Four Folds, One Winner: Apple's Debut Takes the Crown
Four flagships tested side by side
Tom's Guide published a hands-on comparison on October 29, testing the iPhone Duo against the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Motorola Razr Fold. It is the first four-way flagship foldable test since Apple entered the category.
Passport shapes with different pitches
Apple calls the Duo its thinnest iPhone ever, at 5.2mm open and 11.3mm closed, with a titanium frame and a nano-texture inner display that hides the crease. Samsung leans on seven years of foldable experience and a similar passport-like ratio. Motorola claims the largest battery ever in a foldable, while Google pitches AI features and an extra telephoto camera.
A $100 gap at checkout
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for 256GB, rising to $2,199 for 512GB, $2,599 for 1TB, and $3,199 for 2TB. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 with 256GB, Pixel 11 Pro Fold with 256GB, and Razr Fold with 512GB each start at $1,899.99. Apple's premium is about $100 over each rival at the base tier.
Weight tells its own story
The Duo weighs about 9 ounces, or 255 grams, making it the heaviest iPhone to date. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is just 7.09 ounces, or 201 grams, more than 50 grams lighter. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is 8.4 ounces and the Razr Fold is 8.6 ounces. For screens, the Duo pairs a 5.4-inch cover with a 7.6-inch inner panel. The Z Fold 8 is closest at 5.5 and 7.6 inches. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold grows to 6.5 and 8 inches, while the Razr Fold is largest at 6.6 inches outside and nearly 8.1 inches inside.
Battery life upset despite similar cells
Charging speed favors Motorola
Cameras: only Apple skips the zoom lens
The Duo uses a 48-megapixel main plus a 48-megapixel ultrawide, with 2x delivered by sensor crop and no dedicated telephoto. The Z Fold 8 uses two 50-megapixel sensors. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold uses a 48-megapixel main, a 10.5-megapixel ultrawide, and a 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto. The Razr Fold uses three 50-megapixel sensors including a 3x telephoto. In a 10-round photo face-off, the Duo won most rounds on detail and dynamic range but lost at extreme digital zoom.
Durability and raw power split the field
Who this matters for
The verdict reshapes holiday buying. iPhone owners finally get a native foldable with split-screen multitasking and Apple Pencil support. Samsung keeps the lightness and physical-SIM crowd. The Pixel suits buyers who want full waterproofing and a real 5x zoom, while the Razr Fold suits buyers who prioritize battery and megapixels and accept weaker dust protection.
What to watch next
Reviewers agree the next battle is software. Non-optimized apps look poor on the Duo's inner screen, and its 4-megapixel under-display camera is best left to video calls. Whether Apple adds a telephoto, cuts the $2,000 entry price, and how Samsung positions its pricier Z Fold 8 Ultra will decide next year's foldable race.
