How the Iphone Duo Stacks up Against 2026’S Top Foldables

WHO:

CNET - Apple’s iPhone Duo and Samsung’s Galaxy Fold 8 are the foldable phones named in CNET’s hinge test.

Gizmodo - The comparison includes Apple’s iPhone Duo; Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra; Google’s original Pixel Fold and Pixel 11 Pro Fold; Microsoft’s original Surface Duo; Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max; and the iPad mini.

Gizmodo - The article says the iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable phone.

WHAT:

GSMArena.com - The Galaxy Z Fold8 is the only other wide foldable currently in the U.S. market, according to the article.

GSMArena.com - The iPhone Duo starts at $2,000 for the 256GB model. The Galaxy Z Fold8’s lower starting price and a $200 discount make it $300 cheaper than the iPhone Duo.

GSMArena.com - The Galaxy Z Fold8 is 9.7mm thick and weighs 201g, compared with the iPhone Duo’s 11.3mm and 254g.

GSMArena.com - Both phones have 7.6-inch inner displays, similar aspect ratios, and nearly identical battery capacities: 4,800mAh for the Galaxy Z Fold8 and 4,883mAh for the iPhone Duo.

GSMArena.com - The Galaxy Z Fold8 uses a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset; the iPhone Duo uses an Apple A20 Pro.

GSMArena.com - Neither phone has a dedicated telephoto camera. The Galaxy Z Fold8 has dual 50MP camera modules; the iPhone Duo has dual 48MP modules.

CNET - CNET put the iPhone Duo in a custom-made foldable-phone test machine to examine how its hinge holds up.

CNET - The machine will fold the iPhone Duo 900 times an hour.

Gizmodo - Gizmodo describes the iPhone Duo as officially available and reports that Apple Stores around the world were crowded during its launch.

Gizmodo - The iPhone Duo has a smaller footprint than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in the pictured comparison, is about as thick as three stacked passports, weighs 254 grams, and is heavier than the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Gizmodo - The iPhone Duo’s and Galaxy Z Fold 8’s glossy outer displays both have 120Hz refresh rates. Their sizes are 5.4 inches and 5.5 inches, respectively.

Gizmodo - The iPhone Duo’s outer display provides 90% of the screen area of the iPhone 18 Pro.

Gizmodo - The iPhone Duo’s inner display has a 1.4:1 aspect ratio; the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s inner screen has a 4:3 aspect ratio. Gizmodo describes the iPhone Duo’s inner display as shorter than the Z Fold 8’s.

Gizmodo - Gizmodo says the iPhone Duo’s nano-texture inner display reduces visible creasing and reflections compared with the Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s more visible crease and reflective display. The nano-texture layer is replaceable.

Gizmodo - Gizmodo says removing the nano-texture layer yourself can leave the folding screen “ugly, wavy, and distorted.”

Gizmodo - Gizmodo describes the iPhone Duo’s outer display as asymmetric and says its shape resembles a D, as do the two Pixel Folds and Surface Duo.

Gizmodo - The iPhone Duo’s inner display was compared in portrait and landscape orientations with the iPhone 18 Pro Max and an iPad mini; the article identifies the pictured iPad mini as the 6th generation and says it has the same dimensions as the latest iPad mini (A17 Pro).

Gizmodo - The article describes the iPhone Duo’s inner-screen bezels as thinner than the iPad mini’s.

WHERE:

Gizmodo - Gizmodo reports that Apple’s flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York City was crowded during the iPhone Duo launch.

Gizmodo - The article mentions an upcoming Apple event in Los Angeles.

WHEN:

GSMArena.com - The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is also available as a larger book-style foldable from Samsung.

Gizmodo - Gizmodo says the 8th-generation iPad mini was expected to be announced at “next week’s ‘Pray and Tell’ event in Los Angeles.”

HOW:

Wired - Indie developers are creating fun, quirky apps that use the iPhone Duo’s screen and hinge.

Gizmodo - The Galaxy Z Fold 8’s home screen works like a regular Android phone; Apple placed the iPhone Duo’s dock on the right side, where menus and buttons also appear in apps made for the device.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 11:59 UTC)

Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, is officially available, drawing crowds to the company’s flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York. CNET is testing its hinge in a custom machine that will fold the phone 900 times an hour. Against Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, the Duo starts at $2,000 for 256 gigabytes, while the Samsung is $300 cheaper after a discount. The Fold 8 is also thinner and lighter: 9.7 millimeters and 201 grams, compared with 11.3 millimeters and 254 grams for Apple’s phone. Both have 7.6-inch inner screens and similar battery capacities, but neither has a dedicated telephoto camera. The Duo’s nano-texture screen reduces visible creases and reflections, and its surface can be replaced. Developers are also making apps that use its screen and hinge, while Apple’s dock sits along the right side.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 09:59 UTC)

Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, is now available, with crowds reported at the company’s flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York. CNET has placed one in a custom-built machine that will fold it 900 times an hour to test its hinge. The Duo starts at $2,000 for 256 gigabytes, while a lower starting price and a $200 discount make Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 $300 cheaper. Samsung’s phone is also thinner and lighter: 9.7 millimeters and 201 grams, compared with 11.3 millimeters and 254 grams for the iPhone. Both have 7.6-inch inner screens and similar battery capacities, but neither includes a dedicated telephoto camera. Samsung uses dual 50-megapixel cameras, while Apple’s are 48 megapixels. Their outer screens both refresh at 120 hertz, and the Duo’s textured inner display reduces visible creasing and reflections. Apple’s layout puts the dock and app controls along the right side.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 04:09 UTC)

Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, is on sale, and crowds gathered at the company’s flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York during its launch. CNET is testing how well the hinge holds up in a custom-built machine that folds the phone 900 times an hour. Gizmodo’s comparison includes Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra, Google’s foldables, Microsoft’s Surface Duo, and several Apple phones and tablets. The iPhone Duo weighs 254 grams and is heavier than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Its 5.4-inch outer screen is slightly smaller than the Galaxy’s 5.5-inch display, and its inner screen is shorter than Samsung’s. Gizmodo says a nano-texture layer reduces creases and reflections, but warns that removing it can distort the screen. The 8th-generation iPad mini is expected at next week’s “Pray and Tell” event in Los Angeles.