GoKawiil
Tech News
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 unveiled its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, alongside new iPhones and Apple Watches. The device supports the USB-C Apple Pencil on both its cover screen and inner display, though Apple notes this functionality arrives 'later this year' rather than at launch. Pricing starts at $2,000 for 256GB storage, with pre-orders beginning October 16 and availability October 23.
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, priced starting at $1,999. The device opens into a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display and closes to a 5.4-inch outer screen with an asymmetric, passport-like shape rather than the square form used by some rivals. Apple emphasized a new multi-layer glass and titanium hinge design meant to minimize the visible crease common in earlier foldables.
Apple announced at its Wednesday event that the iPhone 18 Pro will start at $1,199 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,299, both with 256GB storage, marking a $100 increase over last year's models. Preorders begin Saturday, Sept. 12, with the phones launching Sept. 18. The higher-priced models come with upgraded cameras, a new A20 Bionic chip, and new color options including a burgundy shade.
Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro models launch $100 more expensive than last year, mirroring similar $100 increases from Google's Pixel 11, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Motorola's Razr lineup, and Sony's Xperia 10 VIII. Apple also raised prices on its older iPhone models still for sale, closing off any workaround for budget-conscious buyers.
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.
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 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.