The foldable phone market is heating up as new competitors emerge to challenge Apple’s upcoming iPhone Duo. While Apple has already launched the iPhone 18 Pro, the foldable Duo is set to hit stores on October 23, with pre-orders beginning a week earlier. However, competitors like Xiaomi, Oppo, Motorola, and Samsung have been preparing for this moment long before Apple’s official announcement, positioning themselves as formidable contenders in a market that has been evolving for years.
Xiaomi and Samsung Lead the Charge
The Xiaomi 18 Fold entered the scene just days before the iPhone Duo was unveiled, with specs that closely mirror Apple’s design. Both devices feature a 7.6-inch inner screen and a 5.4-inch outer display, giving them a passport-like form factor. The Xiaomi 18 Fold has a weight advantage at 219 grams, compared to the Duo’s 254 grams. Additionally, Xiaomi’s device offers a triple-camera setup, providing more optical zoom options that the iPhone Duo lacks. Pricing also favors Xiaomi, with the foldable starting at 10,999 yuan ($1,640), though it is currently limited to China.
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In the U.S., Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 is the primary rival to the iPhone Duo. Samsung shifted from its traditional near-square design to a wider “passport” shape, featuring 7.6-inch and 5.5-inch screens. The Z Fold8, reviewed with an 8.9 out of 10, excels in media consumption, offering a straighter design without curved corners. However, it starts at $1,900, just $100 less than the Duo’s base price. Despite its August launch, Samsung’s lead may be short-lived as Apple enters the foldable fray with its own innovations.
Oppo and Motorola Focus on Battery and Charging
Oppo’s Find N6 diverges from the passport design, opting for a 6.62-inch outer display and 8.12-inch inner screen. Its 8.93mm thickness when closed rivals the iPhone 18 Pro’s 8.75mm, making it one of the slimmest foldables. The Find N6 also packs a 6,000mAh battery—1,600mAh more than the Z Fold7—and supports 80W wired charging. It includes IP59 certification and a 200-megapixel main camera. Available in Asia with a global model, it starts at 9,999 yuan ($1,490), undercutting the iPhone Duo.
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Motorola’s Razr Fold takes a different approach with a 6.6-inch outer screen unfolding to an 8.1-inch inner display. Its peak brightness reaches 6,000 nits, double the iPhone Duo’s 3,000 nits. The Razr Fold also features a 6,000mAh battery, 80W charging, and a triple-camera system with optical zoom. A stylus is supported via an optional $100 add-on, and the device starts at $1,900, matching Samsung’s pricing.
Software Edge for Apple
While hardware specifications are competitive, Apple’s software could be its differentiator. iOS 27 introduces optimizations tailored for foldable devices, including smooth animations when switching between screens and adaptive usage modes. These software features may enhance user experience, a domain where Android competitors have historically lagged. The iPhone Duo’s success may hinge on how effectively Apple integrates its ecosystem with the new form factor.