As Apple prepares to launch its first foldable iPhone, industry experts suggest that software innovation and display technology will be crucial to surpass Samsung’s mature foldable offerings, amid pricing and ecosystem advantages.
The arrival of a folding iPhone would not automatically upend the market. Samsung has spent years refining the book-style foldable, and that experience remains its strongest advantage. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to build on that long development cycle, while Apple’s first folding model would be entering a category that already has design rules, user expectations and hard-won lessons. According to Tom’s Guide, Apple’s best chance of overtaking Samsung would come from solving familiar foldable problems rather than merely matching them.
Software may prove more important than hardware. Samsung and Android already support the kind of split-screen and side-by-side use that makes a large inner display feel useful, not just bigger. The newer Fold models are built around that flexibility, with drag-and-resize multitasking and app pairing that can make the device behave more like a pocket computer. A folding iPhone would need a similarly convincing answer, because simply stretching the standard iPhone interface across a larger panel would waste much of the format’s value.
That challenge extends to app design. The Android ecosystem has long had to cope with different screen sizes and aspect ratios, which has pushed developers towards more adaptable layouts. Apple’s tighter control over its platform could help create a cleaner experience, but it could also limit how freely apps take advantage of the extra space. In practice, the folding iPhone would need developers to treat it as a distinct class of device, with interfaces that change meaningfully when the handset is open.
Display quality is another likely battleground. Tom’s Guide reports that Apple is working on a crease-free screen using liquid metal components and a laser-drilled display plate, a possible answer to one of the most visible compromises in current foldables. Samsung has made major gains in reducing the crease on its latest devices, and TechRadar says the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra now uses a flatter, thinner body, a titanium hinge and a near-creaseless 8.0-inch main AMOLED panel. Even so, if Apple can truly remove the fold line, it would have a clear visual advantage.
Camera performance should not be overlooked either. Samsung’s foldables have improved, but they still do not always match the company’s best slab-style phones. Tom’s Guide and Digital Camera World both describe the Z Fold 8 family as strong, but not class-leading, with limitations in telephoto reach and low-light performance on some variants. That leaves room for Apple, which could pair its familiar imaging pipeline with a folding design and potentially narrow one of Samsung’s more obvious gaps.
Price may matter just as much as features. Tom’s Guide says the folding iPhone could cost about $2,400 to $2,500, above the expected Fold 8 range. TechRadar places the Z Fold 8 Ultra at $2,099.99, while Digital Camera World reports a starting price of £1,699, or $1,899. Even allowing for regional variation, the gap is significant in a category already reserved for premium buyers. A higher price would make Apple’s device harder to justify unless it clearly outclassed Samsung in usability.
Apple’s wider ecosystem remains its biggest strategic asset. A folding iPhone would sit naturally beside the Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, iCloud and Apple Intelligence, giving the company a chance to frame the product as part of a broader computing system rather than a stand-alone handset. That integration could matter more than raw specifications if Apple can make the device feel genuinely different when opened. But the burden of proof is still with Apple. Samsung enters this contest with maturity, software depth and a proven foldable identity. Apple may eventually reshape the category, but it will have to earn that right first.
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.
