Apple opens pre-orders for the iPhone Duo on October 16, pricing its first foldable handset at $2,000 before general sales start on October 23. While the standard iPhone 18 Pro is already in customer hands, the Duo represents Apple's delayed entry into a category where rival Android manufacturers have spent years refining hardware.
That late arrival means buyers shopping for a book-style foldable will see an established wall of competition waiting for them.
The Passport Battle
Apple opted for a passport form factor on the Duo, coupling a 5.4-inch outer panel with an unfolding 7.6-inch internal display. The chassis measures 11.3mm when folded shut and registers 254 grams on the scales. On the back, Apple fitted two camera sensors, skipping a dedicated telephoto module.
Samsung adopted the exact same passport silhouette for the Galaxy Z Fold8 in August. Starting at $1,900 in the US, the Z Fold8 undercuts Apple's entry price by $100. It features a 5.5-inch cover screen, a 7.6-inch inner display and flat sides without rounded corners. Like the Duo, Samsung stuck to dual rear cameras here, reserving the more squared dimensions and broader camera kit for its Fold8 Ultra variant. In its review, Engadget awarded the standard Z Fold8 an 8.9 out of 10, highlighting its widescreen layout for streaming.
China's phone makers are moving even faster on dimensions. The Xiaomi 18 Fold matches Apple's 5.4-inch and 7.6-inch screen sizes almost millimeter for millimeter, yet shaves the weight down to 219 grams. Xiaomi also managed to squeeze three lenses onto the rear housing, giving users optical telephoto reach. It retails in China for 10,999 yuan (roughly $1,640), though it lacks an official retail presence in Western markets.
Battery Life and Hardware Deficits
Where the Duo faces its steepest spec comparison is against devices built with larger envelopes. Oppo's Find N6 measures just 8.93mm thick when shut, barely thicker than standard slab devices. Despite that slim profile, Oppo packed in a 6,000mAh cell with 80W wired charging, an IP59 protection rating and a 200-megapixel primary camera. It sells in Asian markets starting at 9,999 yuan (about $1,490) with an international build, but does not carry official US distribution.
For US buyers wanting alternatives on store shelves right now, the Motorola Razr Fold sells at $1,900. It pairs an 8.1-inch folding panel with a 6.6-inch cover display that tops out at 6,000 nits of peak brightness, doubling the Duo's 3,000-nit ceiling. Motorola also includes a triple-camera module, 80W quick charging and a 6,000mAh battery, alongside optional $100 stylus support.
Apple is staking its case on software polish instead of spec sheets. The company built custom interface tricks into iOS 27, introducing display transition animations and dual-screen workflow modes. Whether software fluidity will persuade shoppers to overlook a $2,000 price and thicker hinge becomes clear once orders kick off next week.
MDFiled by The Mobile Desk
Phones from leak to launch to price cut: what was announced, what it costs where, and when it goes on sale. Indian launches and prices included, not appended.
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