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Samsung published a promotional message welcoming Apple to the foldable phone market just hours before Apple's anticipated launch event, where a foldable iPhone is rumored to debut. The post emphasized Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold as 'the world's lightest fold,' positioning the company as the established leader in the category.
Apple has rebuilt core iOS 27 controls and app layouts to suit the iPhone Duo's foldable form factor, borrowing multitasking concepts from iPadOS. The update repositions status icons and navigation elements, introduces a dual-homescreen layout when unfolded, and adds a standby mode that turns the device into a smart display with fullscreen widgets. The Duo will also be the first iPhone to support Apple Pencil, usable on either screen.
Apple is holding its annual flagship product event on September 9, 2026, where it is expected to reveal the iPhone 18 series and detail iOS 27. This marks the first major keynote led by John Ternus, who has taken over as Apple's CEO.
A CNET survey found that 52% of US adults would consider upgrading their smartphone mainly for longer battery life, while 55% cited price as their top motivator. The findings arrive just before Apple's Sept. 9 event, where the company is expected to unveil its first foldable phone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and Ultra models.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's long-rumored foldable phone will be called the iPhone Duo rather than the previously rumored iPhone Ultra. The device is said to start at $2,000 for 256GB storage and reach about $3,000 for 2TB, shipping as early as October in white and dark blue.
Counterpoint Research projects global foldable phone shipments will exceed 100 million units this year, with Apple entering the category via the iPhone Ultra and quickly capturing a quarter of the market—putting it second behind Samsung and ahead of Huawei. The firm expects Apple's share to climb to 40% the following year, surpassing Samsung. Separately, Xiaomi has launched its book-style 18 Fold in China just a day before Apple's own hardware event.
An Android Authority writer who has used both Android and iPhone devices for over a decade discusses rumors of Apple's first foldable phone, dubbed the iPhone Ultra. The author outlines five features—including a crease-free display—that would be necessary for them to consider fully switching from their Android device to Apple's foldable.
Xiaomi has released the 18 Fold, its first book-style foldable phone and the debut device for its self-made Xring O3 chip built on a 3nm process. The phone pairs a redesigned hinge and dual 120Hz displays reaching 4,000 nits with a Leica-tuned triple camera system led by a 200-megapixel main sensor, priced from 10,999 yuan (~$1,638). Xiaomi also unveiled a tablet using the same chip and three electric vehicles under its Pengcheng brand at the same event.
At IFA 2026 in Berlin, Android Authority's editors reviewed a wide range of new hardware from phones to smart home devices and named their standout picks. The top honor went to Xiaomi's 18 Fold, a foldable phone notable for using the company's own XRing O3 chip and new LPDDR6 memory, making its Berlin debut alongside a massive showcase of over 380 products from Xiaomi. Other recognized products included TECNO's zero-bezel concept phone, TCL's first NXTPAPER AMOLED handset, Anker's MindBase smart home hub, and new robots from Roborock and Mammotion.
Xiaomi showcased its first wide-screen foldable in the numbered flagship line, the 18 Fold, at IFA 2026, featuring a 5.38-inch cover display and 7.58-inch inner screen. The device stands out with rounded corners, a striking cherry-red finish option, and a passport-style body that houses a notably capable camera setup. The launch comes right after Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 and just before Apple's rumored first folding iPhone reveal.
Xiaomi unveiled the 18 Fold, its first book-style foldable since the 2024 Mix Fold 4, adopting the short, wide form factor now favored by Huawei and Samsung. Its inner and outer screens share a roughly 1.4:1 aspect ratio, making it both shorter and wider than the Galaxy Z Fold 8, with hardware specs that reportedly surpass Samsung's device. However, it lacks any announced IP water/dust resistance rating and is slightly heavier and thicker than its rival.
Xiaomi debuted a new foldable smartphone at IFA in Berlin featuring a passport-style design with a 5.38-inch outer display and a 7.58-inch inner screen. The device uses a custom three-link hinge for durability and marks the first phone to run Xiaomi's own XRing 03 processor. A CNET reporter who got hands-on time praised the build quality and near-invisible crease, though noted stiff competition looms from Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Apple's rumored foldable iPhone.