iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: A Foldable Face-Off

Apple has unveiled its first foldable, the iPhone Duo, which starts at $1,999 for 256GB. Preorders begin October 16, with a release on October 23. The device competes directly with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, priced at $2,100 for the same storage and available now. According to CNET's comparison, the two phones take different approaches to foldable design.

The iPhone Duo features a 5.4-inch cover screen and a 7.6-inch inner display, with a matte, nano-texture inner screen that reduces reflections and minimizes the crease. It measures 5.2mm when open and 11.3mm when closed, and weighs 254 grams. In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has a taller 6.5-inch cover screen and a larger 8-inch inner display. It is thinner, at 4.1mm open and 8.9mm closed, and lighter at 215 grams. The Ultra's anti-reflective coating helps with glare, but CNET notes the Duo's matte finish is more effective.

Durability is a key differentiator. The iPhone Duo carries an IP68 rating, meaning it can withstand submersion in up to 6 meters of water for 30 minutes and is dust-resistant. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has an IP48 rating, which limits water resistance to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes and protects against solid objects larger than 1mm, but not dust or sand. CNET points out that dust resistance is rare among foldables, shared only with Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

In multitasking, the Duo supports up to two apps simultaneously, while the Z Fold 8 Ultra can run three apps, aided by its larger main display.

Camera hardware differs significantly. The iPhone Duo has a 48-megapixel main camera and a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera, but no telephoto lens. It includes a 12-megapixel cover selfie camera and an under-display FaceTime camera on the inner screen. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra offers a triple rear setup: a 200-megapixel wide-angle, a 50-megapixel ultrawide, and a 10-megapixel telephoto. It also has 10-megapixel selfie cameras on both displays. CNET notes that the Ultra's rear optics are shared with the Galaxy S26 Ultra and have performed well in their tests, though the Duo's camera performance remains to be reviewed.

Under the hood, the iPhone Duo runs on Apple's A20 Pro chip, the same as the iPhone 18 Pro models. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. Apple does not disclose specific battery capacities, but claims up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display, 44 hours on the outer screen, and 24 hours when using both equally. Samsung increased the battery capacity of its book-style foldable from 4,400 mAh on the Z Fold 7 to 5,000 mAh on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, which CNET says should easily last a day.

Charging speeds also vary. Apple says the iPhone Duo can reach 50% in about 20 minutes with a 60-watt adapter or higher. The Z Fold 8 Ultra supports up to 45-watt wired charging, going from empty to 63% in around 30 minutes in CNET's testing. The Duo supports MagSafe with Qi2 wireless charging up to 25 watts, while the Z Fold 8 Ultra lacks built-in magnets but can achieve 20-watt wireless charging with a Qi2-compatible case.

Ultimately, CNET suggests the choice depends on usage. The iPhone Duo is designed for both horizontal and vertical content on its inner display, with a compact cover for quick tasks. It may appeal to those deep in Apple's ecosystem or wanting a different feel. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra offers a more standard phone experience when closed, opening to a tablet-like display, suitable for those who prefer a familiar design with occasional extra screen space. CNET will publish a full review of the iPhone Duo for more details.