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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 unveiled the Duo, its first foldable iPhone, arriving over seven years after Samsung's original Galaxy Fold. Preorders begin October 16th with sales starting October 23rd, priced from $1,999 for 256GB, with eSIM-only support worldwide and options up to 2TB storage. The device features a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner screen, both using ProMotion technology and a titanium frame reinforced with ceramic fibers.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple's first foldable iPhone will be named the iPhone Duo and will support the Apple Pencil. The device is expected to launch in October starting at $2,000 for 256GB storage, with a 2TB option priced around $3,000, in Dark Blue and White colors.
Apple's Surprise and Shine event is set to reveal its first foldable phone, reportedly named iPhone Duo rather than the earlier rumored iPhone Ultra, alongside the expected iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports the device will start around $2,000 for 256GB and reach $3,000 for 2TB, launching around October with Apple Pencil support at launch.
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.
Samsung reports that combined US purchases of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra are running 30% ahead of last year's Z Fold 7, which itself was the most pre-ordered Fold model ever. The two Fold devices now make up about 80% of total Galaxy Z8 series purchases, with the Z Flip 8 accounting for the rest. Samsung also says roughly 30% of Flip 8 buyers switched from rival brands, most of them first-time foldable owners.
Samsung has issued the final security patch for the 2021 Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3, removing both devices from its official security update list. The Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 have now shifted to a quarterly update schedule, signaling their own support window will close around 2027.
Samsung has pushed four AI features first introduced for the Galaxy S26 lineup—Call Brief, Custom Cards in Now Brief, Now Nudge, and My FanCam—to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 via a second One UI 9 beta build. These tools were already extended to the Galaxy S25 series and now bring smarter calling context, personalized daily briefings, proactive on-screen suggestions, and automatic video reframing to last year's foldables. The update also patches bugs affecting Wi-Fi, display, camera, and app stability.
Samsung has responded to user complaints about soft, sinking corners on the Galaxy Z Fold 8's inner display, stating the flex is a deliberate design feature rather than a hardware flaw. A company representative told Korean outlet BusinessPost that the cushioning effect helps protect the display from impacts and trapped debris like sand.
Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone alongside its iPhone 18 Pro models, arriving seven years after Samsung's original Galaxy Fold. Reports suggest the device will use a short, wide, passport-like design, a shape that Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi have all released in recent months despite Apple not having launched or even officially teased its version yet.
Xiaomi has detailed the 18 Fold, a foldable phone pairing a 7.68-inch inner display with a 5.38-inch outer screen, both using a new HyperRGB panel and A4 aspect ratio. At 219g it's Xiaomi's lightest foldable yet, featuring an asymmetric notch-free design, a reinforced hinge, and the company's first self-designed 3nm chip, the XRING O3.
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.