX MILES FROM SHORE, SLUDGE 12 MILES AND CHEMICAL WASTES 106 MILES
    Acid waste in the New York Bight.

    Alexander Hope / EPA

    In 1974, more than 3 million tons were dumped in the bight, according to the National Archives.

    Some roads in Manhattan, like 108th Street and Lexington Avenue, were covered with piles of trash.
    EMPTY LOT STREWN WITH TRASH AT 108TH STREET AND LEXINGTON AVENUE, MANHATTAN
    Empty lot strewn with trash.

    Gary Miller / EPA

    A photo shows trash strewn across New York City streets in 1973.

    But it was worse in the Bronx. Here, the Bronx's Co-Op City housing development is beside a landfill that was still being used, even though it had exceeded its dumping capacity.
    APARTMENTS OF "CO-OP CITY," A VAST HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE BRONX, NOT FAR FROM PELHAM. THESE BUILDINGS STAND ON THE EDGE OF A LANDFILL DUMP, WHERE GARBAGE CONTINUES TO PILE UP ALTHOUGH THE AREA HAS ALREADY EXCEEDED ITS DUMPING CAPACITY
    A landfill beside the Bronx, New York.

    Gary Miller / EPA

    If you look closely you can see scavenger birds flying over the trash.

    In Philadelphia, the sun is setting, but because of the smog it's hard to tell.
    CENTER CITY, PHILADELPHIA AT SUNSET
    Philadelphia at sunset.

    Dick Swanson / EPA

    In 2018, a study found the city was becoming more polluted between 2014 and 2016, after several years of decreasing pollution, Philadelphia magazine reported.

    In Pittsburgh, thick smoke creates a haze over the city.
    SMOKE FROM INDUSTRY CREATES A HAZE WHICH LINGERS OVER THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ON THE HORIZON. IN THE FOREGROUND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MONONGAHELA RIVER, ARE PLANTS OWNED BY THE JONES AND LAUGHLIN STEEL CORPORATION. THE POLLUTION HAS CONTINUED SINCE THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN. CLEANUP EFFORTS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED AT THE JONES AND LAUGHLIN PLANTS
    Smoke over Pittsburgh.

    John Alexandrowicz / EPA

    The city was once called "Hell with the lid off," per The Allegheny Front.

    A junkyard looms in front of the Monongahela River, which runs through Pittsburgh.
    Pittsburgh JUNKYARD ACROSS THE MONONGAHELA RIVER CONTRASTS WITH THE MODERN OFFICE BUILDINGS AND SEEMS TO BRING THE TWO LOCATIONS CLOSER THAN REALITY BECAUSE OF THE USE OF A TELEPHOTO LENS. THE URBAN RENEWAL RENAISSANCE PROGRAM WAS BEGUN IN THE CITY IN THE EARLY 1950'S
    A junkyard in front of the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh.

    John Alexandrowicz / EPA

    According to Mayor Tom Murphy in 2001, the biggest complaint he heard about the city was that it was too dirty, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

    Near Pittsburgh, oil-coated trees on the shore of the Ohio River show the damage done by spills and industry.
    SCENE SHOWING THE HIGH WATER MARK WHICH REVEALS EVIDENCE OF TREES BEING COATED BY OIL ALONG THE SHORE OF THE OHIO RIVER NEAR PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. BOOMS HAVE BEEN PLACED NEAR VARIOUS OUTFALLS TO TRAP POLLUTION WITH OIL ACIDITY CONTENT AND LOW PH
    Oil along the shore of the Ohio River, near Pittsburgh.

    John Alexandrowicz / EPA

    NPR reported that the river is much cleaner today, 50 years since the Clean Water Act.

    In San Francisco Bay, the Leslie salt ponds gleam at sunset. The ponds were built to extract salt from the bay water. The photographer behind this photo said the "water stinks."
    In San Francisco, LESLIE SALT PONDS AT SUNSET. "WATER STINKS," WRITES THE PHOTOGRAPHER ABOUT THIS SCENE
    Leslie Salt Ponds in San Francisco.

    Belinda Rain / EPA

    In 2019, the EPA ruled the land, owned by Cargill Salt, was not bound by the Clean Water Act, Mercury News reported.

    In San Francisco, industrial black smoke billows out of a stack.
    INDUSTRY HAS TAKEN OVER THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA FOR ITS OWN PURPOSES
    Industry in the San Francisco Bay.

    Belinda Rain / EPA

    During the 1970s, the biggest problem for the city was ozone pollution, which mainly comes from cars, industrial plants, power plants, and refineries.

    Here is one of the factories that polluted San Francisco.
    MASSIVE CONCENTRATION OF INDUSTRY IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA HAS RESULTED IN SEVERE POLLUTION PROBLEMS
    Concentration of industry in San Francisco.

    Belinda Rain / EPA

    The photo was taken in 1972, according to the National Archives.

    In Washington DC, raw sewage flows out into the Potomac river. In 1970, a hot summer resulted in a "stomach-turning" smell coming from the Potomac, due to the mixing of sewage and algae.
    The Goergetown Gap, Through Which Raw Sewage Flows into the Potomac. Watergate Complex in the Rear, 04/1973.
    Raw sewage flows through the Georgetown Gap, in 1973.

    John Neubauer / EPA

    The pollution was blamed on a "hundred years of under-estimates, bad decisions, and outright mistakes," a director of the Federal Water Quality Administration told The New York Times.

    His description can be applied to a lot of the US before the EPA.

    This story was originally published in August 2019 and has been updated.

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  • Tesla’s $100,000 Cybertruck needs a hole drilled through the accelerator pedal for safety

    Tesla Cybertruck
    Tesla's solution to a gas pedal problem involves securing the pad with a rivet.

    Robyn Beck/Getty

    • Tesla has a solution to the Cybertruck gas pedal issue that caused a recall. 
    • A user on X posted a 35-second video drilling a hole into the gas pedal to fix the issue. 
    • The solution requires reworking the accelerator pedal on Cybertrucks made on or after November 13.

    Tesla has a solution to the gas pedal problem that caused the company to hit the brakes on Cybertruck deliveries.

    According to Tesla's recall bulletin, when a high amount of force is applied to the gas pedal, the pad may slip off and get trapped in the interior rim above the pedal.

    This weekend at a Cybertruck event in California called "Cybertakeover," which was hosted by the Tesla Owners Club of Santa Clarita Valley, a user posted a video of the pedal problem being fixed on X, formerly Twitter. The "35 second recall fix," shows a worker drilling a hole into the gas pedal and securing the pad with a rivet.

    https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    The user said the fix takes 35 seconds, although the video starts with the drill in place, which is over halfway through the list of steps. Tesla's recall bulletin lists 15 steps guiding owners on the installation process, with the actual drilling being the eighth step on the list.

    Tesla technicians use the pedal rework kit to perform the drilling, and some of the steps require exact measurements of the parts. If the bottom of the pad is 5 millimeters or more from the bottom of the pedal, technicians have to replace the pedal.

    Tesla recalled about 3,878 of the vehicles manufactured from November 13, 2023 until April 2024, according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Cybertrucks cost upwards of $100,000.

    The report said the issue occurred because of an "unapproved change" to the vehicle's production. Residual soap that was added to its assembly "reduced the retention of the pad to the pedal," according to the report.

    The NHTSA report said Tesla first received notice of customer claims of the issue on March 31 and April 3. Tesla engineers began to review the issue on April 2 and by April 12, Tesla wrapped up its assessment and decided to voluntarily recall impacted vehicles, according to the report.

    By April 17, the vehicles in production were equipped with a new accelerator pedal component, the report said. Cybertruck vehicles at delivery centers and in transit to delivery centers will receive the new component prior to being delivered to customers, the report said.

    As of April 15, Tesla did not know of any injuries related to the issue, the NHTSA report said.

    Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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  • Nancy Pelosi says she respects Mike Johnson and hopes Trump isn’t ‘his puppeteer’

    Nancy Pelosi and Mike Johnson look ahead during their respective days on Capitol Hill.
    Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi's muted praise for House Speaker Mike Johnson is a stark contrast to how she treated former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

    Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty

    • Nancy Pelosi offered muted praise for Speaker Mike Johnson.
    • The former House speaker said Johnson is "a person of integrity."
    • Pelosi had a famously fraught relationship with fellow Californian and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

    Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she respects Speaker Mike Johnson even if she strongly disagrees with his politics, a sign that the top Republican holds some sway with congressional Democrats.

    Pelosi did offer one potential qualm amid her muted praise for the speaker who is facing potential ouster due to efforts led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican.

    "I hope that what is said about Donald Trump being his puppeteer is not true," Pelosi, who Democrats formally declared as their Speaker Emerita, told the Atlantic as part of a lengthy profile on Johnson.

    Pelosi's words are a stark contrast to how she viewed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a fellow Californian. As The New York Times once pointed out, Pelosi publicly called him a moron while McCarthy got in trouble for joking about hitting her with the speaker's gavel.

    The former speaker told The Atlantic that she viewed Johnson as "a person of integrity," adding she was "not here to criticize him."

    Pelosi, widely regarded as one of the most consequential speakers in history, also referenced the current speaker's inexperience. Johnson was first elected to Congress in 2016, making him the least experienced speaker since 1883.

    "Personally, I respect his authenticity; I disagree with his politics, but that's okay," Pelosi said.

    She added, "If you're just sitting in the back bench, and then they tap you to become the speaker, they shouldn't complain when you don't know how to be speaker from day one."

    Other House Democrats shared Pelosi's skepticism of McCarthy, which helped fuel the party's decision to join Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, and seven other Republicans in voting for McCarthy's historic ouster.

    The expectation is that if Greene follows through with her threat to force a vote on Johnson, standing Democrats will help protect him.

    Greene recently added two more Republican supporters, Reps. Paul Gosar of Arizona and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

    House lawmakers are now on recess after the chamber voted 311 to 112 in favor of a legislative package that includes more than $60 billion in aid to Ukraine.

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  • Trump cedes control of the cash collateral for his $175M civil-fraud bond under new agreement with NY officials

    Donald Trump in court
    Donald Trump at his criminal hush-money trial with lawyers Todd Blanche, left, and Emil Bove.

    Jabin Botsford-Pool/Getty Images

    • NY took Trump and his bond underwriters to court Monday, three buildings south of his criminal trial.
    • The parties agreed to limit Trump's access to $175M collateralizing his civil fraud appeal bond.
    • The NY Attorney General's Office had been concerned that Trump maintained some control of the cash.

    Lawyers for Donald Trump and the New York Attorney General's Office struck a deal Monday that will now keep the GOP frontrunner from having any access to the cash collateral for his $175 million civil-fraud bond.

    The agreement reached in civil court in Manhattan essentially moves the all-cash collateral to a Trump-proof lockbox. Only the bond underwriter, Knight Specialty Insurance Company, has the key.

    Previously, Trump and Knight shared control of the cash, a sticking point for the AG's office.

    Monday's agreement was reached during a 20-minute huddle among the lawyers, Law360 reported.

    The hearing revealed that the cash, held in a Charles Schwab account pledged to KSIC, has already earned Trump $700,000 in interest, the outlet reported.

    donald trump
    NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 17: Former President Donald Trump speaks at a press conference at 40 Wall Street on January 17, 2024 in New York City. Trump held a press conference after leaving the second day of his defamation trial involving E. Jean Carroll. The trial is to determine how much money in damages the former president must pay Carroll as a result of public comments that he made both while he was president and after the jury's verdict in May. Carroll was awarded $5 million in damages in May from the previous lawsuit.

    Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

    The 10 a.m. bond hearing overlapped with the start of opening statements in Trump's criminal hush-money trial, held on the same Lower Manhattan street, two courthouses to the north.

    The bond keeps AG Letitia James from potentially seizing Trump's assets to satisfy the more than $454 million he owes the state after losing last year's civil fraud trial.

    Trump is appealing the penalty, which continues to accrue interest at a rate of $1 million every nine days. On Monday, his debt to New York totaled $460 million.

    The monetary judgment and other penalties — including a ban on Trump running a New York business for three years, currently on hold due to the appeal — were imposed in February.

    State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, who presided over the nearly 11-week fraud trial, found that for a decade, Trump, his eldest sons, and the Trump Organization exaggerated his net worth in financial statements used to secure more than $400 million in loans.

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  • A TikTok ban would be a win for Mark Zuckerberg

    MArk Zuckerberg cheering
    Meta's Mark Zuckerberg cheers at a UFC fight, probably not unlike how he's cheering for a TikTok ban.

    Sean M. Haffey

    • A new version of a "TikTok ban" just passed the House bundled with a foreign-aid bill.
    • TikTok having to sell to a US buyer or shut down would be a win for Instagram and YouTube.
    • Mark Zuckerberg is probably verrrrrry happy right now.

    Everything's coming up Zuck — again. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will very likely end up the ultimate winner in the most recent push to force a sale or ban of Chinese-owned TikTok.

    The House passed a TikTok "ban" or forced sale as part of a bill on military aid for Ukraine and Israel. Even if President Joe Biden signs the bill, it'll likely face a court battle, so you probably don't need to worry about TikTok disappearing from your phone anytime soon.

    But almost any outcome here is good news for Instagram's Reels, owned by Zuckerberg's Meta, and YouTube's Shorts, owned by Alphabet — TikTok's main competitors.

    We know that Meta has been pushing to amplify concerns over TikTok since at least 2022 when it paid a Republican consulting firm to create an influence campaign to play up fears that TikTok is bad for children and teens. A year ago, BI's Grace Kay wrote that TikTok legislation would be like "an early Christmas present" for Zuckerberg.

    If TikTok, for some reason, couldn't operate in the US any longer, it'd leave a lot of eyeballs up for grabs — and people would just shift their habits to watching videos on another app. (And to some degree, they already have — Reels has actually become good and popular lately, after being a crummy backwater initially. Instagram had more growth and downloads last year than TikTok, and after Instagram faced an existential crisis, it's having a surprising comeback.)

    Creators, many of whom are already posting on those other platforms, will also adjust. In that way, YouTube may come out a winner — YouTube's way of paying creators by a straight ad revenue split is more creator-friendly than Instagram, where the algorithm and payments are more mercurial. (Just look at how much time Instagram head Adam Mosseri spends on Threads running customer service for disgruntled creators.)

    If ByteDance ends up selling TikTok to a US company, it's hard to imagine it will be a smooth transition. For one thing, it's unclear if ByteDance will allow TikTok's algorithm — the thing that makes it so good in the first place — to be included in the sale.

    That means you might end up in a situation like former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin trying to build his own algorithm for a US-owned TikTok, which … good luck, buddy! I imagine that Zuck would be thrilled with this outcome.

    Perhaps Hot Zuck Summer is heating up again!

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  • How much Bill Gates pays in property taxes on his pricey real estate portfolio

    Bill Gates; Seattle Home
    Bill Gates paid more than $1.3 million in property taxes on his Medina, Washington, home last year.

    Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for The New York Times; Dan Callister/Newsmakers

    • Bill Gates has amassed an extensive — and high value — real estate portfolio.
    • His many houses come with a multi-million dollar tax bill each year.
    • Here's how much Gates paid in property taxes last year.

    As the old saying goes, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.

    And even though the very wealthy have been criticized for not paying their fair share, there's one area where it's pretty hard to avoid the taxman: property.

    Every year, billionaires must take out their checkbooks and send off thousands to their local governments. While the amount they pay is typically pennies compared to their overall net worth, some billionaires who have amassed large real estate portfolios pay tax sums that would make the jaws of mere mortals drop.

    Bill Gates is one of them. Last year, the homes owned by Gates and his former wife, Melinda French Gates, racked up a $2.7 million property tax bill last year. That's more than 700 times as much as the average American pays in property taxes each year.

    The former richest man in the world, Gates has amassed 275,000 acres of land, making him the country's 42nd biggest landowner, according to the Land Report. While most of that is farmland and tied to investments, 245 acres are for personal use.

    He and French Gates spent more than $150 million over three decades buying up their current real estate portfolio. Following their 2021 divorce, a number of the properties were transferred from one trust to another. It's nearly impossible to discern who owns what, as all their trusts are linked to the same Seattle bank.

    Gates' highest property tax bill is in Washington state, where he has a 10.5-acre property in the tony Seattle suburb of Medina along Lake Washington. He spent $34 million buying the 12 parcels of and around his mansion, known as Xanadu 2.0, and together, they have an assessed value of $183.5 million. Last year, the property taxes on the properties added up to $1.3 million. The taxes on the largest of the parcels — 5.15 acres on the water — will exceed $1 million this year.

    Gates owns five properties in California, where property values are known to be high. Taxes are highest on the Del Mar beach house he purchased in 2020. The home, which cost $43 million and set a record at the time, came with a tax bill of about $480,000 last year.

    In Florida, where Gates owns an equestrian compound in Wellington, he paid $280,000 in taxes last year, and in Montana, where he has a house in the exclusive Yellowstone Club, he paid $107,000.

    While high by most standards, Gates' property tax bill represents less than 0.01% of his $148 billion net worth — and a fraction of his total tax bill.

    While Gates pays a higher effective tax rate on his wealth growth than other billionaires, he has a lower effective tax rate on his income than most other billionaires and high-earning Americans. In 2022, ProPublica reported his annual average income from 2013 to 2018 was $2.85 billion, and his annual federal income tax rate was 18.4% — meaning he would have paid about $525 million in federal income tax each year, according to BI calculations.

    He's not one to complain, though. Gates has said that the ultrawealthy should pay more in taxes.

    "In terms of the very rich, I think they should pay a lot more in taxes, and they should give away their wealth over time," he said during a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" last year.

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  • 5G and Connectivity Playbook

    Collage of abstract shapes and technology showcasing 5G-enabled innovations such as cars, virtual reality (VR), smartphones, and video chat.

    Ariel Davis for BI

    Whether you're aware of it or not, 5G technology is shaping your world every day.

    Like 4G before it, the fifth generation of cellular wireless technology powers high-speed internet on our phones. But because it can support many devices reliably with low lag times and fast download speeds, it's also powering things like long-distance synchronous music-making, faster electric-vehicle charging, and innovative mental-health care. It's also forward compatible — meaning it's built to support technologies that are still in development or don't even exist yet.

    Business Insider's 5G and Connectivity Playbook is built for anyone who wants to know what's possible with this tech and other connectivity advancements — how they can take your business to new heights, expand your creativity, or enliven your world.

    We're your one-stop resource for captivating profiles, informative how-tos, and exciting interactive features.

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    Credits

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    Stephanie
    Hallett, Lily Katzman, Julia Naftulin, Ashley Davis
    Reporters:
    Sarah Sloat, Hugh Langley, Kristina Etter, Iona Brannon, Chris Stokel-Walker, Isabella Sayegh, Erin Gee
    Whitehouse
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  • The best foldable phones in 2024

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    The Google Pixel Fold, OnePlus Open, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 in various assorted positions, showing some elements of their screens.
    The OnePlus Open offers the best experience of any foldable phone we've tested.

    Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

    There are two main types of foldable phones available, and we've concluded that the best foldable phones for most people are of the book-style, tablet-hybrid design rather than the clamshell-style flip phone.

    Tablet-hybrid foldable phones are significantly more expensive but offer greater functionality, performance, and battery life in exchange. Clamshell foldables are, in effect, fashionable statement pieces with a secondary benefit of becoming compact when folded, and they're expensive for what they are; that said, there are worthwhile options for those who value the clamshell design. 

    In our testing, the OnePlus Open is the best foldable phone overall thanks to its performance, premium design and build quality, large cover and tablet displays, solid battery life, and excellent cameras. If you want to spend as little as possible on a foldable phone, Motorola's Razr is your best option for a valuable and affordable foldable. 

    Our top picks for the best foldable phones

    Best overall: OnePlus Open – See at Amazon

    Best overall alternative: Google Pixel Fold – See at Amazon

    Best foldable flip phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 – See at Samsung

    Best budget foldable: Motorola Razr – See at Amazon

    Best overall

    The OnePlus Open provides the best overall experience of any foldable phone I've used and tested, including the Google Pixel Fold, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Motorola's Razr Plus.

    In terms of performance, display, and camera quality, the $1,700 OnePlus Open excels as much as any other foldable phone in the $1,800 range. It runs on 2023's top Android processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which provides an ultra-smooth, fast, premium experience. Its displays are also high-resolution OLEDs that run at high 120Hz refresh rates, and it takes gorgeous photos with its triple-lens camera system.  

    What sets the OnePlus Open apart is its incredibly high build quality. It's also one of the most satisfying and smooth foldable phones to unfold and fold, and it's among the flattest foldables in tablet mode when some foldables don't appear or feel quite flat. 

    The OnePlus Open folded and unfolded.
    The OnePlus Open is the best foldable phone on the market.

    Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

    We also love the OnePlus Open's 7.8-inch OLED 120Hz tablet display, which is larger than the 7.6-inch tablet displays on other book-style foldables available in the US. The apps we used during testing, including several Google apps, Reddit, Instagram, Apple Music, and LastPass, also display beautifully in tablet mode, whether they're optimized or not.

    The OnePlus Open isn't perfect, however. It doesn't include wireless charging, a glaring omission on a $1,700 phone. And, while its cameras are excellent, they can deliver softer details on moving subjects, like pets or toddlers, than other top Android devices. It's rather reliant on sufficient lighting to capture tack-sharp photos.

    When it comes to AI features, OnePlus is currently a lightweight compared to competition from Google and Samsung. However, we don't feel the Open is a lesser phone, as AI features are still somewhat novel at the moment. OnePlus is also rolling out its own AI Eraser tool, which uses AI to remove objects (or subjects) from a photo and replace them with contextually aware details. It's basically OnePlus' version of Google's Magic Eraser on Pixel phones.

    For its first attempt at foldable phones, OnePlus truly knocked it out of the park and created one of the best Android phones on the market. The phone looks and feels like the company has been designing and manufacturing foldable phones for years.

    Best overall alternative

    We can't make a recommendation for the top foldable phone without including the Google Pixel Fold. It's only the "alternative" to the OnePlus Open based on a purely subjective trait: It doesn't quite look or feel as well-built and sleek thanks to the larger borders around the tablet display and a mushy sensation when unfolding the phone. 

    Otherwise, the Pixel Fold comes every bit as recommended as the OnePlus Open. The Pixel Fold is also a smaller foldable phone with its 5.8-inch exterior display and 7.6-inch tablet display, which may better fit your preference. 

    In every other way, the Pixel Fold offers a premium experience. Both its displays are high-end OLED panels with a silky smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and the tablet display has razor-sharp 1840p resolution. Paired with Google's Tensor G2 processor from 2023's flagship Pixel 7 generation, the Pixel Fold runs apps, games, and the Android operating system quickly, smoothly, and without a hitch. 

    The Google Pixel Fold, folded and unfolded.
    Google's Pixel Fold is another exceptional book-style foldable.

    Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

    Its assortment of five cameras is among the best you can find on a foldable phone and only slightly behind other high-end Pixel cameras. And thanks to the Tensor G2 processor, the Pixel Fold includes Google's suite of AI photo editing features, like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and Portrait Blur. 

    Our Google Pixel Fold review found that battery life is excellent in both phone and tablet modes and will easily last you through the day. In fact, battery life is so good that you could use the Pixel Fold in tablet mode exclusively all day and still have leftover battery life. 

    (You might be surprised that Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 didn't make our list of the best foldable phones you can buy. That's almost entirely because of its narrow cover display, which delivers an awkward and uncomfortable experience when you're not using the tablet display. Otherwise, it's a very good book-style foldable phone.) 

    Best foldable flip phone

    Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the most polished, feature-rich, and powerful clamshell foldable you can buy. It's safe to say that if you're looking for the best clamshell foldable, you should buy the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

    First and foremost, the Galaxy Z Flip 5's large cover screen, or "Flex Window," is significantly more useful than the tiny cover displays that were common on clamshell foldables before.  

    The larger cover screen lets you see more information at a glance and access basic settings like airplane mode or the flashlight. You can even write a text using a full-size keyboard without unfolding the phone. Some apps are supported to run on the cover screen without unfolding the phone, but Samsung could do better to get more apps to support it. 

    The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5’s cover display and unfolded rear on display against a nature backdrop.
    No other clamshell foldable offers the versatility of the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

    Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

    The Galaxy Z Flip 5 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a "previous-generation" processor now that phones are coming out with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor in 2024. It's still a supremely powerful and capable processor that proves it's more than enough to run anything you throw at is smoothly and quickly. 

    Combine its stellar performance with a 6.7-inch foldable OLED panel running at 120Hz and supporting 1080p resolution, and you have an ultra-premium fluid experience while swiping around apps and the Android operating system. 

    Our Galaxy Z Flip 5 review noted that photos taken with the 12MP main and ultrawide cameras are on par with Samsung's high-end phones in well-lit scenarios, but they're lacking in low-light situations. 

    Samsung also updated the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in March with the Galaxy AI features it introduced in the Galaxy S24 series, including the most impressive and useful Circle to Search function, which lets you circle specific details in an image to perform a Google search. Among the better AI features are photo editing tools, like Photo Assist for manipulating images.

    Best budget foldable

    Motorola's base Razr wins the accolade for the best "budget" foldable phone, but it's also the only affordable foldable that's well under $1,000.

    As you can imagine, the Razr's comparatively lower price means the phone isn't quite as fully kitted as more expensive clamshell foldables, like the Razr Plus or Galaxy Z Flip 5, and its camera quality is not on par with high-end foldable devices. 

    The Razr runs on the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor rather than a flagship processor, like the Snapdragon 8 series. Despite this, the Razr is surprisingly snappy and runs apps with no trouble at all. 

    The exterior display of the Motorola Razr 2023, phone is folded, held in hand.
    The Motorola Razr is a worthwhile budget option.

    Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

    You'll also find the Razr's small external display is less useful than the larger external displays on flagship foldables. It's only good for showing you notifications and the time and doesn't let you do much else, which forces you to unfold the Razr to do anything meaningful or menial, like writing a quick response to a text. 

    Still, the tiny external display can be used as a viewfinder for taking selfies with the main camera, which is a marquee feature of foldable phones. Once unfolded, the Razr offers a premium display experience with its 6.9-inch OLED folding panel that runs at a 144Hz refresh rate and a 1080p resolution.

    Starting at $700 (and occasionally discounted to around $500), the Motorola Razr is a solid entry-level foldable phone that's a good option if you couldn't previously justify the $1,000-plus price tags of most foldables or if you want to experiment with the foldable clamshell design.

    Best foldable phones compared

    Specification OnePlus Open Google Pixel Fold Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Motorola Razr (2023)
    Starting price $1,700 $1,799 $1,000 $700
    Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Google Tensor G2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
    Battery 4805mAh 4821mAh 3700mAh 4,200mAh
    Unfolded display 7.82 inches, 2268p, AMOLED, 1-120Hz 7.6 inches, 1840p, OLED, 120Hz 6.7 inches, 1080p, AMOLED, 120Hz 6.9 inches, 1080p, pOLED, 1-144Hz 
    Cover display 6.31 inches, 1116p, AMOLED, 10-120Hz 5.8 inches, OLED, 1080p, 120Hz 3.4 inches, 720p, AMOLED, 120Hz 1.5 inches, 194p, OLED, 60Hz
    Rear cameras 48MP main, 64MP 3x zoom, 48MP ultrawide 48MP main, 10.8MP 5x zoom, 10.8MP ultrawide 12MP main, 12MP ultrawide 64MP main, 13MP ultrawide
    Front/tablet cameras 32MP (front), 20MP (tablet) 9.5MP (front), 8MP (tablet) 10MP 32MP
    RAM / Storage 16GB / 512GB 12GB / 256GB, 512GB 8GB / 256GB, 512GB 8GB / 128GB
    Release date October 2023 June 2023 August 2023 October 2023

    FAQs

    Are foldable phones worth it?

    Spec for spec, foldable phones are currently more expensive than their traditional flat counterparts. With that in mind, foldable phones need to offer a benefit to make up for their higher prices. If the benefit makes sense to you, a foldable phone is worth it. 

    Book-style foldables are a hybrid of a traditional phone and a tablet. If you've ever wished you had both simultaneously, but it's not practical to carry around a separate tablet, especially one that needs a separate data plan, a book-style foldable could certainly be worth it.

    Clamshell foldables offer compact portability when not in use, or they can be fashionable statement pieces. If you ask us, we find their benefits less worthy than those of a book-style foldable. Yet, if you like the idea of a sleek, stylish, compact clamshell that can be flipped open and folded shut, who are we to say it's not worth it?

    Will Apple make a foldable phone?

    Apple is undoubtedly exploring the foldable phone concept, but at the time of writing, a foldable iPhone is comfortably stuck in the rumorsphere, so far. There are only analyst predictions, mostly based on patents, to indicate that a foldable iPhone is in the works.

    There's no telling when a foldable iPhone could be released, with projected release dates varying from last year (2023) to 2027. With that in mind, we wouldn't recommend waiting for one if you're putting off an upgrade, especially if your current phone is in dire straits.

    Best overall
    The OnePlus Open folded and unfolded.
    The OnePlus Open is the best foldable phone on the market.

    Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

    The OnePlus Open provides the best overall experience out of any foldable phone I've used and tested, including the Google Pixel Fold, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Motorola's Razr Plus.

    In terms of performance, display, and camera quality, the $1,700 OnePlus Open excels as much as any other foldable phone in the $1,800 range. It runs on 2023's top Android processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which provides an ultra-smooth, fast, premium experience. Its displays are also high-resolution OLEDs that run at high 120Hz refresh rates, and it takes gorgeous photos with its triple-lens camera system.  

    What sets the OnePlus Open apart is its incredibly high build quality. It's also one of the most satisfying and smooth foldable phones to unfold and fold, and it's among the flattest foldables in tablet mode when some foldables don't appear or feel quite flat. 

    We also love the OnePlus Open's 7.8-inch OLED 120Hz tablet display, which is larger than the 7.6-inch tablet displays on other book-style foldables available in the US. The apps we used during testing, including several Google apps, Reddit, Instagram, Apple Music, and LastPass, also display beautifully in tablet mode, whether they're optimized or not.

    The OnePlus Open isn't perfect, however. It doesn't include wireless charging, which is a glaring omission on a $1,700 phone. And, while its cameras are excellent, they can deliver softer details on moving subjects, like pets or toddlers, than other top Android devices. It's rather reliant on sufficient lighting to capture tack-sharp photos.

    For its first attempt at foldable phones, OnePlus truly knocked it out of the park. The phone looks and feels as if the company has been designing and manufacturing foldable phones for years.

    Best overall alternative
    The Google Pixel Fold, folded and unfolded.
    Google's Pixel Fold is another exceptional book-style foldable.

    Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

    We can't make a recommendation for the top foldable phone without including the Google Pixel Fold. It's only the "alternative" to the OnePlus Open based on a purely subjective trait — it doesn't quite look and feel as well-built and sleek thanks to the larger borders around the tablet display, and a mushy sensation when unfolding the phone. 

    Otherwise, the Pixel Fold comes every bit as recommended as the OnePlus Open. The Pixel Fold is also a smaller foldable phone with its 5.8-inch exterior display and 7.6-inch tablet display, which may better fit your preference. 

    In every other way, the Pixel Fold offers a premium experience. Both its displays are high-end OLED panels with a silky smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and the tablet display has razor-sharp 1840p resolution. Paired with Google's Tensor G2 processor from 2023's flagship Pixel 7 generation, the Pixel Fold runs apps, games, and the Android operating system quickly, smoothly, and without a hitch. 

    Its assortment of five cameras is among the best you can find on a foldable phone and only slightly behind other high-end Pixel cameras. And thanks to the Tensor G2 processor, the Pixel Fold includes Google's suite of AI photo editing features, like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and Portrait Blur. 

    Battery life is also excellent in both phone and tablet modes, and it'll easily last you through the day. In fact, battery life is so good that you could use the Pixel Fold in tablet mode exclusively all day and still have leftover battery life. 

    (You might be surprised that Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 didn't make our list of the best foldable phones you can buy. That's almost entirely because of its narrow cover display, which delivers an awkward and uncomfortable experience when you're not using the tablet display. Otherwise, it's a very good book-style foldable phone.) 

    Best foldable flip phone
    The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5’s cover display and unfolded rear on display against a nature backdrop.
    The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5's large, useful cover display distinguishes it among "clamshell" foldable phones.

    Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

    Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the most polished, feature-rich, and powerful clamshell foldable you can buy. It's safe to say that if you're looking for the best clamshell foldable, you should buy the Galaxy Z Flip 5. 

    First and foremost, the Galaxy Z Flip 5's large cover screen, or "Flex Window," is significantly more useful than the tiny cover displays that were common on clamshell foldables before.  

    The larger cover screen lets you see more information at a glance and access basic settings like airplane mode or the flashlight. You can even write a text using a full-size keyboard without unfolding the phone. Some apps are supported to run on the cover screen without unfolding the phone, but Samsung could do better to get more apps to support it. 

    The Galaxy Z Flip 5 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a "previous-generation" processor now that phones are coming out with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. It's still a supremely powerful and capable processor that proves it's more than enough to run anything you throw at is smoothly and quickly. 

    Combine its stellar performance with a 6.7-inch foldable OLED panel running at 120Hz and supporting 1080p resolution, and you have an ultra-premium fluid experience while swiping around apps and the Android operating system. 

    Photos taken with the 12MP main and ultrawide cameras are on par with Samsung's high-end phones in well-lit scenarios, but they're lacking in low-light situations. 

    Best budget foldable
    The exterior display of the Motorola Razr 2023, phone is folded, held in hand.
    The Motorola Razr is a worthwhile budget option.

    Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

    Motorola's base Razr wins the accolade for the best "budget" foldable phone, but it's also the only affordable foldable that's well under $1,000.

    As you can imagine, the Razr's comparatively lower price means the phone isn't quite as fully kitted as more expensive clamshell foldables, like the Razr Plus or Galaxy Z Flip 5, and its camera quality is not on par with high-end foldable devices. 

    The Razr runs on the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor rather than a flagship processor, like the Snapdragon 8 series. Despite this, the Razr is surprisingly snappy and runs apps with no trouble at all. 

    You'll also find the Razr's small external display is less useful than the larger external displays on flagship foldables. It's only good for showing you notifications and the time and doesn't let you do much else, which forces you to unfold the Razr to do anything meaningful or menial, like writing a quick response to a text. 

    Still, the tiny external display can be used as a viewfinder for taking selfies with the main camera, which is a marquee feature of foldable phones. Once unfolded, the Razr offers a premium display experience with its 6.9-inch OLED folding panel that runs at a 144Hz refresh rate and a 1080p resolution.

    Starting at $700 (and occasionally discounted to around $500), the Motorola Razr is a solid entry-level foldable phone that's a good option if you couldn't previously justify the $1,000-plus price tags of most foldables or if you want to experiment with the foldable clamshell design.

    Best foldable phones compared
    Specification OnePlus Open Google Pixel Fold Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Motorola Razr (2023)
    Starting price $1,700 $1,799 $1,000 $700
    Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Google Tensor G2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
    Battery 4805mAh 4821mAh 3700mAh 4,200mAh
    Unfolded display 7.82 inches, 2268p, AMOLED, 1-120Hz 7.6 inches, 1840p, OLED, 120Hz 6.7 inches, 1080p, AMOLED, 120Hz 6.9 inches, 1080p, pOLED, 1-144Hz 
    Cover display 6.31 inches, 1116p, AMOLED, 10-120Hz 5.8 inches, OLED, 1080p, 120Hz 3.4 inches, 720p, AMOLED, 120Hz 1.5 inches, 194p, OLED, 60Hz
    Rear cameras 48MP main, 64MP 3x zoom, 48MP ultrawide 48MP main, 10.8MP 5x zoom, 10.8MP ultrawide 12MP main, 12MP ultrawide 64MP main, 13MP ultrawide
    Front / tablet cameras 32MP (front), 20MP (tablet) 9.5MP (front), 8MP (tablet) 10MP 32MP
    RAM / Storage 16GB / 512GB 12GB / 256GB, 512GB 8GB / 256GB, 512GB 8GB / 128GB
    Release date October 2023 June 2023 August 2023 October 2023
    FAQs

    Are foldable phones worth it?

    Spec for spec, foldable phones are currently more expensive than their traditional flat counterparts. With that in mind, foldable phones need to offer a benefit to make up for their higher prices. If the benefit makes sense to you, a foldable phone is worth it. 

    Book-style foldables are a hybrid of a traditional phone and a tablet. If you've ever wished you had both simultaneously, but it's not practical to carry around a separate tablet, especially one that needs a separate data plan, a book-style foldable could certainly be worth it.

    Clamshell foldables offer compact portability when not in use, or they can be fashionable statement pieces. If you ask us, we find their benefits less worthy than those of a book-style foldable. Yet, if you like the idea of a sleek, stylish, compact clamshell that can be flipped open and folded shut, who are we to say it's not worth it?

    Will Apple make a foldable phone?

    Apple is undoubtedly exploring the foldable phone concept, but at the time of writing, a foldable iPhone is comfortably stuck in the rumorsphere, so far. There are only analyst predictions, mostly based on patents, to indicate that a foldable iPhone is in the works.

    There's no telling when a foldable iPhone could be released, with projected release dates varying from last year (2023) to 2027. With that in mind, we wouldn't recommend waiting for one if you're putting off an upgrade, especially if your current phone is in dire straits.

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