Updated: September 11, 2026

Foldable smartphones have officially entered a new phase in 2026. Samsung has spent years refining its Galaxy Z series, while Apple has finally joined the category with its first folding iPhone.

The biggest news is the arrival of the Apple iPhone Duo, a book-style foldable designed to transform from a compact smartphone into a larger 7.6-inch device. Samsung, meanwhile, has expanded its lineup with three options: the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8.

For anyone comparing the latest foldable phones 2026 has to offer, the choice is no longer simply Android versus Android. Apple and Samsung are now competing directly in premium foldable smartphones.

This guide compares their displays, design, cameras, performance, battery, software, pricing, and everyday usability.

Latest Foldable Phones 2026 at a Glance

Here are the major new foldable smartphones currently shaping the market:

Apple officially introduced the iPhone Duo on September 9, 2026. Pre-orders begin October 16, with general availability starting October 23 in the first wave of markets. Samsung unveiled its eighth-generation Galaxy Z lineup in July, with sales beginning August 7.

Apple iPhone Duo: Apple’s First Foldable iPhone

After years of speculation, Apple has finally entered the foldable smartphone category.

The device is officially called iPhone Duo.

Instead of creating a traditional vertical flip phone, Apple has chosen a book-style design similar in concept to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold family.

When closed, the iPhone Duo offers a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR outer display. Open the device and users get a 7.6-inch folding OLED display designed for entertainment, productivity, gaming, and multitasking.

Apple says both screens use matching aspect ratios so content can transition more naturally as the device is opened and closed. Both displays support ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz and peak outdoor brightness of up to 3,000 nits.

For long-time iPhone users, this represents one of the biggest physical changes to the iPhone since the introduction of all-screen models.

iPhone Duo Design and Display

The iPhone Duo uses a titanium foldable design with Ceramic Shield protection on the front and back.

When opened, it measures only 5.2mm thick, making it remarkably thin for a folding smartphone.

It weighs 254 grams, which makes it heavier than Samsung’s latest Fold8 models.

The inner screen has a resolution of

1878 × 2670 pixels

while the exterior screen offers:

1398 × 2034 pixels

Apple has also added a nano-texture finish to the internal display. According to Apple, the surface helps reduce glare and reflections while making the folding crease less noticeable.

Apple Pencil USB-C support is also planned, which could make the Duo more interesting for note-taking, drawing, document annotation, and productivity.

A20 Pro Performance

At the heart of the iPhone Duo is Apple’s A20 Pro processor.

It is the same generation of chip used in Apple’s latest flagship iPhones, but the folding phone includes additional thermal engineering.

Apple has built a custom vapor chamber into the device to manage sustained performance during demanding workloads such as

• Gaming
• Video editing
• AI processing
• Multitasking
• High-resolution media
• Multiple apps running side by side

Apple states that the A20 Pro uses a 6-core CPU, a 7-core GPU, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine. It is manufactured using a 2-nanometer process.

This makes the Duo more than simply an iPhone with a folding screen. Apple is clearly positioning it as a premium productivity and entertainment device.

iOS 27 Built for a Foldable Screen

Hardware is only half of the foldable-phone experience.

Apple has redesigned parts of iOS 27 specifically for the iPhone Duo.

When the phone opens, users can display multiple apps simultaneously using Split View.

For example, someone could open Safari on one half of the screen while keeping Messages, Notes, Calendar, or another application visible on the other half.

Users can even open two windows from the same supported application.

Apple has also repositioned interface elements, including the Dock, status information, and navigation controls, to better use the larger display.

This software optimization may become one of Apple’s strongest advantages.

Foldable phones work best when applications understand how to adapt between compact and expanded layouts instead of simply stretching a normal phone interface across a larger display.

iPhone Duo Cameras

The iPhone Duo includes a 48MP Dual Fusion camera system.

Its main rear cameras consist of

• 48MP Fusion Main Camera
• 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera

The primary camera also provides optical-quality 2x zoom.

Apple has designed several camera features around the folding form factor.

For example, users can use the external display as a preview while taking a photo with the more powerful rear cameras. Another person being photographed can also see the composition on the outside display.

The folding design can additionally serve as its own support, allowing users to place the phone partially open on a surface for hands-free photos or video calls.

iPhone Duo Battery Life

Fitting a large battery inside an extremely thin foldable is difficult.

Apple’s approach uses two batteries, with one located inside each half of the device.

The system operates as one combined battery.

Apple rates the iPhone Duo for up to 31 hours of video playback using the inner display and up to 44 hours using the outer display, although real-world performance will depend heavily on brightness, applications, network connectivity, and how frequently the larger screen is used.

Because foldable phones encourage heavy multitasking and larger-screen usage, independent battery testing will be particularly important after retail units become widely available.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra

Samsung’s answer at the top of its foldable range is the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.

This is Samsung’s most premium book-style foldable.

The Fold8 Ultra has:

• 6.5-inch cover display
• 8.0-inch main display
• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor
• 5,000mAh battery
• 200MP main camera
• Up to 1TB storage
• 215 g weight
• 4.1 mm thickness when unfolded

Samsung describes it as its most productivity-focused Galaxy foldable yet.

The 8-inch internal display gives it an advantage over Apple’s 7.6-inch screen for users who want the largest possible workspace.

Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra Camera

Photography is another area where the Ultra model differentiates itself.

Samsung equips the Fold8 Ultra with a 200MP wide camera, along with an upgraded camera system designed to bring more traditional Ultra-phone capabilities into a folding device.

Samsung also advertises up to 30x digital zoom.

For users who want a foldable but do not want to sacrifice flagship-camera ambitions, the Fold8 Ultra may be Samsung’s strongest option.

It starts at $2,099.99 for the 256GB model in the United States.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

Not everyone needs the Ultra model.

The standard Galaxy Z Fold8 provides a slightly smaller and lighter alternative while retaining the book-style folding experience.

Samsung lists the Fold8 at:

• 5.5-inch cover display
• 7.6-inch internal display
• 201 g weight
• 4.5 mm thickness when unfolded
• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
• 4,800mAh battery
• Dual 50MP camera system
• Up to 26 hours of video playback

Samsung’s focus with the standard Fold8 is making the folding experience feel more compact and manageable.

At only 201 grams, it is significantly lighter than the 254-gram iPhone Duo.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 starts at $1,899.99, placing it $100 below Apple’s iPhone Duo at their official U.S. starting prices.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8

The Galaxy Z Flip8 targets a completely different type of buyer.

Instead of opening into a tablet-like device, the Flip8 is a regular smartphone that folds vertically into a much smaller package.

It has a 6.9-inch main display and a 4.1-inch FlexWindow on the outside.

The exterior display allows users to perform various everyday tasks without opening the phone.

The Flip8 weighs approximately 180 grams, making it significantly lighter than either Apple’s Duo or Samsung’s Fold-series devices.

Samsung also equips it with:

• 4,300mAh battery
• 50MP wide camera
• Up to 10x digital zoom
• AI-powered FlexWindow features
• 256GB or 512GB storage

It starts at $1,199.99 in the United States.

For buyers interested primarily in portability rather than tablet-style productivity, the Flip8 makes much more sense than either the Fold8 or iPhone Duo.

iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra

Apple’s closest Samsung competitor is arguably the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.

Here is how their major specifications compare:

Samsung has advantages in screen size, weight, thinness, and camera resolution on paper.

Apple provides up to 2TB of storage and introduces a deeply integrated iOS foldable experience.

The better device will therefore depend less on a single specification and more on which ecosystem someone prefers.

iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold8

The standard Galaxy Z Fold8 could actually be the more direct value competitor.

Both have 7.6-inch internal displays, but Samsung’s Fold8 is noticeably lighter.

Samsung also starts about $100 cheaper in the United States.

Apple’s advantage is likely to come from users already invested in services and devices such as

• Mac
• Apple Watch
• AirPods
• iCloud
• FaceTime
• iMessage
• Apple Intelligence

Someone deeply connected to Apple’s ecosystem may find the iPhone Duo much easier to adopt than switching to Android simply to get a folding phone.

Meanwhile, experienced Android users may prefer Samsung’s mature multitasking tools and years of foldable development.

Apple vs Samsung: Who Has More Foldable Experience?

Samsung still holds an important advantage: experience.

Samsung first entered the commercial foldable smartphone market years before Apple and is now on its eighth generation of Galaxy Z devices.

The 2026 lineup includes three different foldable styles and price points.

Apple’s iPhone Duo is a first-generation product.

That does not automatically make it inferior, but long-term durability, hinge reliability, battery aging, display behavior, and repair experiences will only become clearer after customers have used it for months or years.

Samsung already has a much longer history of solving these foldable-specific problems.

Apple, however, has the advantage of entering the market after many of the early foldable design issues have already been discovered by competitors.

Which Foldable Phone Is Best in 2026?

There is no single answer for every buyer.

Choose iPhone Duo if:

You already use Apple’s ecosystem and have been waiting for a foldable iPhone.

The Duo offers Apple’s familiar software, A20 Pro performance, a large 7.6-inch screen, advanced multitasking, Apple Intelligence features, and a new foldable-specific version of iOS.

Choose Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra if:

You want Samsung’s most advanced folding phone and prioritize a large 8-inch display, high-resolution camera system, powerful Android multitasking, and premium hardware.

Choose Galaxy Z Fold8 if:

You want a lighter book-style foldable without paying for the Ultra model.

Its 201g weight makes it particularly interesting for users who previously considered foldable phones too heavy.

Choose Galaxy Z Flip8 if:

Portability matters more than having a tablet-sized display.

It is considerably cheaper than the other models and folds into a much smaller package.

Are Foldable Phones Finally Ready for Mainstream Users?

The arrival of Apple could be one of the most important developments the foldable smartphone category has seen.

Foldables have traditionally remained expensive niche devices.

Now Apple and Samsung are competing directly at the premium end of the market, while Samsung also offers a cheaper flip-style alternative.

Reuters reported that Apple’s entry is expected to increase competition in a category Samsung has helped develop since 2019.

Competition could eventually bring better hinges, stronger displays, lighter designs, better applications, and potentially lower prices.

For consumers, that is good news.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Apple’s foldable iPhone called?

Apple’s first foldable smartphone is officially called the iPhone Duo.

Apple introduced it on September 9, 2026.

When does the iPhone Duo launch?

Pre-orders are scheduled to begin on October 16, 2026, with availability starting October 23, 2026, in Apple’s first group of supported markets.

How much does the iPhone Duo cost?

The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the United States for 256 GB storage.

Apple also offers 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB configurations.

What are Samsung’s latest foldable phones?

Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z lineup includes:

Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8.

Which has the biggest screen?

Among these models, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra has the largest folding display at 8.0 inches.

The iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold8 each use approximately 7.6-inch internal displays.

Is the iPhone Duo better than the Galaxy Z Fold8?

It depends on the user.

The iPhone Duo is designed around iOS and Apple’s ecosystem, while Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 offers Android, Galaxy AI, and Samsung’s more mature foldable software experience.

People should choose based on software preference, camera requirements, screen size, weight, ecosystem, and price rather than specification numbers alone.

Final Thoughts

The latest foldable phones 2026 lineup shows how quickly folding smartphones are evolving.

Apple’s entry with the iPhone Duo turns foldables into a much more significant battleground. Instead of watching Samsung, Google, Huawei, Honor, and other Android manufacturers compete among themselves, Apple is now directly involved.

The iPhone Duo brings a 7.6-inch folding display, A20 Pro performance, iOS 27 multitasking, dual 48MP cameras, Apple Intelligence, and Apple’s familiar ecosystem.

Samsung counters with experience and choice.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra provides the biggest screen and highest-end hardware. The lighter Galaxy Z Fold8 targets people who want a more manageable book-style foldable. The Galaxy Z Flip8 focuses on portability and a substantially lower price.

2026 may therefore be remembered as the year foldable phones moved much closer to the smartphone mainstream.

Apple has finally entered the fold.

Samsung now has its biggest foldable competitor yet.

And for consumers, the competition is only beginning.