The foldable smartphone market is getting more interesting with Apple’s entry into the segment. The iPhone Duo goes up against Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, giving buyers two very different takes on a large-screen foldable phone.
Samsung has focused on multitasking, cameras and a larger display, while Apple has put more attention on its design, software experience and everyday usability.
Here’s how the two premium foldables compare in terms of design, display, cameras, software, battery and price.
Also read: Download iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Wallpapers in Full Resolution
Design and Build
The iPhone Duo follows Apple’s familiar design language, with a titanium frame and rounded edges. The design is aimed at making the phone comfortable to hold, particularly when the device is opened.
Samsung takes a more angular approach with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. One notable difference is weight. Samsung’s foldable weighs 215 grams, while the iPhone Duo weighs 254 grams.
Samsung also has an advantage in terms of thickness. When unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra measures 4.1mm, compared with 5.2mm for the iPhone Duo. When folded, Samsung’s phone measures 8.9mm, while Apple’s reaches 11.3mm.
Apple has added several features to make its foldable more practical. The Duo supports USB-C Pencil input, MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging. Its inner screen also uses a matte finish designed to reduce reflections.
Major Design Differences
- iPhone Duo features a titanium frame.
- Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra weighs 215 grams.
- iPhone Duo weighs 254 grams.
- Apple supports Pencil input through USB-C.
- MagSafe and Qi2 charging are supported.
- The inner display has a matte finish.
- The Duo can be folded at different angles.
Pencil support is an interesting addition because Samsung previously had an advantage with S Pen compatibility on its foldable phones. The newer Fold 8 Ultra focuses more on keeping the device thin and does not include built-in S Pen support.
The Apple Pencil does not have a dedicated storage slot inside the Duo either, so users would need to carry it separately.
Display Comparison
Apple uses a 7.6-inch inner display on the iPhone Duo. The panel uses Super Retina XDR technology and supports ProMotion with refresh rates of up to 120Hz. An Always-On Display is also available.
The external screen measures 5.4 inches and includes Dynamic Island functionality.
Samsung goes slightly bigger with its 8-inch inner AMOLED display. Its cover screen measures 6.5 inches. Both Samsung displays support refresh rates of up to 120Hz.
The outer screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3.
Apple’s matte inner display is one of the more noticeable differences between the two phones. The finish is intended to reduce reflections and can also make the fold area less distracting during normal use.
Software and Multitasking
The iPhone Duo runs on iOS 27 and includes Apple Intelligence along with Siri features. Apple also provides Camera Control for quicker access to photography controls.
Samsung uses Android 17 with One UI 9 and includes Galaxy AI features.
Multitasking is one area where Samsung continues to take a different approach. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra can run up to four apps at the same time, making the large inner display useful for productivity.
The iPhone Duo currently supports two apps at once. However, Apple’s interface focuses on keeping common actions relatively simple.
Apple has also changed the placement of its side dock to provide more vertical space for applications. This can be useful when using social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok, although app optimization can vary on foldable screens.
StandBy Mode
Apple’s StandBy feature gives the Duo another use case when the phone is partially folded and placed on a surface.
It can show widgets, photos, alarms and other information without requiring the phone to be held. The feature can work in both portrait and landscape orientations.
Samsung, meanwhile, continues to focus heavily on conventional multitasking and productivity features.
Camera Comparison
The camera hardware is another major difference between these two foldables.
The iPhone Duo has two 48-megapixel rear cameras. One is the main Fusion camera, while the second is an Ultra Wide camera.
The primary camera supports multiple aperture settings, including f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0.
Apple supports 24MP and 48MP photo capture. For selfies and video calls, the phone has a 12MP Centre Stage camera, along with an under-display FaceTime camera for the inner screen.
Samsung uses a three-camera rear setup:
- 200MP main camera
- 50MP Ultra Wide camera
- 10MP telephoto camera
There are also two 10MP selfie cameras, with one placed on each display.
The dedicated telephoto camera gives Samsung a broader range of shooting options on paper. Apple instead relies on its main and Ultra Wide cameras without adding a separate telephoto lens.
Price in India
Price is another major difference between the two phones.
The iPhone Duo starts at ₹2,99,900 for the 256GB version. Higher storage options are priced as follows:
- 256GB: ₹2,99,900
- 512GB: ₹3,24,900
- 1TB: ₹3,74,900
- 2TB: ₹4,49,900
Apple offers the Duo in two finishes:
- Star White
- Night Sky
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at ₹1,99,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant.
The other configurations are:
- 256GB + 12GB RAM: ₹1,99,999
- 512GB + 12GB RAM: ₹2,19,999
- 1TB + 16GB RAM: ₹2,59,999
Samsung offers four color options:
- Cream
- Graphite
- Violet Shadow
- Green Shadow — online exclusive
Battery and Charging
Apple does not officially disclose the battery capacity of the iPhone Duo in the specifications mentioned here. Instead, the company provides estimated playback figures.
According to the listed figures, the Duo can offer up to 44 hours of playback using the outer screen and up to 31 hours using the inner display.
Samsung takes a more conventional approach by including a 5,000mAh battery in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.
The phone supports 45W wired charging and up to 20W wireless charging.
Actual battery life can vary depending on factors such as display usage, network conditions, applications and settings.
iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Key Differences
The two foldable phones are built around different priorities.
Apple’s iPhone Duo brings a titanium design, Pencil input, MagSafe and Qi2 support, a matte inner display and up to 2TB of storage.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is lighter and thinner, while also offering a larger inner display, a three-camera setup with a dedicated telephoto lens and more extensive multitasking options.
Price is another clear difference. Samsung’s starting price is considerably lower than Apple’s entry-level Duo model, while Apple offers a much higher maximum storage option with its 2TB configuration.
Also read: iPhone Duo Price in India: Storage Options, EMI, Offers and Specifications
Final Thoughts
The iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra take different approaches to the premium foldable smartphone category.
Apple has focused on its familiar ecosystem, design, software features and a few additions such as Pencil input, MagSafe and StandBy. Samsung puts more emphasis on the large display, camera hardware, multitasking and a thinner, lighter body.
For buyers comparing these phones, the most important differences are likely to be the display size, camera setup, software experience, multitasking features, weight and price.
Both devices target users who want a premium foldable experience, but their specifications and feature sets are clearly different.
Jatin Rajput (Tech Golu) — Tech blogger & YouTuber with 6+ years of experience in WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and mobile guides. Founder of TechGolu.in.