iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold8 vs Fold8 Ultra: which foldable should you buy?
Apple's first foldable against Samsung's two big Folds, with every Australian store's price side by side, and which one we'd pick for the money.
In this guide
For the first time you can choose between an iPhone and a Galaxy when you buy a book-style foldable. Samsung now makes two Folds: the wider, passport-shaped Galaxy Z Fold8 and the bigger, camera-focused Z Fold8 Ultra. Apple's iPhone Duo went on sale on 23 October 2026. Here's how they compare, with today's prices.
Price check: all three, every store
| Store | Apple iPhone Duo | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| JB Hi-Fi | $3,499 256GB | — | — |
| Harvey Norman | — | $2,699 256GB | $2,999 256GB |
| The Good Guys | $3,498 256GB | $2,699 256GB | $2,999 256GB |
| Mobileciti | — | $2,698 256GB | $2,997 256GB |
| Apple Store | $3,499 256GB | — | — |
| Samsung Store | — | $2,699 256GB | $3,899 256GB |
| digiDirect | $3,497 256GB | — | — |
Today the iPhone Duo starts at $3,497, the Z Fold8 at $2,699 and the Z Fold8 Ultra at $2,999. At launch, the RRPs for 256GB were $3,499, $2,699 and $2,999.
The key differences
| iPhone Duo | Galaxy Z Fold8 | Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | Wide "passport" | Wide "passport" | Tall book |
| Inner / outer screen | 7.6" / 5.4" | 7.6" / 5.5" | 8.0" / 6.5" |
| Rear cameras | 48MP main + 48MP ultra wide | 50MP main + 50MP ultra wide | 200MP main + 50MP ultra wide + 10MP 3x zoom |
| Unlock | Touch ID | Fingerprint | Fingerprint |
| Stylus | Apple Pencil "coming later" | No S Pen | No S Pen |
| Launch RRP (256GB) | $3,499 | $2,699 | $2,999 |
Specs from Apple's and Samsung's launch announcements.
iPhone Duo: for Apple users
The only foldable that runs iOS. If your Mac, iPad and Apple Watch matter more to you than the price, this is the one. It is also the most expensive by a long way.
Galaxy Z Fold8: the best value book foldable
Samsung's new wider Fold is the closest thing to the iPhone Duo for $800 less at RRP. Its outer screen is a normal phone shape, which makes it much easier to use folded than older Folds.
Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: the best camera and the biggest screen
The pick if you want one phone to replace a flagship and a small tablet: the biggest inner screen here, and the only one with a real 3x zoom camera.
Which should you buy?
- You use an iPhone and a Mac: iPhone Duo, if you can find it in stock at RRP. Read our take on whether it's worth it first.
- You want the best value: Galaxy Z Fold8.
- You care most about the camera or screen size: Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. It costs more than the Fold8 at RRP, but check the table above: store prices move a lot, and the gap is sometimes small.
- You want a foldable but not a tablet: look at a flip phone instead. See the best foldable phones in Australia.
Choosing between the two Samsungs? Galaxy Z Fold8 vs Z Fold8 Ultra goes through them in detail.
