With the launch of the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro series, we’re keen to see just how well Apple’s first foldable phone holds up against the competition. We’ve already compared the iPhone Duo with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, but to go one step further, let’s see how it sizes up with the Fold 8 Ultra, Samsung’s current flagship foldable smartphone.

We’ll have to wait for more detailed iPhone Duo reviews to properly assess the device, but we can see how they compare on paper so far (and take a look at some early benchmarks in the process). The iPhone Duo will be available to pre-order from October 16 ahead of its full release on October 23. Both the Duo and Fold 8 Ultra are similarly priced, so which is better?

iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra specs & features

iPhone Duo folded and unfolded held in one hand, credit: Apple

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Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra in different colors, credit: Samsung

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Design & dimensions

Samsung was keen to advertise the Fold 8 Ultra as its thinnest Galaxy Fold phone ever. Its slimline build comes courtesy of newer Flex Titanium display technology. As such, the Samsung option can be seen as a more portable option, despite having both a larger inner and outer display than the iPhone Duo. It is noticeably taller, but the Ultra’s 8.9mm folded thickness is impressive versus the Duo’s 11.3mm. The slimmer build also reflects in the weight, with the Fold 8 Ultra 39 grams lighter than the iPhone.

The Duo uses a Grade 5 titanium frame and titanium hinge components, while Samsung opts for Armor Aluminum and its Armor FlexHinge. Both offer premium foldable designs, but Samsung has the edge for portability.

Display

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra wins on screen size, with its 8″ inner and 6.5″ outer displays compared with 7.6″ and 5.4″ on the iPhone Duo. Both OLED panels support up to 120Hz and reach 3,000 nits, so they’re equally bright for outdoor use, while the Duo has a higher-resolution inner display. Overall, Samsung is better for multitasking and media, while the Duo offers a more compact experience without compromising on resolution.

Performance, RAM, and storage

As far as performance goes, Samsung says the NPU, GPU, and CPU are up +21%, +15%, and +16% versus the previous-gen Galaxy Z Fold 7, thanks to the newer Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. Direct comparisons to the Apple A20 Pro will require more benchmarking for a clearer idea of the two rival chips, but we do have some early results to reference.

Based on early Geekbench 6 results for the iPhone 18 Pro Max (which uses the same A20 Pro chip as the iPhone Duo), the new flagship Apple chip outperforms the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra at launch. This is according to Geekbench 6 results posted by PC Mag, courtesy of their Z Fold 8 Ultra review. We should stress, however, that these early iPhone results should not be treated as final.

RAM and storage-wise, both models ship with 12GB of memory as standard; however, Samsung ups this to 16GB for the top-spec 1TB model. Dare we say this is kind of them in the current memory shortage-ridden climate. In any case, Apple still offers the wider selection of storage options, thanks to a 2TB variant, though it does drag the price beyond the $3,000 mark.

Cameras

Samsung comes out on top in the camera department thanks to its ambitious 200MP main camera and 10MP Telephoto lens. Apple failed to provide a telephoto lens in the iPhone Duo, despite both its iPhone 18 Pro models featuring one. The iPhone Duo only offers “12MP optical-quality 2x Telephoto” within its 48MP Fusion system, rather than a physical solution.

Battery & charging

Excellent battery life is one of the iPhone Duo’s big selling points, but the Samsung foldable also posts great numbers. Samsung says it offers up to 27 hours of video playback with its 5,000mAh dual-design battery. As for the iPhone Duo battery life, Apple advertises up to 31 and 44 hours of video playback on the inner and outer displays, respectively. In typical use (not just videos, the iPhone Duo offers up to 24 hours with mixed display usage.

iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra price

• Apple iPhone Duo
  • 256GB: $1,999
  • 512GB: $2,199
  • 1TB: $2,599
  • 2TB: $3,199

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra
  • 256GB: $2,099
  • 512GB: $2,299
  • 1TB: $2,699

The values above refer to the launch price in the United States. As you can see, Samsung’s flagship Ultra is $100 more expensive across the range, though it does lack a 2TB model to match the iPhone Duo. In any case, it’s also important to point out that, thanks to releasing a few months before the Duo, the Ultra will sooner enjoy price cuts and seasonal deals. In fact, at the time of writing this, the 256GB model has dropped as low as $1,799.99 on Amazon. iPhones are generally slower to receive a discount.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.