Comparing the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to the iPhone Duo is inevitable, considering the two come in more or less the same shape, and the same will most likely happen with their successors. The foldable iPhone was already chunky compared to any other foldable, but it the Galaxy Z Fold 9 might make it feel even bulkier.
The Galaxy Z Fold 9 may be even thinner
Even though the Z Fold 8 came out quite recently, Samsung is reportedly already working on its successor. A new report from leaker @kro_roe on X claims that the concept for the Z Fold 9 is in development, and it may bear some fascinating design changes.
The new foldable could end up being only 7.9 mm thick when folded, and 3.9 mm when unfolded. This will be a significant drop from the already impressive thickness of the Z Fold 8, which is 9.7 mm thick when folded and 4.5 mm when unfolded.
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It would make the iPhone Duo look even chonkier
Galaxy Z Fold 8 is already thin and light. | Image by PhoneArena
In their report, the leaker states the obvious and says that the Z Fold 9 will be positioned as a direct competitor to the iPhone Duo, and likely the iPhone Duo 2, which is expected next September. This may not be the best explanation for the drastic design improvement Samsung is planning.
The reason is that the iPhone Duo is already one of the chunkiest foldables on the market, both in terms of thickness and weight. When opened, it’s 5.2mm thick, while closed it reaches 11.3 mm, which is over 10% thicker than the Z Fold 8.
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Even more damning, the iPhone Duo weighs 254 grams, which doesn’t beat only the 201 grams of the Z Fold 8, but also the 215-gram Z Fold 8 Ultra, and the massive 249-gram iPhone 18 Pro Max. If Samsung can shave off about 14% of the thickness of its foldable, and Apple doesn’t change much with its device, the difference can reach comical levels.
Fans of the iPhone 13 mini and small phones in general had high hopes for the iPhone Duo, but some of them appear very disappointed by how chonky it is. While one user on Reddit has called it a failure in terms of size, most commenters were more concerned about the hefty weight and price.
Some redditors appreciate the mini size of the iPhone Duo. | Image by Reddit (screenshot
The Galaxy Z Fold 9 may take at least one clue from the iPhone Duo
Another detail revealed by the leaker is that Samsung may be considering an under-display camera for the new foldable. While they don’t mention anything more specific, this is most likely referring to the camera on the inner display.
This would mirror not only Apple’s approach for the Duo, but also some of Samsung’s earlier Z Fold devices. The company first introduced an under-display camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 3, and kept using it until the Galaxy Z Fold 6, despite the worse image quality it offered. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 saw the return of the punch-hole camera, which came with a massive quality improvement in our camera test.
These claims should be taken with a big grain of salt. Even if there are internal discussions about the Galaxy Z Fold 9, they are at a very early stage, considering that Samsung will probably launch it around July next year. That’s a long time from now, which means a lot can change.
Samsung is hitting where it would hurt Apple the most
I’ve never been a fan of making phones thinner for no reason, and the bitter experience from the Galaxy S25 Edge should worry Samsung. Leaving this aside, if the Z Fold 9 is so thin but offers the same performance and battery life, Apple will need to feel at least a little worried. Not because thinness is so important, but because I doubt the iPhone Duo 2 will be significantly lighter than this year's model. Either way, I’ll be very happy to see the result of such a fierce competition in foldables.
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Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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