News in Short

• iPhone Duo starts at Rs. 2,99,900 in India.
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at Rs. 1,79,999.
• Both phones have 7.6-inch foldable inner displays.
• iPhone Duo is powered by the A20 Pro chip.
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 uses Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy.
• iPhone Duo weighs 254g, while Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 weighs 201g.
• Apple offers IP68 protection, while Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has IP48.

Apple’s entry into the foldable smartphone market has created a new flagship rivalry.

The iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Samsung, meanwhile, has reached its eighth-generation mainstream foldable with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8.

On paper, both phones share several similarities. Both have 7.6-inch inner displays. Both use premium processors. Both focus heavily on AI and multitasking.

However, their priorities are different.

The iPhone Duo starts at Rs. 2,99,900 in India. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at Rs. 1,79,999. That is a difference of more than Rs. 1.19 lakh at the entry level.

So, which foldable should you buy?

Here is a section-by-section comparison.

1. Design and Build: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wins

The iPhone Duo has a titanium frame and measures around 11.3mm when folded. It weighs 254g.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is noticeably thinner and lighter. It measures 9.7mm when folded and weighs about 201g.

That 53g difference is significant for a device that you will carry every day.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 also measures 4.5mm when unfolded. The iPhone Duo measures around 5.2mm when unfolded.

Apple does have a durability advantage. The iPhone Duo carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has an IP48 rating. Its protection is therefore more limited against dust.

The iPhone Duo also brings a titanium construction, while Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 uses an aluminium frame.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

The iPhone Duo has stronger water and dust protection, but Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is considerably lighter and thinner.

For a foldable, that makes a meaningful difference in everyday use.

2. Display: iPhone Duo Wins, But It Is Close

Both phones have 7.6-inch foldable displays.

The iPhone Duo uses a Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion and a 120Hz refresh rate. It also gets a nano-texture treatment designed to reduce reflections.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 uses a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.

The cover displays are also closely matched. The iPhone Duo has a 5.4-inch outer screen, while Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a slightly larger 5.5-inch cover display.

The iPhone Duo’s inner display has a 1,878 x 2,670-pixel resolution. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 uses a 1,848 x 2,448-pixel resolution.

Both phones are designed to reduce the visual impact of the fold.

Apple also offers a nano-texture surface. Samsung uses an anti-reflective treatment.

Winner: iPhone Duo

The difference is not huge. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a slightly larger cover display, while the iPhone Duo offers higher pixel density and Apple’s nano-texture option.

For the overall display package, the iPhone Duo gets a narrow win.

3. Performance: iPhone Duo Wins on Paper

The iPhone Duo is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chipset.

The chip uses a 2nm manufacturing process and includes a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU and dual 16-core Neural Engine.

Apple also uses a vapour chamber to improve sustained performance.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. It is paired with 12GB RAM on lower storage variants, while the 1TB model gets 16GB RAM.

Both are flagship-grade platforms. However, a direct performance comparison needs identical real-world testing.

Based on the available hardware specifications and Apple’s claimed A20 Pro improvements, the iPhone Duo has the stronger performance case.

Winner: iPhone Duo

The A20 Pro and dedicated thermal hardware give the iPhone Duo an advantage on paper.

However, this is an area where long-term testing could change the conclusion.

4. Cameras: Too Close to Call, But Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Gets the Edge

Neither phone uses a dedicated telephoto camera.

The iPhone Duo has a 48-megapixel main camera and a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 uses a 50-megapixel main camera and a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera.

The megapixel difference alone does not determine image quality.

Apple has a strong computational photography system and brings features such as sensor-shift stabilisation and advanced video capabilities.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, meanwhile, has already gone through multiple generations of foldable camera development.

There is also an important limitation. Neither phone has a proper optical telephoto lens.

That means both depend on computational or digital zoom for longer-range photography.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

This is the closest category in the comparison.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 gets the edge because its camera system is more established and independent testing has already shown strong results. The iPhone Duo could close or reverse that gap once full camera testing becomes available.

5. Battery and Charging: iPhone Duo Wins

Battery comparisons between these phones are tricky because Apple and Samsung report battery performance differently.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a 4,800mAh battery and supports 45W wired charging.

Apple does not publish a conventional battery-capacity figure for the iPhone Duo. Instead, it claims up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display and up to 44 hours using the outer display.

Apple also says the iPhone Duo can reach 50 percent charge in around 20 minutes with a compatible fast charger.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 supports up to 45W wired charging, while the iPhone Duo supports faster charging through Apple’s newer charging system.

The two phones therefore have different approaches to battery reporting.

Winner: iPhone Duo

Based on Apple’s claimed playback figures and charging capability, the iPhone Duo has the advantage here.

However, actual screen-on time and mixed-use battery life will be more useful than manufacturer playback figures.

6. Software, AI and Multitasking: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wins

This is where Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a major advantage.

Samsung has been developing foldable software for years. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 runs Android 17 with One UI and supports features built specifically around the large inner display.

Users can run multiple apps, resize windows and create a more desktop-like multitasking setup.

Samsung also brings Galaxy AI features such as Now Brief, Now Nudge and Circle to Search.

The iPhone Duo runs iOS 27 and brings Apple’s latest Apple Intelligence features. It also supports two-window multitasking, app pairs and other foldable-specific features.

Apple Pencil USB-C support is another advantage for users who want to use the large display for creative or productivity tasks.

However, Apple is entering this form factor for the first time. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 represents the eighth generation of the company’s main foldable line.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

Apple has built an impressive foldable software foundation, but Samsung’s years of experience give Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 an advantage today.

For people who want to use a foldable as a mini tablet and productivity device, Samsung’s multitasking approach is particularly relevant.

Price and Value: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wins Clearly

This is perhaps the biggest difference between the two.

The iPhone Duo starts at Rs. 2,99,900 for 256GB in India.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at Rs. 1,79,999 for 256GB. Its 1TB version costs Rs. 2,39,999, according to current India pricing reports.

That means even the 1TB Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 remains cheaper than the entry-level iPhone Duo.

The iPhone Duo does offer some hardware advantages, including its A20 Pro chip, IP68 rating and faster charging.

But the price difference is too large to ignore.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 offers substantially more storage at a lower price than the iPhone Duo’s entry configuration.

iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Final Verdict

Which Foldable Phone Should You Buy?

For this comparison, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the overall winner.

That does not mean the iPhone Duo is the weaker phone.

The iPhone Duo wins important categories. Its A20 Pro chip, durability rating, display technology and charging capabilities make it a serious first-generation foldable.

However, a foldable phone has to work as both a smartphone and a tablet-like device. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has years of experience in that area.

It is also significantly lighter. It costs substantially less. Its multitasking software is more mature. Its foldable ecosystem has had more time to develop.

The iPhone Duo makes more sense for someone who is deeply invested in Apple’s ecosystem and specifically wants a foldable iPhone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 makes more sense for someone looking for a mature foldable experience, stronger multitasking and considerably better value.

Overall winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8.

The iPhone Duo is an impressive first step for Apple. But when the complete package is considered rather than just the processor or brand ecosystem, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 currently offers the more balanced foldable experience.