Apple launches its first foldable device, the iPhone Duo, at a lower price point than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, signalling a strategic move into the expanding foldable smartphone segment with familiar features and a focus on practicality.
Apple has entered the foldable market with the iPhone Duo, pricing the device at $1,999 for the 256GB model and putting its first folding handset on sale from 23 October, with pre-orders opening on 16 October. According to Apple, the phone will arrive in more than 70 countries at launch, with a further 28 markets to follow on 30 October. The company is also offering the Duo in Star White and Night Sky, and says the device uses its new A20 Pro chip and eSIM only.
The launch matters because Apple has not only joined a category long dominated by Samsung, but has done so at a lower starting price than the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra’s original list price. That makes the Duo look aggressive on paper, even if Samsung’s current promotions leave its own foldables cheaper in shops for the moment. The comparison is complicated by timing: Apple is pricing against the market’s official list prices, while Samsung is selling through time-limited discounts that may not still be in place when the Duo reaches customers.
On specifications alone, Apple’s first foldable looks carefully engineered but not class-leading in every respect. Apple says the Duo has a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display, with up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner panel. The company also claims IP68 water and dust resistance, a titanium enclosure and Ceramic Shield protection, while MacRumors reports storage options rising to 2TB. Those figures are notable, but they need to be judged against real-world handling, crease visibility and hinge durability once retail units are tested.
The wider significance is that Apple has arrived late to a foldable segment that Samsung helped define, and it has chosen a conservative product shape rather than a radical reinvention. Android-focused reporting also notes that several of the Duo’s ideas, including the under-display camera and stylus support, echo features already seen on rival foldables. That does not make the phone unoriginal so much as strategically familiar: Apple appears to be targeting buyers who want a folding form factor without leaving the iPhone ecosystem.
For buyers, the more relevant comparison may be internal rather than against Samsung. Apple’s own iPhone 18 Pro line offers lower pricing, a dedicated telephoto camera and more conventional flagship hardware, while the Duo asks customers to pay a significant premium for the folding design itself. As a result, the new device will likely be judged less on headline specifications than on whether Apple has solved the practical problems that have defined foldables since Samsung brought them to market in 2019.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
