iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8: The New Foldable Champion

Nature news

Released Sep 13, 2026, 6:30 AM EDT

Jon is a skilled reporter who has actually composed conclusive protection of customer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He’s a specialist on making tech available varying from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables.

When he’s not composing, he’s going on experiences with ihis household and is a devoted professional photographer.

Samsung is the ruling champ of collapsible phones for a factor: it presses the classification forward with strong styles. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is among my preferred folding phones of perpetuity, and it assisted promote the passport-style shape that’s rapidly taking control of the mobile world.

And yet Apple simply upstaged Samsung with its very first collapsible, the iPhone Duo. It’s even worse in some aspects, however it consists of thoughtful style and user interface choices that, honestly, ought to humiliate Samsung– the latecomer is teaching the leader some lessons.

Pen input still matters, Samsung

Samsung discarded a benefit

Samsung dropped S Pen assistance with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to slim it down. And yes, the Z Fold 8 series is thinner than the iPhone Duo at just 0.16 inches when open (for the Ultra) versus the Duo’s 0.21 inches. That’s helpful if you have tight pockets or simply desire a folding phone that’s as smooth as the traditional kind.

It’s informing that Apple still handled to fit in assistance for its USB-C Pencil while keeping the Duo fairly thin. There’s no slot or magnetic port for the stylus, however a minimum of you have a pen alternative in the very first location. If you wish to utilize your phone for handwritten notes or sketches, an iPhone is now the go-to choice. Why purchase an iPad mini when you can get a comparable experience in your pocket?

That’s not embellishment, as the stylus-equipped options aren’t as commonly readily available. The Motorola Razr Fold can be challenging to get (T-Mobile is the only U.S. provider to offer it), and Chinese designs like the Oppo Find N6 are restricted to at-your-own-risk imports in North America. In the meantime, Apple is making the only pen-friendly collapsible that will be common. That’s paradoxical when Steve Jobs derided styluses (for excellent factor at the time), however valued them.

Software application that makes excellent usage of every screen

It’s not practically multitasking

Credit: Apple

Samsung has actually mostly nailed collapsible phone multitasking. You can add to 4 apps at a time, and handling those apps is simple. There’s something thrilling about utilizing a Galaxy Z Fold 8 to concurrently examine social apps, message buddies, and capture up on my YouTube memberships.

<p>And yet the iPhone Duo consists of some software application enhancements that Samsung need to obtain. For one, Apple didn't invest exclusively in the folding screen. The rearranged side dock provides apps more vertical area no matter which show you utilize. Considered that some apps (especially social media networks like Instagram or TikTok) do not scale well on the Z Fold 8, Apple made the smarter option.</p>    <p>Multitasking seems much faster, too, with less taps included to introduce apps or set them up in groups.</p>    <p>Apple even handles to beat Samsung sometimes when you're hardly touching the phone at all. You can enjoy videos and play music when it's propped up, however you can likewise utilize it in StandBy mode as a pseudo-smart display screen with widgets, an image frame, or an alarm clock that shines when it's time to get up. This even works vertically.</p>    <p>You can just run 2 apps at a time, and imagine an iPad-style windowed user interface are rushed for the time being. This isn't a definitive blow. It's clear Apple isn't simply cribbing from Samsung's playbook-- it's resolving some of Samsung's weak points.</p>    Style options make all the distinction

Apple has functions you ‘d anticipate Samsung to provide very first

                                                                                        <figure><picture><source media="(max-width: 767px)" data-srcset="https://i0.wp.com/media.pmnsports.co.uk/2026/09/localimages/iphone-duo-2.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=800&dpr=2">
    </source></picture><small>Credit: Apple</small></figure>

While Apple has actually made its share of style errors, such as flaky butterfly keyboards, it’s still referred to as a stickler for information that takes note of aspects others miss out on.

That’s definitely real for the iPhone Duo. Its rounded corners ought to be much gentler on your palms when unfolded than the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s sharp angles. It has integrated magnetic cordless charging through MagSafe and Qi2, no case needed. And Apple in some way handled to wring out practically as much battery life as the lasting iPhone 18 Pro in spite of the firmly loaded innards.

Apple is including style aspects that Samsung either pulled or must have presented. The iPhone Duo has a matte screen that appears to decrease the noticeable crease and reflections better than the Z Fold 8. There’s an under-display selfie cam that appears to resolve the quality issues from the Z Fold 6. And did I point out that Apple kept a hinge that lets you fold at almost any angle, while Samsung eliminated that for the base Z Fold 8?

<p>This isn't to state the iPhone Duo is unambiguously exceptional. There's no Ultra design with a zoom lens. You may desire an exposed selfie cam for much better pictures. And if you choose Android, there's little Apple will do to alter your mind when Google's OS is still more personalized and versatile. It's unusual to see a business get in the collapsible phone area with a gadget so sleek that the competitors may have to play catch-up.</p>    <br>Find out more