After years on the sidelines of foldable phones, Apple has finally launched the iPhone Duo. But with Samsung already several Galaxy Z Fold generations in, can Apple's first foldable really pull Android users across to a new ecosystem?
Apple arrives late to the foldable race
On 23 October 2026, the iPhone Duo went on sale — the first time Apple has shipped a folding iPhone. Samsung, meanwhile, has spent years on the Galaxy Z Fold line; the Galaxy Z Fold8, on sale since August 2026, is one of the most direct rivals.
Both use a book-style horizontal fold with a large 7.6-inch inner screen. But their priorities differ: Samsung focuses on a thin, light design and multi-window work, while Apple leans on the tight integration of hardware, software and the iOS ecosystem.
Design: Samsung is 53 grams lighter
This is the most obvious gap. The Galaxy Z Fold8 weighs just 201 grams, while the iPhone Duo is 254 grams — a 53-gram difference that can matter over long sessions. Samsung is also thinner: 9.7 mm folded and 4.5 mm unfolded, versus 11.3 mm and 5.2 mm for Apple.
In return, the iPhone Duo uses a Grade 5 titanium frame and carries an IP68 dust and water rating, while the Galaxy Z Fold8 has an aluminium frame and IP48. On paper, Apple leads on dust resistance. But an IP rating does not guarantee a device is immune to damage over long-term use.
If you prize thin and light, the Galaxy Z Fold8 clearly wins. If you care about dust resistance and frame materials, the iPhone Duo has points worth weighing.
Display: same 7.6 inches, different experience
Both have a 7.6-inch folding OLED inner screen with adaptive refresh up to 120Hz. On the outside, Samsung uses a 5.5-inch panel, slightly larger than Apple's 5.4-inch cover screen.
The iPhone Duo adds an anti-reflective coating on the inner display to cut glare and make the crease less visible, and uses matching aspect ratios on both screens for smoother transitions between open and closed. Samsung's edge is the real-world experience refined across generations. Some early reviews find the iPhone Duo's cover screen wide and short, which makes a few apps less comfortable to use.
Multitasking: Samsung has more tools
This may be the most important difference for anyone buying a foldable to work on. The Galaxy Z Fold8 supports up to three split-screen apps, multiple floating windows and Samsung DeX for a near-desktop setup.
The iPhone Duo runs iOS 27, adding Split View for two apps at once, saved app pairs and two windows of the same app. Apple chose a simpler, more unified experience, but its multitasking customisation is not yet as rich as Samsung's. People juggling email, spreadsheets and documents will find Samsung has more tools; iPhone users may prefer the less complex approach of iOS 27.
Cameras: don't just read the megapixels
The iPhone Duo has two 48MP rear cameras (main and ultrawide) with 2x optical-quality zoom from the main sensor, but no dedicated telephoto. The standard Galaxy Z Fold8 uses two 50MP rear cameras, also without a dedicated telephoto (the newer Z Fold8 Ultra adds a 200MP camera and a telephoto). Both accept trade-offs compared with photography-focused flagships.
Apple leads on video features such as Dolby Vision 4K at 120fps and previewing on the cover screen while shooting with the rear cameras. Samsung brings familiar shooting modes and editing tools in the Galaxy AI ecosystem. Early tests suggest the iPhone Duo leans toward natural images and handles low light well — but real-world quality depends on the scene and colour preference. You should not decide which shoots better from 48MP versus 50MP alone.
Performance and battery: Apple's surprise
The iPhone Duo uses the A20 Pro chip, while the Galaxy Z Fold8 runs the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. Both are strong enough for photo editing, gaming, video and multitasking. In Tom's Guide's battery test, the iPhone Duo lasted about 13 hours 20 minutes, versus about 10 hours 6 minutes for the Galaxy Z Fold8. Apple leads in that specific test, but real battery life varies with brightness, apps and how much you use the inner screen.
Notably, the iPhone Duo supports the Apple Pencil (USB-C), while the Galaxy Z Fold8 does not support the S Pen — an advantage for anyone who likes to take notes, sketch or mark up documents on the big screen.
Price: the gap in Vietnam is much bigger than in the US
In the US, the iPhone Duo starts at US$1,999 and the Galaxy Z Fold8 at US$1,899 — a listed gap of just US$100. But in Vietnam the picture is very different: by prices local media noted at launch, the Galaxy Z Fold8 starts around 47 million VND, while the iPhone Duo starts around 65 million VND.
That roughly 18-million-VND gap is worth weighing, especially since the two have similar inner-screen sizes. Real retail prices still shift with timing, promotions and storage. On features per dollar, Samsung leads on multitasking and design; Apple targets buyers who want a folding iPhone without leaving the iOS ecosystem.
So which is the better buy?
There is no single choice that fits everyone.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 suits people who prioritise:
- A thin, light design.
- Multitasking across many apps.
- Samsung DeX and Android customisation.
- A more accessible price.
The iPhone Duo suits people who prioritise:
- The Apple and iOS ecosystem.
- IP68 dust and water resistance.
- Battery life in early testing.
- The Apple Pencil experience.
Samsung leads on experience and practicality. Apple offers a different path, pairing iOS with folding hardware for the first time. The most notable thing is not whether Apple or Samsung wins the spec race, but that foldables are shifting from expensive experiments into a real option for premium users.
And at prices in the tens of millions of VND, the key question remains: do you need a phone that folds, or do you really need the experiences a folding screen enables?
Quick comparison
| Spec | iPhone Duo | Galaxy Z Fold8 |
|---|---|---|
| Inner display | 7.6 inch | 7.6 inch |
| Cover display | 5.4 inch | 5.5 inch |
| Weight | 254 g | 201 g |
| Thickness (folded) | 11.3 mm | 9.7 mm |
| Chip | A20 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Rear cameras | 48MP + 48MP | 50MP + 50MP |
| Multitasking | 2 apps | Up to 3 apps + floating windows |
| Dust/water | IP68 | IP48 |
| US list price (256GB) | US$1,999 | US$1,899 |
Frequently asked questions
- Which is lighter, the iPhone Duo or Galaxy Z Fold8? — The Galaxy Z Fold8 is lighter, at 201 g versus 254 g for the iPhone Duo.
- Which has better battery life? — In Tom's Guide's test, the iPhone Duo reached about 13 hours 20 minutes and the Galaxy Z Fold8 about 10 hours 6 minutes; real-world life depends on usage.
- What are the prices in Vietnam? — By local media prices at launch, the Galaxy Z Fold8 starts around 47 million VND and the iPhone Duo around 65 million VND; actual prices vary with timing and promotions.
