iPhone Duo or Galaxy Z Fold8: which foldable should you buy?

For most people who want a foldable in India this festive season, the answer is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, at ₹1,79,999. The iPhone Duo costs ₹2,99,900. That’s ₹1,19,901 more, which is enough to buy a Galaxy Z Fold8 and an iPhone 17 and still have ₹20,001 left over. Apple’s first foldable opens for pre-orders at 5:30 pm IST on 16 October and goes on sale on 23 October. The reasons to wait for it are real. They’re just narrow.

The two phones are closer than their prices suggest. Samsung redesigned the Fold8 into a wider, passport-style shape this year, and it now has almost exactly the iPhone Duo’s screens: 7.6 inches inside and about 5.4 inches outside. So the choice comes down to what each does better, and what that’s worth to you. Nobody has published an independent review of the iPhone Duo yet, so every Duo figure here is Apple’s own.

	iPhone Duo	Galaxy Z Fold8	Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra
Price (256GB)	₹2,99,900	₹1,79,999	₹1,99,999
Inner screen	7.6-inch	7.6-inch	8.0-inch
Outer screen	5.4-inch	5.4-inch	6.5-inch
Thickness, closed	11.3mm	9.7mm	8.9mm
Weight	254g	201g	215g
Rear cameras	48MP + 48MP ultrawide	50MP + 50MP ultrawide	200MP + 50MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x telephoto
Water and dust	IP68	IP48	IP48
Battery (maker’s claim)	Up to 31 hours video (inner screen)	Up to 26 hours video	Up to 27 hours video
SIM	eSIM only	Nano-SIM + eSIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Software updates	No fixed promise	Seven Android versions	Seven Android versions
On sale	23 October (pre-orders 16 October)	Now	Now

Is the iPhone Duo worth ₹1.2 lakh more than the Galaxy Z Fold8?

Only if you’re committed to the iPhone. The iPhone Duo‘s real advantages are iOS, IP68 water and dust protection (the Fold8 is rated IP48, so dust is its weak spot), and a longer battery claim. On paper its cameras match the Fold8’s: two of them, and no telephoto. It’s also 53 grams heavier and 1.6mm thicker when closed.

That makes ₹1,19,901 a very high price for software and sealing. If you’ve never owned an iPhone, nothing here justifies switching for a first-generation foldable. If you have, the question is how deep you’re in. In India most chats live on WhatsApp, which works the same on both phones. What doesn’t move easily is everything else: years of iCloud photos, paid apps, AirPods features and, above all, an Apple Watch, which only works with an iPhone. If you wear one, the choice is made for you.

What’s the catch with the iPhone Duo?

Beyond the price, a few things Apple’s own spec sheet makes clear:

• It’s heavy. At 254 grams it weighs more than the iPhone 18 Pro Max (249 grams), Apple’s heaviest regular phone.
• eSIM only. There’s no slot for a physical SIM card. Every big Indian carrier supports eSIM, but switching takes a few minutes, so do it before you need the phone.
• Touch ID, not Face ID. The fingerprint reader sits in the side button.
• Apple Pencil support comes later. Apple says the Duo will work with Apple Pencil (USB-C), but not until later this year.
• The EMI is short. Apple’s India store offers no-cost EMI on the Duo only over three or six months until 11 November. Over six months that’s about ₹50,000 a month. Samsung offers the Fold8 over 18 months, about ₹10,000 a month.

What’s the catch with the Galaxy Z Fold8?

Three things. The IP48 rating means it survives water and spills, but fine dust and sand can still get in, which matters on a beach or a dusty commute. There’s no telephoto camera, so zoom past 2x is a crop. And unlike older Folds it doesn’t support the S Pen, as Samsung’s own page confirms. In its favour: it’s the lightest phone here at 201 grams, it costs the least, and Samsung promises seven Android versions of updates. Apple doesn’t publish a number. Our Galaxy Z Fold8 vs iPhone Duo comparison has every spec side by side.

Should you buy the Galaxy Z Fold8 or the Fold8 Ultra?

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, if the camera matters. For ₹20,000 more it adds a 200MP main camera and a 3x telephoto, an 8-inch inner screen, and a 6.5-inch outer screen that works like a normal phone when it’s closed. The Galaxy Z Fold8 is the better pick if you mostly read, watch and type on the inside screen: its wider shape suits that, and it’s 14 grams lighter.

There’s also a third option. Last year’s Galaxy Z Fold7 is still on sale at ₹1,74,999 with an 8-inch screen, a 200MP camera and a 3x telephoto, plus two physical SIM slots. Its battery (4,400 mAh) and processor are older, but it’s ₹25,000 under the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. The Galaxy Z Fold8 vs Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra comparison covers the rest.

Should you pre-order the iPhone Duo on 16 October?

No. Pre-orders open at 5:30 pm IST on 16 October and the phone goes on sale a week later, on 23 October. Independent reviews should arrive before or around the sale date, and they’ll answer what Apple’s spec sheet can’t: how the hinge and the inner screen hold up, and whether the battery claim survives real use. Pre-ordering gets you the phone a few days sooner. Waiting gets you answers on a ₹2,99,900 purchase. If you’re still choosing between regular iPhones, our guide to which iPhone to buy in India right now covers the rest of the line-up.

Quick answers

What is the iPhone Duo’s price in India?

₹2,99,900 for 256GB, ₹3,24,900 for 512GB, ₹3,74,900 for 1TB and ₹4,49,900 for 2TB, on Apple’s India store.

Is the Galaxy Z Fold8 waterproof?

It’s water resistant, rated IP48. The 8 means it can handle being submerged in fresh water. The 4 means it only keeps out solid objects bigger than 1mm, so fine dust and sand aren’t covered. The iPhone Duo’s IP68 covers dust as well.

Does the iPhone Duo’s screen have a crease?

Apple describes the inner display as flat and smooth, with a nano-texture finish to cut glare. No independent review has been published yet to confirm how visible the fold is in daily use.