The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Apple iPhone Duo are now competing for the attention of consumers looking for a premium foldable smartphone, with both devices offering large displays, powerful processors and high-end features
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, take different approaches to the foldable phone experience
While Samsung has several years of experience making foldable smartphones, Apple is entering the market with a device designed to combine the iPhone experience with a larger, tablet-like display
Here’s how the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra compares with the iPhone Duo
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has a larger 8-inch internal AMOLED display and a 65-inch cover screen.
The iPhone Duo features a 76-inch internal OLED display and a smaller 5.4-inch external display.
Samsung therefore has the advantage for users who want as much screen space as possible when the phone is unfolded
The larger display is particularly useful for browsing, watching videos, editing documents and running multiple applications simultaneously
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor
Apple’s iPhone Duo runs on the company’s latest A20 Pro chip
Both processors are designed for demanding applications, gaming and artificial intelligence features
However, direct performance comparisons will require independent benchmark and real-world testing before a clear winner can be declared
Samsung has the more versatile camera setup
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra features a 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultrawide camera and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom
The iPhone Duo, meanwhile, uses two 48MP rear cameras
Although camera quality cannot be judged by megapixel counts alone, Samsung’s dedicated telephoto camera gives the Fold 8 Ultra an advantage for users who regularly photograph distant subjects
Apple, however, has a long-standing reputation for computational photography and video recording, meaning the iPhone Duo could still compete strongly despite having fewer cameras
Samsung equips the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra with a 5,000mAh battery
Apple uses a dual-cell battery design in the iPhone Duo and has focused on delivering all-day battery life despite the phone’s thin foldable design
On paper, Samsung has the advantage in battery capacity, but actual battery performance will depend on factors including software optimisation, display usage and processor efficiency
This is one area where the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has a major advantage
Samsung has spent years developing its foldable software, allowing users to run multiple applications on the large internal display
The Fold 8 Ultra can effectively function as a small tablet when unfolded, making it particularly useful for people who work from their phones
Apple has also introduced software features designed specifically for the larger display of the iPhone Duo, but Samsung’s experience gives it an advantage in foldable multitasking
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has an IP48 rating
The iPhone Duo has a higher IP68 rating, giving Apple’s device an advantage in water and dust resistance
Durability remains an important consideration for foldable phones because their flexible displays and hinges are more complicated than those found on conventional smartphones
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at around $2,100, while Apple’s iPhone Duo starts at $1,999
That makes Apple’s first foldable iPhone slightly cheaper at launch
However, prices in markets such as Nigeria can differ considerably from US launch prices because of taxes, import costs, exchange rates and retailer margins
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the stronger choice for users who prioritise productivity, multitasking, camera versatility and a large internal display
Samsung’s experience in the foldable market also means buyers are getting a more mature foldable platform
The iPhone Duo, on the other hand, is likely to appeal most to existing Apple users who want a foldable phone without leaving the iOS ecosystem
For users with a MacBook, Apple Watch, AirPods and other Apple devices, the iPhone Duo offers the convenience of keeping everything within Apple’s ecosystem