iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: Apple and Samsung's Book-Style Foldables Compared

CNET split its comparison across a series of pieces covering three current Android foldables, a structure 9to5Mac called somewhat frustrating, but the site's conclusion that the Fold 8 is the Duo's main rival came through clearly. The shared aspect ratio and the narrow price gap are the main reasons.

Samsung's device is the thinner of the two, both folded and unfolded. The iPhone Duo measures 11.3mm folded and 5.2mm open, against 9.7mm and 4.5mm for the Fold 8.

Dust protection separates them more sharply. Samsung's early foldables were vulnerable to damage from trapped dust and dirt, and the Fold 8 still carries that weakness: its IP48 rating means it is fully waterproof but rated only against particles larger than a grain of sand. The iPhone Duo is rated as both fully waterproof and dustproof.

The main cameras are close to a wash. The Duo uses 48MP main and ultrawide cameras; the Fold 8 uses 50MP units. Neither phone has a telephoto lens. On the outer display, the Fold 8 has a 10MP selfie camera and the Duo a 12MP one. Samsung puts a second 10MP selfie camera on the inner display; Apple has not published specs for the Duo's inner camera, but it appears to be substantially lower in resolution, based on its video recording supporting 1080p rather than 4K.

On battery, Apple does not state a capacity, so teardowns will be needed to establish it; the company says the Duo lasts up to 24 hours in typical use. The Fold 8 charges faster over a cable, with Samsung specifying 0% to 73% in 30 minutes, while Apple says the Duo reaches 50% in the same time. Apple takes the wireless charging comparison through full MagSafe support, while the Fold 8 lacks the magnets required for Qi2 wireless charging.

In its own assessment, 9to5Mac said most buyers prefer to stay inside their existing ecosystem, Apple or Android, and that comparisons across operating systems matter only when one device is appealing enough to prompt a switch. The site's view is that the iPhone Duo is better placed than most iPhones to tempt Android users drawn to the foldable form factor, and that Samsung's record on durability could weigh heavily in a purchase at this price. It also noted that even Android fans have widely admired the look of Apple's user interface.