Apple has done it; they have finally unveiled their first-ever folding phone. Rather, their first folding phone that folds on purpose — we all remember the iPhone 6. Apple is rarely first with new products; instead, Apple comes out later, when it has “perfected” the technology or when it meets its standards. And that’s the case with the iPhone Duo.
Which means it’s now time to compare the iPhone Duo to its Android competition, starting with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. These are both roughly the same size, though Samsung used a different aspect ratio here. Apple opted to stick with 1:1.4 on both displays, surprisingly.
I’ve spent the past two months using the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and I quite like this form factor. It’s such a great foldable that it’s been incredibly hard to put down, actually. So how does it compare to Apple’s newest form factor?
Apple iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Software
When it comes to software, both phones have a lot of the same features, unsurprisingly. You can run apps side by side and even save them as pairs on both phones. But where Apple shines is with a feature Samsung perfected and then removed on the Fold 8: Flex Mode.
With Flex Mode, you can unfold the phone to 90 degrees and use it as a mini laptop. This gives you controls on the bottom half and a video on the upper half for apps like Netflix and YouTube. I still don’t understand why Samsung removed this from the Galaxy Z Fold 8; it was insanely useful and something I used a lot on foldables.
Apple has also moved the dock to the side, to help make that asymmetrical screen easier to use. But if you’re left-handed, this will be really hard to use, unfortunately. Apple also has that awesome transition when you open the phone, which is cool, but it doesn’t really change your experience. Apple also added duo Facetime, where you can use both the front and rear cameras at the same time on a Facetime call, so someone can see you and what you’re looking at, or someone else that might be there with you. They’ve also been working with app developers to update apps for the iPhone Duo, which will be a massive advantage for iOS. As many more people use iOS than Samsung’s version of Android. So we’ll see apps getting updated insanely fast.
Where Samsung shines is with the ability to run three apps at the same time. Apple currently limits you to two, but Samsung lets you run three apps side by side on the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Though I can’t say I’ve ever really done that on the Fold 8. I usually stick to just two apps, so maybe Apple is onto something here.
From early hands-on with the iPhone Duo, many are saying that Apple’s software feels more polished. So we’ll have to give this win to the iPhone.
Winner: Apple iPhone Duo
Apple iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Hardware
On the spec sheet, Apple is pretty similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Though there are still a few specs that Apple does not disclose, like RAM and battery size, Apple is beating Samsung on quoted battery life and has MagSafe charging built in up to 25W — the Galaxy Z Fold 8 only supports 20W wireless charging.
Surprisingly, the iPhone Duo also has a higher resolution on both displays, even though the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and 8 Ultra both got higher-resolution displays this year. You can check out the full spec rundown for both below.
Apple iPhone Duo
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8
| Apple iPhone Duo | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (unfolded/folded) | Unfolded: 117.8 x 164.6 x 5.2 mm; Folded: 117.8 x 84.1 x 11.3 mm | Unfolded: 161.4 x 123.9 x 4.5 mm; Folded: 81.9 x 123.9 x 9.7 mm |
| Weight | 254 grams | 201g |
| Cover Display | 5.4-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | 5.5-inch LTPO OLED (120Hz Adaptive) |
| Resolution | 2034×1398 | 1972×1248 |
| Inner Display | 7.6-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | 7.6-inch LTPO OLED (120Hz Adaptive) |
| Resolution | 2670×1878 | 2448×1848 |
| Chipset | Apple A20 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| RAM | – | 12GB/16GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB | 256GB/512GB/1TB |
| Main camera | 48MP (f/1.6 aperture, 1/1.28-inch sensor size, OIS, multi-directional PDAF) | 50MP (f/1.8 aperture, 1/1.56-inch sensor size, OIS, multi-directional PDAF) |
| Ultra-wide camera | 48MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1/2.55-inch sensor size, OIS, 120˚) | 50MP (f/1.9 aperture, 1/2.51-inch sensor size, 120˚, OIS, dual-pixel PDAF) |
| (Periscope) telephoto camera | – | N/A |
| Selfie camera | 12MP | 10MP |
| Battery size | Not Advertised | 4,800mAh |
| Charging | Not advertised wired, 25W wireless (Qi2.2 Magnetic) | 45W wired, 120W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Colors | Star White, Night Sky | Graphite, Cream, Lavender, Pistachio (Samsung.com exclusive) |
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8
Apple iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Cameras
Now let’s talk about those cameras. Unfortunately, both neglect the telephoto, so you’re stuck with the wide and ultrawide lenses here. Though you can sensor-crop and get optical zoom on both, up to 4x on the Fold 8 and up to 2x on the iPhone Duo.
Apple is using 48MP sensors here, while Samsung is using 50MP sensors. That’s not a huge difference in terms of resolution; however, Apple is using a larger main sensor and a similarly sized ultrawide. Also, knowing how good Apple’s cameras typically are, I’m pretty sure the iPhone Duo is going to have a better camera experience than the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
During my two months with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the cameras have been the biggest letdown of this phone. You can get some great photos outdoors and in good sunlight. But at night? Forget about it. Since the iPhone Duo uses essentially the same sensors as the iPhone 17 Pro Max I’ve been carrying for the past year, I know it’ll have good cameras. But I will definitely miss those telephoto lenses.
Winner: Apple iPhone Duo
Which should you buy?
The question of which foldable you should buy really depends on the ecosystem that you’re in. If you’re in the Samsung or Android ecosystem, you won’t like the iPhone Duo. If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, you won’t like the Galaxy Z Fold 8. But if ecosystems don’t matter, it does make it a pretty tough choice. As we know from Samsung here, this is their 8th generation of foldables, compared to Apple’s first.
My preference is the iPhone Duo for now. I do carry an iPhone as my daily driver, with whatever phone I’m reviewing as my secondary phone. But I am very excited to see what Apple is able to do with the iPhone Duo. Everything I’ve seen so far looks really good with this phone. But pre-orders don’t open until next month, unfortunately.
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