Last updated: September 11th, 2026 at 15:03 UTC+02:00
SamMobile has affiliate and sponsored partnerships, we may earn a commission.
Different priorities and ways to approach the same problem.
Reading time: 3 minutes
Abhijeet Mishra / SamMobile
Although the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Apple's new iPhone Duo share the same form factor, they ended up being two very different foldable phones. Each company clearly has a different vision for what a passport-style foldable phone should be.
For example, Apple appears to have employed more exotic materials for its iPhone Duo, including a titanium frame, whereas Samsung uses a more conventional but still premium Armor Aluminum frame.
Samsung's design priorities were a little different, and one of the best ways to highlight this is to look at the weight and size differences between the iPhone Duo and the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Needless to say if you checked the specs, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is focused more on thinness and lightness than the iPhone Duo, even though independent durability tests show that Samsung's foldable is still incredibly strong
Here are a couple of fun fact that should help highlight just how different Apple's and Samsung's design philosophies were for these foldable phones:
As for thinness, the iPhone Duo is actually quite chunky by Samsung's standards. It has a 11.3mm profile when folded and 5.2mm when unfolded.
For a fun little reference, imagine this: The iPhone Duo is only about half a millimeter thinner than the Galaxy S25 Edge (5.8mm), which is a non-foldable phone.
In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 measures 9.7mm when folded and only 4.5mm when unfolded. It's beaten only by its pricier sibling, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which weighs a little more (215g) but measures only a staggering 4.1mm unfolded.
In conclusion, while smartphone fans ended up with two brand-new passport-style foldable phones from the two biggest brands this year, these products look and feel very different. Apple and Samsung have approached this foldable puzzle almost from opposite angles.
That’s not to say one formula is strictly better than the other. But if thinness and lightness are your priorities in a foldable phone that can transform into a tablet, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 definitely takes the cake over the iPhone Duo.