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Apple has finally launched its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo. Although nearly a decade behind Samsung, it has attracted significant attention upon launch thanks to its wide-body design and brand-new iOS interactions. However, can Apple, making its first foldable phone, truly challenge Samsung, which has accumulated years of experience?

I think the most interesting part this time is still the two manufacturers’ understanding of foldable screens. Apple hopes to make the transition between phone and tablet more natural through its wide-body design and system interactions; Samsung, leveraging years of foldable experience, has better controlled the device’s weight while retaining large-screen multitasking capabilities.

So, facing these two foldable flagship phones with similar positioning but different design philosophies, should you choose Apple or Samsung? Next, let’s look at their respective advantages in terms of design, screen, performance, photography, and battery life.

iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8: Price

The iPhone Duo and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 are both already on sale in China, but the price difference is indeed significant. The iPhone Duo starts at 15,999 RMB in China, while the Galaxy Z Fold8 starts at 12,999 RMB, making Apple 3,000 RMB more expensive right out of the gate.

In terms of storage options, Apple offers four choices: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB, priced at 15,999 yuan, 17,999 yuan, 21,499 yuan, and 26,499 yuan, respectively. Notably, the top-tier 2TB model is priced at over 26,000 yuan.

Samsung is relatively cheaper. The Galaxy Z Fold8 comes in three versions: 12GB+256GB, 12GB+512GB, and 16GB+1TB, priced at 12,999 yuan, 14,599 yuan, and 17,799 yuan, respectively. This means Samsung’s 1TB version is actually 200 yuan cheaper than Apple’s 512GB version.

If we only look at the price, Samsung definitely has the advantage. As for whether Apple’s 3,000 yuan premium is worth it, I think it depends on the iOS ecosystem and the foldable screen experience. After all, at this price point, simply comparing storage capacity is no longer that interesting.

iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8: Design and Screen

Both the iPhone Duo and the Galaxy Z Fold8 feature a passport-like wide design, with a 7.6-inch inner screen when unfolded. However, Samsung is closer to the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio, while Apple’s is slightly more elongated. The outer screens are 5.5 inches and 5.4 inches, respectively, so the size difference is actually not that large.

I am actually more concerned about the screen appearance of the two phones. The iPhone Duo features a nano-texture surface that reduces reflections and makes the center crease less noticeable. However, this matte finish comes at a cost; third-party reviews found that Samsung’s screen looks clearer and the colors are more vibrant.

In terms of brightness, the two phones are actually quite close. In third-party tests, the Galaxy Z Fold8 reached 2649 nits, while the iPhone Duo hit 2558 nits, a difference of 91 nits. This gap is not significant; by comparison, the visual difference brought by the screen surface material is much more noticeable.

In terms of design, Samsung definitely has the advantage. The Galaxy Z Fold8 is only 4.5 mm thick and weighs 201 grams when unfolded, whereas the iPhone Duo is 5.2 mm thick and weighs 254 grams. A full 53-gram difference is, in my opinion, far more important for a foldable phone that you carry around every day than that slight difference in screen brightness.

Both phones feature side-mounted fingerprint recognition and dual rear cameras. However, Apple uses an under-display camera, while Samsung retains a punch-hole on the inner screen. The former looks more seamless, while the camera area on the latter is more prominent.

In terms of durability, Apple takes the lead. The iPhone Duo supports IP68 dust and water resistance, while Samsung has an IP48 rating. Although both offer a certain level of water resistance, Apple’s dust protection rating is significantly higher.

If daily portability is the main consideration, I would lean towards the Galaxy Z Fold8, which is 53 grams lighter. However, the iPhone Duo’s low-reflection screen and higher dust resistance rating do have their own advantages.

iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8: Camera

The camera configurations of the iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold8 are quite similar. Apple uses dual 48-megapixel lenses, while Samsung features dual 50-megapixel lenses. Both consist of a main camera and an ultra-wide lens, with no dedicated telephoto lens. Looking at the hardware alone, it is indeed difficult to judge which one is superior.

However, after seeing the side-by-side photo comparison of the two phones, I actually prefer the imaging style of the iPhone Duo. In daylight shots, Samsung’s photos are usually brighter with more vibrant colors, but they can look unnatural in some scenes. Apple’s approach to exposure is relatively restrained, preserving architectural textures and image details in a more pleasing way.

The ultra-wide angle didn’t show a huge difference. The iPhone Duo offers better sharpness and contrast, but the details in some dark areas are not ideal; Samsung tends to brighten the image, making the colors more pleasing to the eye, though this sometimes affects highlights and detail performance.

What surprised me was the 10x zoom. Although neither has a dedicated telephoto lens, Samsung actually captured clearer images in this test. The iPhone Duo shows more noticeable noise and blurriness when zoomed in, making distant text difficult to read. If you frequently shoot concerts or distant buildings, this difference is definitely worth noting.

Apple performs better in selfies and night scenes. The front-facing camera on the iPhone Duo’s outer screen captures clearer facial details and more natural skin tones. In low-light environments, its handling of plant textures and object edges is also more delicate, whereas Samsung’s images appear slightly softer.

If I only look at this set of real-world sample photos, I would vote for the iPhone Duo, especially for casual snapshots and night scenes. However, Samsung still has an advantage in high-magnification zoom and macro photography. Both phones are priced over 10,000 yuan, yet neither features a dedicated telephoto lens, which is somewhat disappointing.

iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8: Performance

In terms of performance, the iPhone Duo is equipped with the same A20 Pro chip as the iPhone 18 Pro, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite (for Galaxy). Both are flagship processors, but according to third-party benchmarks, Apple truly holds the upper hand this time.

In the Geekbench test, the iPhone Duo scored 4007 in single-core and 11363 in multi-core, while the Samsung scored 2978 and 9811 respectively. The gap in graphics testing is even more pronounced. In 3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited, the iPhone Duo reached 16496 points with an average of 62.3 fps, whereas the Samsung only achieved 12454 points and 47.35 fps. Samsung also has its advantages. In the Geekbench AI 1.7 test, the Fold8 scored 72242 points, slightly higher than Apple’s 69438 points.

If the primary uses are chatting, watching videos, or multi-window office work, I think the performance of both phones is sufficient. Apple’s CPU and GPU scores are more impressive, but to truly leverage the advantages of a foldable screen, software optimization and the multi-tasking experience are equally important.

iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8: Battery and Endurance

The battery capacities of the iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold8 are not much different, at 4883mAh and 4800mAh respectively, a difference of only 83mAh. However, the actual test results surprised me, as Apple’s advantage in battery life is more significant than expected.

In a third-party standardized battery life test, the iPhone Duo lasted 13 hours and 20 minutes, while the Galaxy Z Fold8 only managed 10 hours and 6 minutes, a significant difference of 3 hours and 14 minutes. Both phones feature a 7.6-inch inner screen and similar battery capacities, so the fact that such a large gap exists suggests that Apple indeed has an advantage in power consumption control.

However, Samsung had previously recorded a result of 12 hours and 19 minutes, which only dropped to 10 hours and 6 minutes after switching to a new testing method. Therefore, this data is better suited for comparing the relative performance of the two phones, and should not be directly interpreted as a three-hour difference in actual daily usage.

In terms of charging, Samsung is actually slightly faster. In real-world testing, after 15 minutes, the iPhone Duo reached 42% charge, while Samsung was at 43%; after 30 minutes, Apple reached 66%, and Samsung was at 70%. The difference is not large, but Samsung’s charging speed is indeed a bit faster.

If I frequently unfold the large screen to watch videos or process documents, I would lean more towards the iPhone Duo. After all, for a foldable screen, the convenience of needing to charge less often might be more valuable than a few minutes of faster charging.

iPhone Duo vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8: Final Conclusion

As Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo has indeed delivered a solid performance. Especially in battery life, processor performance, and camera capabilities, it holds an advantage in this comparison. It also supports the Apple Pencil (USB-C), offering an additional way to use it for those who like handwriting notes and annotating documents.

However, the Galaxy Z Fold8 also has features that appeal to me more. Its 201g body is 53g lighter than Apple’s, and the starting price for the Chinese version is 3,000 yuan cheaper. More importantly, Samsung has accumulated years of experience in large-screen multitasking, making split-screen operations and DeX desktop mode very practical. If I frequently use a foldable screen for work, I actually prefer Samsung’s solution.

The iPhone Duo is better suited for those already accustomed to the Apple ecosystem who are particularly concerned about battery life, performance, and low-reflection screens. However, with a weight of 254g and a starting price of 15,999 yuan, it is indeed not a small expense.

If I had to choose between the two phones, I would still buy the Galaxy Z Fold8. It’s not because its hardware is comprehensively superior, but rather that the lighter body, more mature multitasking experience, and significantly lower price are more practical for me.

Of course, the iPhone Duo has just hit the market, and its subsequent software adaptation and long-term durability still need to be observed. Apple has proven this time that it can do foldable screens well, but to make me spend an extra 3,000 yuan to give up Samsung, there is at least no sufficient reason at the moment.

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