After years of anticipation, Apple has finally launched its first foldable, and contrary to many of the leaks, it isn’t the iPhone Ultra. Instead, meet the iPhone Duo, a phone that blends two of the best Android phones into something positively refreshing.
Those two phones? The Galaxy Z Fold 8 in size and form factor, and the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold in durability and magnetic charging. The result? A foldable I’m very excited about, even though I’ve never held it.
As someone who loves foldable phones – well, all phones really – the iPhone Duo is fascinating. It’s what I love most about the Galaxy Z Fold 8: its compact form factor, while also solving the biggest mental challenge around its purported fragility. I say this because I’ve had no issues with mine, but the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is built like a tank, not Samsung’s svelte approach. The iPhone Duo is effectively a mini tank in your pocket.
Hardware aside, a new Apple form factor wouldn’t be complete without a few tricks to complete the experience, and Android phone makers should copy these three things straight away.
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iPhone Handoff for cellular connectivity
A great way to entice more sales
Credit: Apple
This is one of the most ingenious ways to work around all the tradeoffs of any foldable or next-generation form factor: just buy two.
If you want one of the best smartphone cameras, Apple wants you to buy the iPhone 18 Pro series, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Pixel 11 Pro are the other top contenders in the US.
The premise of this feature is that you buy both the iPhone Duo and the iPhone 18 Pro – or the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Galaxy S26 Ultra if Samsung were to do this – and your SIM card, connectivity, and content seamlessly switch from one device to the other.
It’s brilliant, and opens many more possibilities. Will Android phone makers copy this? Is it even possible? The latter seems fairly likely, although the Android SIM install experience isn’t as refined as iOS. The former is almost certain, especially in China where Android phone makers have Apple-like integrations and ecosystems.
iPhone Handoff is already a reason to stay within the Apple ecosystem, although other phone makers’ ecosystems offer something similar in some form or another. Swapping eSIMs between devices – and the iPhone Duo is eSIM-only globally this year – can be extremely challenging, and there are still carriers that don’t fully support it. The list of carriers that support this feature is limited to T-Mobile in the US and 1 other globally, with only two others announced to join by year-end. If Google implemented something similar with Android, it would probably bring support to Google Fi and give more carriers a reason to support it.
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Nano-texture matte finish on the iPhone Duo display
If you can’t see it, does the crease even exist?
Credit: Shimul Sood / MakeUseOf
All the rumors before launch suggested the iPhone Duo would have an invisible crease, even though such technology has yet to be truly demonstrated in production. Instead, Apple has taken a unique approach: a nano-texture matte display. Early hands-on impressions suggest this effectively hides the crease in real use.
The crease doesn’t matter in foldable phones. I’ve used foldables for years, and I’ll expand further: you forget the crease exists within minutes of use. That said, the Oppo Find N6 probably still has the best crease on a foldable, even though Apple’s is probably the least visible/noticeable.
This is key: Apple is betting that customers won’t mind as much if it’s less visible. It’s a smart bet that will likely pay off, and it also makes the screen far more legible outdoors. No doubt it’s also a joy to read on, and these use cases mean it’s probably better for average customers. However, it’s worth remembering: the crease does not matter.
Animations and the iPhone Duo Side Dock
Less is actually more when it comes to foldables
Credit: Apple
One standout thing about the iPhone Duo experience is that Apple focused heavily on the software. That shows up in everything from side-by-side multitasking (finally on iPhone) to the side dock and the smooth animation as you transition between the two screens.
Apple hasn’t radically rethought the foldable experience. Oppo and OnePlus have the best multitasking on Android foldables, while Samsung has been doing multitasking on its phones for over a decade. Instead, Apple has focused on a refined, core set of experiences that it can ease its customers into.
Credit: Nirave Gondhia / MakeUseOf
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 can run multiple apps side by side and in pop-up windows, but the iPhone Duo is limited to just two. Yet, iOS 27 treats it as two screens, meaning you can put an app on one half and control/navigate your home screen on the other. It looks far more refined than the Android equivalent experience, but the proof will be in the overall experience in the hand.
I like the side dock being on the right, as I’m right-handed, and I also like Touch ID – I think every phone should have a hardware fingerprint sensor in the power button.
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Bonus: Apple’s marketing of the iPhone Duo
Brady Snyder / MakeUseOf
From the pre-recorded event, which took 20 hours of filming, and endless more in editing, to the presentation of the why, the iPhone Duo reveal was a masterclass in holding attention for 30 minutes.
Much of that was because it was long-awaited, but Apple also had a clear message about why someone should buy the iPhone Duo, and it made sure to showcase that during the event. Shortly after, it started uploading videos like this one to TikTok, capturing imaginations in ways other phone makers haven’t yet.
The event itself deserves special mention because it’s entirely different from every other event I attend. Google comes closest with its Made by Google events, such as the launches of the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel Watch 5, which Jimmy Kimmel and Trevor Noah hosted. Motorola doesn’t have a traditional launch event, but its evening soirées are always fabulous, with partners like Paris Hilton. Neither tells a story like Apple, and Samsung is far more corporate than creative in its approach.
The best foldables race is heating up
Credit: Brady Snyder / MakeUseOf
This is shaping up to be the best year in foldable phones’ nascent history, as you would expect from Apple’s entry. Alongside the current crop, we’re expecting Motorola to launch a new passport-style foldable for the US in the coming months. Given its strong track record with the Razr Ultra 2026 and Moto Razr Fold, you can bet the wide Moto Razr Fold will be compelling.
Outside the US, it’s much hotter. Oppo and Honor are both expected to launch wide foldable phones in their next release cycle, while Huawei, Xiaomi, and Vivo all have new options. Many of these are limited to China, but this is where Apple no doubt wants the iPhone Duo to sell extremely well.
This competition makes it likely that future iPhone Duos will be thinner, lighter, or push the boundaries in some other way. This also means that all foldables will finally reach their potential, and many of the crazy concepts we’ve previously seen could finally become reality.
Brand
Samsung
Battery
4,800 mAh silicon-carbon
Weight
201g
IP Rating
IP48
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is my favorite folding phone right now. It’s the best Android phone if you want a folding phone the same size as the iPhone Duo, and it has specs very similar to Apple’s new foldable.