After years of anticipation, Apple has finally hopped onto the foldable smartphone bandwagon with the iPhone Duo. It’s the company’s first foldable that combines the classic Apple experience with the new A20 Pro chipset, a massive 7.6-inch foldable display, and several other flagship-grade features.
However, Apple isn’t entering an empty arena. Samsung has spent years polishing its foldable lineup, with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 now standing as the biggest name in the category.
So, if you’re planning to upgrade to a flagship foldable, here’s a detailed iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra comparison that breaks down everything you need to know to make the right call.
iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Quick specs
| FEATURE | iPhone Duo | Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Inner Display | 7.6-inch OLED | 8-inch AMOLED, |
| Outer Display | 5.4-inch OLED | 6.5-inch AMOLED |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak Brightness | 3000 nits | 3000 nits |
| Processor | A20 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Battery | Li-Ion, fast charging | 5000mAh, 45W |
| Weight | 254 g (9 oz) | 215g (7.58 oz) |
| Storage | Up to 2TB | Up to 2TB |
| Rear cameras | 48MP + 48MP | 200MP + 50MP + 10MP |
| Software | iOS 27 | Android 17, One UI 9 |
| U.S. starting price | $1,999 | $1,899 |
Design and build
If a bigger display is your priority, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Ultra 8 should be an obvious choice. It features an 8-inch inner display, which is slightly larger than iPhone Duo’s 7.6-inch screen, and its 6.5-inch cover display also beats Apple’s 5.4-inch outer screen. On paper, the extra screen size will make everyday tasks such as taking notes, typing, and multitasking much easier.
However, there are a few things to consider. When folded, the iPhone Duo is more compact and easier to hold in one hand. Not only that, but it features a matte coating for the inner display, which reduces creases and reflections. Although the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra comes with an anti-reflection coating, it doesn’t do quite as much to address these issues. The iPhone Duo also has the advantage of Apple Pencil support.
When it comes to the build quality, the iPhone Duo has a straight edge. It features a titanium frame with Cermaic shield, alongside an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. This certainly makes the iPhone Duo heavier, but it gives it a more premium look compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which comes with Armour Aluminium, Gorilla Glass, and an IP48 rating.
So, if you want a bigger screen and a lighter device, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the better choice. However, if you want a more premium build, a better in-hand experience, and Apple Pencil support, the iPhone Duo is a far better option.
Cameras
The Samsung Z Fold 8 Ultra is far more versatile compared to the iPhone Duo when it comes to cameras, especially on the rear. The foldable features a 200MP main camera, a 50MP Ultrawide camera, and a dedicated 10 MP 3x telephoto lens. It also supports video recording at up to 8 K.
On the other hand, iPhone Duo features a double 40MP rear setup which consists of a primary and an ultrawide lens. It also supports Dolby Vision HDR, spatial video, and ProRes recording. However, the fact that the iPhone Duo lacks a dedicated telephoto lens puts it at a disadvantage when it comes to photographing distant subjects, where Samsung’s 3x optical zoom can deliver much better clarity and detail.
For video calls and selfies, the Samsung Z Fold 8 Ultra has a 10MP ultrawide camera on the inner display and a 10MP cover camera. However, the iPhone Duo comes with an under-display camera and a 12MP cover camera, which offers greater functionality.
If zooming capabilities and overall versatility of the camera are your priority, you can’t go wrong with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. However, for those who want better video recording, FaceTime, and professional camera features, the iPhone Duo will be the better option.
Performance and battery
When we talk about the iPhone Duo, it is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro Chip, which is also found in the iPhone 18 Pro. The chipset includes a six-core CPU, a seven-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
As of now, there are no benchmark tests available for the A20 Pro, so it’s hard to determine which device offers better overall performance. However, Apple’s A-series chips have traditionally outperformed Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors in areas such as single-core performance and power efficiency.
Apple hasn’t revealed the exact battery capacity for iPhone Duo, instead claiming that it can last 24 hours in everyday use, with 31 hours of video playback on the inner screen and 44 hours of video playback on the outer screen. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra comes with a 5,000 mAh battery, which should provide enough juice for a full day of heavy use.
Charging speeds are fairly similar between both foldables. Apple states that the iPhone Duo can reach 50% charge when paired with a 60W charger in just 20 minutes. When it comes to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Samsung claims the device can reach 67% in just 30 minutes using a 45W charger. However, keep in mind that the iPhone Duo doesn’t come with a charger in the box, so that needs to be purchased separately.
Software experience
Software can make or break the experience of a foldable, regardless of the hardware powering it. The iPhone Duo comes out of the gate with iOS 27, which has been redesigned for the foldable form factor. It brings features such as Split View, app pairs, adaptive layouts, and other foldable-focused improvements. It also benefits from the overall Apple ecosystem, including Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features.
The Samsung Z Fold Ultra 8 runs on One UI 9 based on Android 17. Samsung has spent years refining its software experience for foldable devices, and the experience shows. Users can run multiple apps side by side, and even use three-way split-screen layouts, which make the foldable useful for multitasking.
Ultimately, software preference is a personal choice. However, the iPhone Duo offers a cleaner and familiar experience, especially if you’re someone deep within the Apple ecosystem. If you own devices such as a MacBook, iPad, or Apple Watch, the foldable will fit right into the ecosystem. Features such as AirDrop, FaceTime, and Continuity make switching between multiple Apple devices feel like a breeze, which gives the Duo an advantage that Android foldables can struggle to replicate.
Storage and pricing
The iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra debate can go for hours, but one thing’s for certain: they both are not cheap. The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for the 256GB model, with financing available for $83.29 over 12 months. Pre-orders for the foldable will begin in the U.S. on October 23.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Ultra 8 starts at $2,099 for 256GB of storage and is already available for purchase. However, buyers can get the foldable cheaper with the help of store promotions and trade-in offers.
Which foldable should you buy?
After comparing the iPhone Duo and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra across multiple factors, the next question is: which one should you buy? Well, the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think, and the right choice depends on what you value the most in a foldable.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra makes more sense if you:
- want a device focused on productivity and multitasking
- plan to use Samsung DeX
- want a larger outer and inner display
- want more versatile camera hardware with zooming capabilities
- want a light foldable for everyday use
- need to buy a foldable immediately
- prefer Android and Samsung’s ecosystem
The iPhone Duo can be a better purchase if you:
- already have Apple products such as Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch
- want stronger performance for demanding tasks and apps
- want a foldable with higher durability
- want to use Apple Pencil USB-C.
- plan to use your phone for several years.
If I had to pick between these foldables, I’d personally go with the iPhone Duo. Its video recording capabilities, durable build, and integration with the existing Apple ecosystem give it multiple advantages for everyday use. Still, though, the Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 Ultra is solid for anyone who wants to multitask and take advantage of the flexibility of Android.
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