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Tech News
Foldable phone cases typically ship in two pieces covering the back, sides, camera island and front screen perimeter, guarding against drops, shock and scratches. Most basic cases skip full 360-degree coverage and leave the hinge exposed, while rugged options from brands like Casetify, Supcase and Otterbox add hinge protection and built-in screen protectors at the cost of extra bulk.
A tech commentary compares foldable phone screen sizes to compact tablets, noting devices like the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra offer displays close in size to the iPad Mini's 8.3-inch screen. The piece argues that folding phones combine smartphone portability with tablet-like screen space, and can eliminate the need for a separate cellular data plan that many tablets require.
An analysis of foldable smartphones outlines persistent drawbacks including hinge durability, scratch-prone displays, added bulk and weight, weaker cameras, and apps that don't yet scale well across screens. It also notes that repairs are costly, with iFixit rating current foldables as effectively unrepairable, making insurance advisable given theft risk.
Reports indicate that sales of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 have increased following Apple's announcement of the iPhone Duo, its rumored foldable device. Samsung has responded by lowering prices on some of its foldable phones in certain markets. Foldables remain a small slice of the overall smartphone market, with IDC estimating 20.6 million foldable shipments last year against 1.25 billion total smartphone shipments.
Apple has unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, drawing comparisons online to Microsoft's Surface Duo foldable line. Critics have accused Apple of copying the name, but Apple previously used 'Duo' for its PowerBook Duo laptop in 1992, predating Microsoft's product by decades.
In an opinion piece, Android Authority's Aamir Siddiqui writes that after being a longtime advocate for book-style foldable phones, he has grown disillusioned with the category. He argues that the multitasking benefits of a combined phone-tablet device rarely justify the added complexity, fragility, and cost of folding mechanisms, saying he only uses split-screen multitasking a few times a month.
Reports on Apple's foldable iPhone Duo say its screen uses a matte coating that reduces glare and makes the fold line less visible than on rival foldables. Early hands-on impressions describe the crease as more noticeable by touch than by sight, but reviewers note this only reflects the device's current, unused state.
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8 alongside two other foldables at its July Unpacked event, introducing a shorter, wider form factor distinct from prior Z Fold models. The device measures 123.9mm tall, 9.7mm thick folded and 4.5mm unfolded, weighing 201 grams, making it lighter than the Z Fold 8 Ultra. A hands-on review after two weeks of use found it a strong but not flawless entry into the wide-foldable category.
Apple has confirmed pre-orders for its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, open October 16 with units shipping October 23 in over 70 countries and regions, expanding to 28 more by October 30. The device will launch running iOS 27.1, and Apple is also rumored to be preparing new Macs, Home products, and an updated iPad mini for release in October.
A demo video from Instagram user Tom Hitchins (@bytereview) shows the upcoming iPhone Duo being operated left-handed, despite the foldable's hinge and curved-edge design appearing to favor right-handed grip. Hitchins, who is himself right-handed, says the device 'works well enough' when reaching across to the dock positioned on the right side of the screen.
Apple let reporters test its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, at Apple Park ahead of preorders opening Oct. 16 and a launch on Oct. 23. The device has a 5.4-inch cover screen and a 7.6-inch inner display, and Apple showed how apps like Netflix will adapt across the cover screen, full inner display, and a half-folded mode with on-screen controls.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro is now available, featuring a variable aperture camera, new Pro Controls for shutter speed adjustments, and an internal redesign with a larger vapor chamber for cooling. Its foldable iPhone Duo, set to launch October 23, has a passport-style folding design with a 7.6-inch inner screen but only two rear cameras and no variable aperture, starting at $1,999 versus $1,199 for the 18 Pro.