Apple’s first foldable phone is heavier than Samsung’s rival but counters with a compact folded design, tougher construction, a less visible crease and a wider inner display.
Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, arrives with a clear message: it is not simply chasing Samsung’s lead, but trying to reshape what a large-screen handset should feel like in the hand. In side-by-side comparisons published by Gizmodo Japan and other outlets, the device looks markedly more compact when folded than several Android rivals, including Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Google’s Pixel Fold family, while still offering a usable cover display and a more conventional iPhone-like layout. That first impression matters because foldables are still judged as much by their physical presence as by their specifications.
The main surprise, according to the comparison coverage, is not the footprint but the heft. The iPhone Duo weighs 254g and measures 11.3mm thick when closed, making it heavier and bulkier than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, which comes in at 201g and 9.7mm folded. Yet the trade-off is a distinctly premium construction, including a titanium frame and IP68 dust and water resistance, both of which place it ahead of Samsung’s IP48 rating on durability claims. Tom’s Guide says that, in day-to-day use, Apple’s approach also extends to the hinge and display treatment, with a nearly invisible crease and an anti-reflective nano-texture layer intended to cut glare.
That display treatment is one of the iPhone Duo’s most distinctive advantages. According to Tom’s Guide, the nano-texture finish reduces reflections enough to make the inner panel easier to read than the screens on several competing foldables, while the crease is less obvious than on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and especially the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. The internal screen is also slightly wider in aspect ratio than Samsung’s, which should make the device feel less cramped for video, reading and split-screen use. Gizmodo Japan’s comparison notes that the outer screen is also unusually well judged, with a size close to that of a standard premium iPhone and with interface elements, including the dock and app controls, repositioned to suit the folded form.
Against Apple’s own phones, the new foldable appears designed to bridge two product categories rather than replace either one outright. Gizmodo Japan compared the iPhone Duo with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max and found that the cover display covers roughly 90 per cent of the iPhone 18 Pro’s screen area, while the unfolded device sits close to the iPad mini in practical scale. That puts the Duo in an unusual position: small enough to carry like a phone, but large enough to function as a pocketable tablet when opened. The narrow bezels around the inner screen reinforce that ambition, and the overall form suggests Apple is trying to make the transition between phone and tablet feel less abrupt than on earlier foldables.
Performance and imaging, however, remain more nuanced. Tom’s Guide says the iPhone Duo’s A20 Pro chip gives it an edge in raw speed over Samsung’s foldable, and its battery life is described as stronger as well, with faster wired charging also part of the package. But camera tests show the limits of its dual-camera approach. At 2x zoom, the phone performs well by cropping from its 48-megapixel main sensor, but image quality declines quickly at higher magnifications, where text and fine detail become soft and pixelated. For buyers weighing Apple’s first foldable against Samsung’s more mature Galaxy Z Fold line, the decision is likely to come down to priorities: Apple offers a more refined foldable experience in some areas, while Samsung still counters with a lighter chassis, lower price and more advanced multitasking features.
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.
