Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs iPhone Duo: Which Foldable Is Worth Your Money?

Apple finally has a folding phone you can buy. The iPhone Duo reached stores on Friday, and the first question many shoppers are asking is simple: should I get this, or the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 that has been out since summer?

The two phones share a similar shape, and the price gap is small. They feel quite different in the hand, though. Here is how they compare.

Check Price and release dates

Samsung moved first. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 went on sale August 7, starting at $1,899 for 12GB of memory and 256GB of storage. Deals have already appeared. As of mid-October, Samsung and Best Buy both listed the 256GB model at $1,699.99.

Apple showed the Duo on September 9 and began shipping it October 23. It costs $1,999 for 256GB, $2,199 for 512GB, $2,599 for 1TB and $3,199 for 2TB. That makes the Duo about $100 more than Samsung’s list price for the entry model. It also has no discount yet.

Supply may be a problem. Within half an hour of pre-orders opening, Apple was quoting delivery dates well into January 2027.

Size, weight and build

Both phones open like a book into a wide, passport-shaped screen, which is different from the tall Fold models Samsung sold before.

The main difference is weight. The Fold 8 weighs 201 grams and measures 9.7mm thick when folded. The Duo weighs 254 grams, which makes it the heaviest iPhone Apple has made, and it is 11.3mm thick when closed. When opened flat, the Duo is thinner, at 5.2mm. The Fold 8 measures 4.5mm open.

Apple’s phone is tougher on paper. It has a titanium frame and an IP68 rating for dust and water. The Fold 8 is rated IP48, which protects against dust but not water. If you plan to use a foldable at the beach or around a pool, that gap matters.

Screens

The inner screens are almost the same size. The Duo has a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer one. The Fold 8 has a 7.6-inch inner display and a slightly larger 5.5-inch cover screen.

One recent side-by-side test found no clear winner. Apple’s matte coating cuts glare and makes the crease hard to see, while the Samsung showed deeper blacks and more vivid colors. The reviewer liked Apple’s screen better outdoors. If you mostly watch video in a dim room, Samsung’s panel may look better to you. If you use the phone in daylight, Apple’s may.

Speed and software

Apple’s chip is the newer one. The Duo’s A20 Pro is built on a 2-nanometer process and pulls ahead of Qualcomm’s best mobile chip in both everyday and gaming tasks. The Fold 8 uses a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which is still a very fast chip.

Software is where Samsung leads. The Fold 8 can show up to four windows at once and supports floating app windows, while the Duo handles only two apps side by side. If you want to use your phone like a small laptop, Samsung’s setup is more flexible. The Duo does bring something new: support for the USB-C Apple Pencil, which the Fold 8 cannot use. That support is promised before the end of 2026.

Cameras quality

Neither phone has a telephoto lens, which will bother some buyers.

Samsung uses a 50MP main camera and a 50MP ultrawide. Apple uses a 48MP main camera and a 48MP ultrawide, with a 2x crop from the main sensor. Apple also added camera tricks that use the folding body, such as a mode that waits until everyone is ready for a group photo. The Duo has no Face ID camera, so the design leaves more room for other parts.

If zoom matters to you, look at Samsung’s pricier model. The Fold 8 Ultra adds a 200MP main sensor and a 10MP 3x telephoto.

Battery and charging

Apple claims up to 24 hours of typical use, and it can reach 50 percent in about 20 minutes with a 60W adapter. Samsung’s phone has a 4,800mAh battery with 45W wired and 20W wireless charging. One lab test found about 12 hours and 20 minutes of use on a single charge.

Apple’s number is a company claim, not a test result. Wait for independent battery tests before treating the Duo as the winner here.

Things that may decide it for you

Two points could settle the choice quickly:

Face ID is gone. The Duo uses Touch ID on the side button because there was no room for the Face ID system. Some early reviewers say they miss Face ID.
eSIM only. The Duo supports only eSIM, while the Fold 8 still takes a physical SIM card. If you swap SIMs while traveling, that matters.

So which one should you buy?

If you already own an iPhone, a Mac and AirPods, the Duo is the easier fit. Reviewers say iPhone owners should choose it. It is tougher, faster on paper, and works with Apple’s apps and services.

If you want a lighter phone, better multitasking and a lower price, the Fold 8 is hard to ignore. One reviewer who tested both says he would still pick Samsung, mainly for the lower weight, the extra multitasking tools and the physical SIM. It is also on sale now, with a discount.

A smart middle path: if you are not in a hurry, wait for the first reviews and battery tests of the Duo. A new first-generation phone from any company can have rough edges.

Disclaimer: Prices, specs and release details come from public reports and company information at the time of writing and may change. This article is for information only and is not buying or financial advice. All product names belong to their owners.