October 12, 2026
With the approaching date of the launch of the “iPhone Duo”, the first foldable phone from Apple, the smart phone market is witnessing widespread activity in anticipation of the upcoming innovations. According to the Engadget website report, the device is scheduled to arrive in stores on October 23, with pre-orders launching a week before that, thus igniting Apple in a fierce competition with technology giants such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Motorola.
A new design trend known as the “passport design” is currently emerging in the market, which gives the phone a wide shape when opened to provide a wider area for the internal screen and improve the media experience. In this context, the Xiaomi 18 Fold phone stands out as a strong competitor with a two-screen size similar to the iPhone Duo (7.6 inches internal and 5.4 external), superior to its light weight of 219 grams (compared to 254 grams for Apple), a rear imaging system that includes three cameras, and a price starting at 10,999 Chinese yuan (about $1,640), despite its limited availability outside China currently.
For its part, Samsung is preparing to compete with Apple with the “Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8”, which abandons the semi-square shape in favor of a wider design with a 7.6-inch internal screen and a 5.5-inch external screen. The phone received a rating of 8.9 out of 10, and includes two rear cameras at a starting price of $1,900, which is about $100 less than the expected price of the Apple phone.
As for Oppo, it adopts an approach that focuses on thinness and the battery with the “Oppo Find N6” phone, which comes with a thickness of 8.93 mm when closed, and a huge battery with a capacity of 6,000 mAh that supports 80-watt fast charging, in addition to a 200-megapixel main camera and an IP59 water and dust resistance certificate, at a price starting from 9,999 Chinese yuan (about $1,490). In turn, the “Motorola Razr Fold” phone offers an advanced option for users in the United States, with an 8.1-inch internal screen, a maximum brightness of up to 6,000 nits, and a 6,000 mAh battery, with support for the stylus, which is sold separately for $100, with a starting price of $1,900.
In the face of this intense competition in hardware and specifications, Apple is betting on software to provide a unique experience through the “iOS 27” system. The system includes custom improvements that ensure smooth animations for moving between the two screens, innovative usage modes that utilize the internal space very efficiently, and integration with the Apple system.
The decision depends on the extent to which the “iPhone Duo” is able to meet users’ aspirations for performance, photography, and ease of use, in addition to its price and the extent of its global spread, which are factors that will determine whether Apple’s entry will completely redraw the map of the foldable phone sector.
