The iPhone Duo was supposed to be the first real competitor to Samsung's foldable lineup, and it may yet become one. But for now, Apple's first foldable phone is marred by too many issues to count, from delayed shipments and a poor software experience to manufacturing defects in some units.
I watched it all from the sidelines over these past few days, ironically on my Galaxy Z Fold 8, and was amazed by how many people on social media were apparently willing to give Apple some slack because the iPhone Duo is a “first-gen” device.
I suppose there's nothing wrong with supporting your favorite brand when they try something new and unusual. Those early adopters make new technologies possible. But is the iPhone Duo really the first of its kind?
Well, the iPhone Duo sure is the first foldable phone Apple has made. And for some Apple fans who don't look beyond Apple's walled garden, this is the first time they even hear about or see foldable phone technology in action.
Having said that, it's easy to understand why some Apple fans ignore the fact that the iPhone Duo might be a more problematic “first-gen” device than most. They simply might not be aware of the history of foldables or the fact that foldable phones have been around since 2019.
If you're among those Apple fans, I won't try to convince you that you've made the wrong or right choice by sticking with Apple. And I won't blame you for not knowing foldable phone history, considering the fact that Apple itself has ignored it for years.
However, I will give you two main reasons why Samsung fans, myself included, rightfully cannot take the “iPhone Duo is a first-gen device” excuse seriously. And you probably shouldn't either if you want what's best for foldables.
Reason #1: First-gen for Apple, old news for everyone else
Samsung and Apple have approached the foldable phone market from completely opposite angles. Samsung Display created the tech that Apple is now buying for the iPhone Duo.
Work on foldable OLED display technology actually began years before Apple even released its first non-foldable OLED iPhone — the iPhone X. And Samsung was at the forefront.
- Samsung began researching flexible OLED as far back as 2008.
- Samsung's first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, was released in 2019. It was the world's first foldable phone to enter production, or the second if you count the Royole FlexPai, which was only available for retail consumers in China.
- The Galaxy Fold — a true first-gen device — wasn't perfect, but the issues the iPhone Duo has seem to be even worse. The original Galaxy Fold failed because people were pulling off the top layer without knowing it's integral to the foldable screen. Problematic iPhone Duos fail during normal use because the hinge damages the screen from the inside.
- Likewise, the original Galaxy Fold didn't have the tiny, semi-circular plastic bits that keep the internal components protected when the hinge is only halfway open. Samsung quickly fixed this, but Apple is now making the same mistake, and debris can enter the iPhone Duo from the sides when its halfway open.
- Samsung and Apple aren't alone. After Samsung kickstarted foldable display technology, other manufacturers, including Google, released their own foldable phone models. Apple is actually among the last to join, rather than the first.
Fun fact: Apple released its first rigid, non-foldable OLED iPhone in 2017, almost 10 years after Samsung began elevating OLED technology from rigid to foldable.
Reason #2: Bigger issues than other first-gen phones
You might not care about Samsung's early struggles with foldable phone tech or the fact that Samsung made foldable phones possible in the first place. Apple's final product is what matters most.
If that's your view, fair enough. But that still shouldn't make the “first-gen” excuse any easier to swallow.
You have to keep in mind that Apple isn't even close to first. Other OEMs, including Google, have already joined the foldable market with their own “first-gen” foldable devices years before Apple.
What if I told you that Apple's launch looks worse than most others? Would it still matter that the iPhone Duo is Apple's “first-gen” foldable? I don't think so.
Where do we go from here?
In all honesty, I don't want Apple's iPhone Duo to fail. I really don't. I actually love my Galaxy Z Fold 8, and I think Samsung could use some healthy competition to push the bar to an even higher standard.
Having said that, I understand why some Samsung fans are frustrated with the behavior of some Apple users who never see past their brand of choice.
And even Apple themselves, for being arrogant toward rivals and overly confident in its abilities to create the world's best foldable with no past experience.
In my opinion, the real heroes who made foldable phone technology possible are the people who bought the original Galaxy Fold units and continued supporting the tech for years, believing Samsung would eventually evolve foldable tech to where it is today.
If you're an Apple fan who thinks you're on the cutting edge because you bought the iPhone Duo in 2026, well, you have to understand why that sounds exaggerated to anyone who has supported the actual “first-gen” foldables many years ago.
Why am I saying all this? Am I jealous of the iPhone Duo? To be honest, I was a little bit at first, during Apple's keynote. But not anymore.
After spending more time with my ultralight Galaxy Z Fold 8, and after seeing the iPhone Duo's lacking software, issues, and awkward form factor, I couldn't be happier with my choice. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the best I've ever used.
The reason I'm saying all this is that I believe the age of foldable phones really is upon us, and not only is it wise to learn where and how everything began, but it's best to know you have more than one choice. In fact, the iPhone Duo doesn't even seem like the best option right now.
If you're an Apple fan who is now hearing about foldable phones for the first time, that proves the iPhone Duo is doing a fantastic job raising awareness.
However, you should also keep in mind that, for most other people, including Samsung fans, the iPhone Duo doesn't look all that spectacular. And it certainly shouldn't rely on the “first-gen” excuse at this point in time.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is technically a new entry in Samsung's foldable phone lineup, too. It's the company's first passport-style foldable, featuring a brand-new hinge. And yet, it's doing perfectly fine.
Most importantly, now that you know a bit more about foldables and their history, I urge you to at least try the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and maybe even other foldable phone brands before you decide to buy the iPhone Duo.
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