Why I Switched from Galaxy Z Fold 8 to iPhone Duo

Sarah Johnson · 2026-09-19

It's clear that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and iPhone Duo are cut from the same cloth. Both sport a passport-esque form factor with a squatter, shorter screen on the outer panel, and larger, tablet-esque wide foldable screens within. This marks a departure from the tall-and-narrow cover screens and square inner panels we've seen from most foldables until now. As I mentioned in my Galaxy Z Fold 8 review, it's a fantastic change that I think the rest of the industry will follow. The smaller outer screen is not only nicer to hold in the hand but doesn't compromise on the experience; apps and games display videos and photos as they should, and the wider screen makes for a much more comfortable typing experience too. It's a similar story with the wider, tablet-esque inner screen; the aspect ratio is much closer to regular tablets, making it ideal for watching videos and gaming. And, unlike the boxy alternatives, using the foldable screen in portrait orientation effectively provides you with an XL phone screen, with apps like TikTok and Instagram looking the same as they would on a regular bar phone – albeit much larger. It's not just the overall design either; the Z Fold 8 and iPhone Duo share the same duo of main and ultrawide cameras on the rear, albeit with differing specs, and both aim to deliver all-day battery life too. It's the reason that the Z Fold 8 has stayed as my daily driver since I reviewed it in August; it offers the best foldable experience of any Android to date, by a long shot. So much so that I can even overlook elements like the slightly underwhelming cameras that I covet so much on regular bar-style phones. So why, after having the Z Fold 8 in my pocket since release in August, do I now really want the iPhone Duo? ### The Z Fold 8 is actually better in some regards Now, this isn't me saying that the iPhone Duo is a wholly better foldable than Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8; it isn't. In fact, in some ways, Samsung's foldable takes a win. It's much thinner in both its folded (0.38 inches) and unfolded (0.18 inches) forms, and it's lighter (7.09 ounces) than Apple's competing 0.44/0.20 inches, 8.96 ounces option. And while I've not seen it in person just yet, based on the plethora of short hands-on videos I've seen doing the rounds online since its announcement, it looks like the Z Fold 8's crease is slightly less visible too. And I think Samsung takes a win on the foldable screen camera too; yes, it's not an under-display camera like that of the Duo, but that's because it has been there and done that. The Z Folds had UDCs for years, but like the Duo, the camera they were trying to cover was still noticeable, and it had a terrible effect on overall image quality, so Samsung ditched it for a regular pinhole camera. A camera that, in my opinion, barely registers when I'm using the inner screen. Now that's not to say the Fold 8's inner camera is the best selfie camera around, but it's certainly clearer and sharper than the early shots from the Duo's UDC that I've seen thus far. And, in practically every market that it's available in, the Z Fold 8 is cheaper – sometimes by quite a jump. Sure, there's only a $100 difference in the US, but in other markets, there can be a significant gap. For instance, in the UK, the Z Fold 8 costs £1699, and the iPhone Duo costs £1,999 – that's about $2,150 and $2,530 respectively. Considering the two are fairly evenly matched in terms of hardware and the overall experience, that price can be hard to justify for anyone who's not already locked into Apple's ecosystem. ### Apple's attention to detail is unmatched I'm not going to say that the iPhone Duo is the perfect foldable, because it isn't. It's an advanced first-gen product compared to the early foldables we saw years ago, but it's still exactly that, and Apple will likely change things up in the next iteration. But here's the thing: Apple's ecosystem is sticky. If you're already invested in iMessage, iCloud, and the App Store, the iPhone Duo becomes a lot more appealing. The seamless integration across devices is something Android still struggles to match. Plus, Apple's build quality and customer support are top-notch. The iPhone Duo feels premium in a way that few Android foldables do. And while the Z Fold 8 is thinner and lighter, the iPhone Duo's design is more polished overall. So, despite the Z Fold 8 being better in some regards, the iPhone Duo's strengths in software and ecosystem make it a compelling choice. That's why I'm considering making the switch. What about you? Would you go for the Z Fold 8 or the iPhone Duo? Let me know in the comments.