iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8: Every Spec Compared
Apple and Samsung built almost the same foldable this year. Both open like a book into a wide 7.6-inch screen, both close into a short, passport-sized phone, and both cost about $2,000. The differences are in the details: weight, water and dust protection, cameras, storage, and when you can actually get one.
The iPhone Duo goes on pre-order on October 16 and arrives on October 23. The Galaxy Z Fold8 has been on sale since August 7. Here is how they compare on the official spec sheets from Apple and Samsung.
The short answer
- The Fold8 is lighter and cheaper. It weighs 201 g, against 254 g for the iPhone Duo, and costs $1,899.99 in the US, $99 less than the Duo's $1,999.
- The Duo is tougher on paper. It's rated IP68, which means dust-tight and water-resistant to 6 meters. The Fold8 is IP48, which covers water to 1.5 meters but only protects against particles larger than 1 mm, not fine dust or sand.
- The screens are the same size, but the Duo's are sharper. Both have a 7.6-inch inner screen. The Duo's has 430 pixels per inch and the Fold8's has 403.
- Only the Duo goes up to 2TB. The Fold8 tops out at 1TB.
- Neither has a telephoto camera. If you zoom a lot, look at the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra (see below).
Spec by spec
| iPhone Duo | Galaxy Z Fold8 | |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $1,999 (256GB) $2,199 (512GB) $2,599 (1TB) $3,199 (2TB) | From $1,899.99 (256GB), launch price |
| UK price | From £1,999 | From £1,699 |
| Euro price | From €2,299 (Germany) | From €1,999 |
| On sale | Pre-order Oct 16, in stores Oct 23, 2026 | Since Aug 7, 2026 |
| Inner screen | 7.6-inch OLED, 1878 × 2670, 430 ppi, 120Hz | 7.6-inch AMOLED, 1848 × 2448, 403 ppi, 120Hz |
| Outer screen | 5.4-inch OLED, 1398 × 2034, 460 ppi, 120Hz | 5.5-inch AMOLED, 1248 × 1972, 428 ppi, 120Hz |
| Peak brightness | 3,000 nits (outdoor) | Up to 3,000 nits (main screen) |
| Weight | 254 g | 201 g |
| Folded size | 84.1 × 117.8 × 11.3 mm | 81.9 × 123.9 × 9.7 mm |
| Open size | 164.6 × 117.8 × 5.2 mm | 161.4 × 123.9 × 4.5 mm* |
| Water and dust | IP68 (6 m for 30 min) | IP48 (1.5 m for 30 min) |
| Chip | Apple A20 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| RAM | Apple doesn't say | 12GB (16GB with 1TB) |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Rear cameras | 48MP main (ƒ/1.6, sensor-shift OIS) + 48MP ultra wide; 2x optical-quality zoom | 50MP main (ƒ/1.8, OIS) + 50MP ultra wide; 2x optical-quality zoom |
| Selfie cameras | 12MP on the outer screen, under-display camera on the inner screen | 10MP on the cover screen, 10MP on the inner screen |
| Battery | Two batteries; Apple doesn't give mAh. Up to 24 hours of typical use | 4,800 mAh (two cells) |
| Wired charging | 50% in about 20 min (60W adapter) | 63% in about 30 min (45W adapter) |
| Wireless charging | MagSafe and Qi2, up to 25W | Up to 20W, plus Wireless PowerShare to charge other devices |
| Software | iOS 27 | Android 17, One UI 9 |
| Frame | Grade 5 titanium | Aluminum† |
| Unlock | Touch ID in the side button | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor† |
| SIM | Dual eSIM only (no SIM tray) | Nano-SIM + eSIM† |
| Colors | Star White, Night Sky | Graphite, Cream, Lavender, Pistachio (Samsung.com only) |
*Samsung's open thickness leaves out the frame around the main screen, so it isn't measured the same way as Apple's. Samsung prices are launch list prices; retailers often discount them. The UK and euro prices include VAT; US prices don't include sales tax. †Not in Samsung's spec sheet; from GSMArena.
Which one fits you?
Answer six quick questions. Your pick updates as you tap.
Where the iPhone Duo wins
Dust protection. This is the biggest practical gap. The first digit of an IP rating is for solids. A 6 means dust-tight, and a 4 only covers objects bigger than 1 mm. Hinges and fine sand don't mix, so this matters if the phone lives in a pocket at the beach or on a building site.
Sharper screens and more storage. Both screens on the Duo have more pixels per inch, and the 2TB option has no match on the Samsung side.
Faster wired and wireless charging, on paper. Apple quotes 50% in about 20 minutes with a 60W adapter and 25W wireless charging. Samsung quotes 63% in about 30 minutes with a 45W adapter and 20W wireless. Neither company tested the other's phone, so wait for independent tests before you call this one.
iOS. If you already use a Mac, an iPad or an Apple Watch, the Duo keeps everything working together. Note that Apple says its new Siri AI won't be available in the EU at first.
Where the Galaxy Z Fold8 wins
Weight. At 201 g, the Fold8 is 53 g lighter than the Duo. That's about the weight of a large egg, and you'll feel it after an hour of reading with one hand.
Thickness. Folded, the Fold8 is 9.7 mm thick and the Duo is 11.3 mm.
Price and availability. It costs $99 less in the US, £300 less in the UK, and it's in stores now, while the Duo arrives on October 23.
A SIM slot. The Duo is eSIM only everywhere. The Fold8 still takes a nano-SIM card, which helps if your carrier doesn't support eSIM or you swap in local SIM cards when you travel.
Charging other devices. Wireless PowerShare can top up earbuds or a watch from the back of the phone. Apple doesn't list a feature like this for the Duo.
What about the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra?
Samsung sells a second, taller foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, which is the successor to the Fold7. It isn't the same shape as the Duo, but at $2,099.99 it's the one to look at if you care most about the camera.
- Cameras: 200MP main, 50MP ultra wide and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. Neither the Duo nor the Fold8 has a telephoto lens.
- Screens: an 8.0-inch inner screen and a full-size 6.5-inch cover screen.
- Body: 215 g, 8.9 mm folded and 4.1 mm open, the thinnest Galaxy Z Fold yet. Water and dust rating: IP48.
- Battery: 5,000 mAh, with 45W charging that reaches 67% in about 30 minutes.
- Price: from $2,099.99, £1,899 or €2,199.
What we don't know yet
Nobody outside Apple has tested the iPhone Duo yet. Real battery life, how visible the crease is, and how the hinge holds up after months of use will only be clear once reviews and long-term tests arrive. Apple's figures come from its own lab tests, and Samsung's come from its own, so treat the battery and charging numbers above as each company's claims, not a head-to-head result. We'll update this page when independent tests are out.
Questions people ask
Is the iPhone Duo bigger than the Galaxy Z Fold 8?
The inner screens are both 7.6 inches. Folded, the Duo is slightly wider (84.1 mm vs 81.9 mm) but shorter (117.8 mm vs 123.9 mm), and it's thicker (11.3 mm vs 9.7 mm).
Which is heavier?
The iPhone Duo, at 254 g. The Fold8 weighs 201 g and the Fold8 Ultra 215 g.
Is the iPhone Duo waterproof?
No phone is fully waterproof, but the Duo is rated IP68: dust-tight and tested to 6 meters of water for 30 minutes. The Fold8 is rated IP48.
Which is cheaper?
The Galaxy Z Fold8, at $1,899.99 in the US against $1,999 for the Duo. In the UK the gap is bigger: £1,699 against £1,999.
Does the iPhone Duo support a stylus?
Apple says the Duo will support Apple Pencil with USB-C later this year.
Sources
iPhone Duo specs and prices: Apple's tech specs page and announcement. UK and German prices from Apple's online stores, checked September 27, 2026. Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra specs: Samsung Global Newsroom. Samsung prices and US release date: Samsung US Newsroom. Fold8 frame, SIM and fingerprint sensor: GSMArena. IP rating meanings: IEC standard 60529.
