Apple’s iPhone Duo may be the headline launch today, but buyers who want a foldable now have a cheaper alternative. As shipments begin, many customers still face wait times, and Samsung is pressing its advantage with a Galaxy Z Fold8 promotion that undercuts Apple’s pricing.
The iPhone Duo opens at $2,000 for 256GB of storage. Samsung’s latest book-style foldable already carries a lower base price, and Amazon is currently taking an additional $200 off. The result puts the 12/256GB Galaxy Z Fold8 at $1,700 — a total saving of about $300 compared with Apple’s entry-level model.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 deal
Read our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 review for a deeper look at the display, cameras, battery life and performance.
Beyond price, Samsung’s foldable has some practical advantages. The Galaxy Z Fold8 is noticeably thinner at 9.7mm and lighter at 201g, while the iPhone Duo measures 11.3mm and weighs 254g. The cover screens are close in size — 5.5 inches on Samsung versus 5.4 inches on Apple — and both devices unfold into a 7.6-inch inner display with a similar aspect ratio.
Battery capacity is also nearly identical: 4,800mAh for the Z Fold8 and 4,883mAh for the iPhone Duo. That means real-world endurance could come down to efficiency. Samsung uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, while Apple is expected to rely on the A20 Pro. Camera hardware appears comparable in approach too, with neither phone using a dedicated telephoto lens; instead, both offer dual main-style camera setups with 50MP and 48MP sensors, respectively.
For shoppers willing to wait, Google’s next foldable may still be in development, but the company has not shown a reputation for rushing hardware to market. That leaves Samsung and Apple as the main rivals in this segment for now.
Samsung’s lineup also includes the larger Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra for users who want a bigger book-style device. We have a detailed Z Fold8 versus Z Fold8 Ultra comparison and a video comparing the two phones.
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