GoKawiil
Tech News
In a joint interview, new Apple CEO John Ternus and marketing chief Greg Joswiak explained why Apple chose now to launch its first foldable, the iPhone Duo, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro. Ternus said the device only moved forward once hardware, software and design met Apple's quality bar, while Joswiak criticized rival foldables as feeling cheap and flimsy.
Apple unveiled its first foldable, the iPhone Duo, at $2,230 (15,999 yuan) in China, a price that triggered immediate pushback from consumers comparing it to their local incomes and to cheaper domestic rivals. Xiaomi and Huawei had just launched competing foldables days earlier, the Xiaomi 18 Fold at 10,999 yuan and Huawei's trifold Mate XT2 at 19,999 yuan, intensifying the price comparisons. Despite the mixed local reaction, Apple shares rose more than 3% after the launch event.
Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 at its recent event. Comparing published specs, the iPhone Duo closely mirrors Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold8 in screen size and brightness, but differs in resolution, weight, chip, and camera setup, with Apple's device notably heavier at 254g versus Samsung's 201g. The iPhone Duo launches October 23, though Apple has not yet disclosed battery capacity.
Apple's first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, launches October 23rd priced above Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8. It uses a passport-style design with matching inner and outer screen ratios, partial-fold app usability, and hardware aimed at minimizing the interior crease.
Samsung reports that the proportion of iOS users switching to its new Galaxy Z Fold8 series is 1.6 times higher than for last year's Fold7 and Flip7, according to a company spokesperson. The disclosure comes days after Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone, one of the first major launches under new CEO John Ternus. Samsung also said 30% of U.S. Z Flip8 buyers came from rival brands and highlighted an upgraded Smart Switch tool that lets iPhone users transfer data via QR code without installing an app.
Apple has entered the foldable phone market with its iPhone Duo, adopting the same short, wide 'passport-style' form factor that Samsung recently introduced with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Samsung, which also supplies Apple's folding display components, reported that the Z Fold 8 and its larger Z Fold 8 Ultra variant are selling 30 percent better than last year's Fold 7 in their first month on the market.
Apple confirmed its long-rumored folding phone, the iPhone Duo, at its 'Surprise and shine' event. Unlike vertical flip phones such as the Motorola Razr, the Duo opens horizontally like a book or passport, featuring a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display, and comes in star white and night sky colors. Apple says it's the thinnest iPhone ever when unfolded.
Apple unveiled its first foldable-screen device, the iPhone Duo, featuring a nano-texture display designed to hide the fold crease. The name itself has a long history in tech, having previously been used for NEC's TurboDuo game console, Google's video-calling app Duo, and Apple's own PowerBook Duo laptop from 1992.
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.
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.
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.