Foldables remain a tough sell, but this iPhone Duo alternative gets our readers' vote

$2,000 is a lot to spend on anything nowadays, let alone a smartphone, but a foldable phone certainly demands this much from consumers. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the iPhone Duo are two examples of the pinnacle of the smartphone price band, with both devices flirting with the double-grand mark.

The iPhone Duo has attractive perks, from its unique iOS and hardware integration that enables various visual flourishes to its support for the Apple Pencil stylus — something Samsung ripped away from its Z Fold series.

Speaking of which, the Z Fold 8, with its similar aspect ratio, was one of the biggest hardware surprises of 2026. Importantly, it’s still an Android device at the end of the day, and that counts for plenty with many of our readers.

But if given the choice, which device would our readers rather buy using their own hard-earned cash? We posed this question in a recent reader survey, and the results are shown below.

This poll garnered over 2,700 votes, with several surprising takeaways. For one, a fifth of respondents (19.5%) simply can’t get behind the idea of buying a foldable phone nearly a decade into the form factor’s life. Will this ever change? Let us know in the comments what you believe would sway your decision.

It’s worth noting that a sliver of readers would consider the iPhone Duo. This voting cohort accounted for only 18.8% of ballots, but could rise to around 25% if you add the “waiting for iPhone Duo reviews” crowd.

All in all, it’s apparent that the iPhone Duo isn’t challenging Samsung’s dominance in foldable phones, at least not in its first generation. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 would be the preferred foldable of choice for 54.6% of respondents. That’s a resounding win for the Korean company.

Looking beyond the poll, our readers weighed in with a range of views, some of which tackled the real challenge many face. Per commenter wesbrake:

I would never spend $2000 on a phone, that is ridiculous, I don’t care how nice it is.

Of course, the iPhone Duo’s repair costs will quickly add up if you drop the device. That detail shouldn’t be ignored either.

Do you agree with the majority of readers on this poll? Would you rather buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 over the iPhone Duo? What if you weren’t spending your own money? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.