Apple has no answer to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Samsung should pounce on it

Since Apple launched the iPhone Duo, people have largely compared it to the Galaxy Z Fold 8. It makes sense, too. Both are wider foldables with a distinct passport-style that’s easily distinguishable from the more established book-style of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Both of these devices are around the same price point. They make some compromises, such as the cameras not being at par with the flagship candy-bar phones that these manufacturers make. The Duo does have a few things going for it compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, such as a higher IP rating.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has its own strengths in the hardware department. Its software allows for more versatile multi-tasking. These are fair comparisons, and Apple does deserve credit for making its first foldable phone a more complete product than most first-generation attempts at a new category have been.

What those comparisons do not draw a parallel with, however, is the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Not only is Samsung’s top-of-the-line foldable thinner and lighter than the iPhone Duo, it also boasts both a larger cover and foldable display.

For the nominal price difference between these devices, customers also get a 200-megapixel primary camera against the iPhone Duo’s 48-megapixel. More importantly, they get a 10-megapixel 3x optical zoom telephoto sensor. The iPhone Duo doesn’t have a dedicated zoom sensor, so it misses out on this crucial part of the camera experience.

There’s also the software. Apple has made certain improvements to iOS so that it can better function in the foldable form factor. But there’s no denying that Samsung’s One UI has had eight generations of iterations specific to foldables. The multi-tasking experience is miles above what Apple can currently provide on the iPhone Duo.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099 while the iPhone Duo at $1,999. The $100 difference is nominal, but what the former provides might just be compelling enough for a user that wants the absolute best foldable phone experience.

The camera gap is worth dwelling on precisely because it cannot be closed with software. Apple needs different hardware to answer that and different hardware takes a product cycle.

We’ve discussed the core differences between the Duo and Ultra in detail before. The more you dive deep into the strengths and weaknesses of these phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra progressively emerges as the better option.

As it stands, this isn’t a gap that the iPhone Duo can easily close. And it remains to be seen whether its successor will be able to, because by that time, Samsung would have made the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra’s successor even better.

Samsung’s head start on the software is also evident. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is capable of running three apps side-by-side with customizable multi-window configurations.

One UI has other features, such as app pair shortcuts and taskbar improvements, that don’t just predate the iPhone Duo’s existence. They also showcase just how refined the Samsung software experience is for the foldable form factor.

There’s a reason Samsung decided to launch two different versions of its Galaxy Z Fold phone. It had to match the iPhone Duo form factor for form factor, lest Apple get all the brownie points for offering customers a more appealing style of foldable.

The “Ultra” brand, which Samsung has established a solid reputation for over the years, was brought over to the foldables to showcase that even though Apple may have entered the foldable segment, it still has a lot of catching up to do with Samsung.

Samsung’s response to the iPhone Duo’s announcement has thus been reactive, and not selective. The “Welcome to Foldables” campaign landed well on social media. Any subtle comparisons it’s drawing in the marketing materials are against the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Samsung has kept the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which holds the clearest and most defensible advantages over the iPhone Duo right now, the quieter part of its response.

One can argue that this is a missed opportunity. Apple’s next foldable phone will certainly aim to plug these gaps, by making camera upgrades, introducing more multitasking software improvements, and more. Right now, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra occupies premium foldable territory without a credible competitor from Apple.

During this window, every buyer considering whether to spend $2,000+ on a foldable phone should be hearing, from Samsung, precisely what Apple cannot yet offer them and why it cannot offer it.