iPhone Duo: Should the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Be Worried?

Quick summary: The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has been out for over a month, and the iPhone Duo arrives in about a month. Is Samsung in trouble? Mostly not. iPhone people will probably stick with iPhone and Samsung people with Samsung. The fight is over the big middle ground of people who haven’t tried a foldable yet.

Hard for Apple to win over Samsung fans

Samsung has a great ecosystem of earbuds, watches, tablets, computers and phones, plus customizable software that gives you a lot of control. That makes it hard for Apple to pull someone away from Samsung.

Where Apple can make a dent

• People who’ve never tried a foldable, on iPhone, Samsung or other Android phones.
• iPhone owners who haven’t switched yet. A lot of iPhone users moved to the Fold 8, but those who didn’t will likely stay with what they know. Familiarity pays dividends for Apple.
• Some Samsung fans who want a pen. Many are frustrated that Samsung dropped S Pen support, and the Duo has it. Samsung would be crazy not to bring pen support back to its foldables starting next year.

Hardware: thinner and lighter matters

People say Samsung isn’t pushing hardware anymore. RAM and battery sizes have been incremental, but battery life is great on the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra. A bigger battery would add weight, and the iPhone Duo looks pretty thick and heavy next to both. Similar or better battery life in a thinner, lighter phone, with Samsung’s fast charging, wireless charging, cameras and software, will be a big selling point.

It comes down to software

Both are powerful, with great battery life and solid cameras. Beyond the pen, it’s about software:

• Want more control, customization and multitasking? Go Samsung.
• Already on Apple, want that familiar feel and pen support? Choose the Duo.

I’ll try the Duo, but I’d be really shocked if it became my main phone, because I love what Samsung does with its software.

• Mint Mobile: $15 unlimited data, talk and text