Rivals line up foldables to take on Apple's iPhone Duo
Ahead of Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, non-US manufacturers are preparing competing book-style foldables. Xiaomi's 18 Fold is lighter and has a triple rear camera, while Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold8 adopts a wider passport shape and has received strong reviews. Other brands such as Oppo and Motorola are also part of the increasingly crowded foldable market.
Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo, is set to arrive Oct. 23, with preorders opening a week before. Rivals had been preparing for it well before Apple confirmed the device, reflecting long-standing interest in how Apple would approach the foldable category.
Xiaomi's 18 Fold and Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold8 both use a wider passport-style shape. Xiaomi's model weighs 219 grams and adds a three-lens rear setup, while Samsung's Z Fold8 has a 7.6-inch inner screen, a 5.5-inch outer display, and two rear cameras. Oppo and Motorola emphasize battery capacity and charging speed.
The growing foldable competition could give consumers more choices and pressure brands to improve cameras, weight, battery life, and pricing. Buyers in markets where Xiaomi and Oppo are limited may see fewer options, while Samsung and Motorola remain more accessible in the US. As Apple enters, app developers and accessory makers may need to adapt to wider passport-style screens, potentially changing how people use phones for media and multitasking.