With the iPhone Duo and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 now in front of us, I have come to the realization that I actually prefer the latter. In fact, I don’t just prefer it, I now think that it’s the best smartphone on the market, barring the lack of a telephoto lens which is the one thing holding me back for now.
But the reason for why I like the Fold 8 more than the Duo is…a bit more superficial than I would have liked to admit. I’m getting ahead of myself, though, so let’s first talk about the new form factor and my initial and current thoughts on it.
At first, I thought this form factor was stupid
Who would want such a piddly little display, I used to ask myself. | Image by PhoneArena
When the iPhone Duo first leaked, when we thought it would be called the iPhone Ultra or the iPhone Fold, my initial kneejerk reaction was one of quickly deflating interest. I had been really looking forward to seeing what Apple had been working on, and to say that I was disappointed would be an understatement.
Of course, shortly after it came out that Samsung was working on a similar foldable. This is the Galaxy Z Fold 8 today. Up until the iPhone Duo came out, I viewed the Fold 8 as a gimmick, and I thought that the iPhone Duo would be more of the same.
Instead, all it did was multiply my interest in foldable phones that had first materialized when I saw the Galaxy Z Fold 7 last year.
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Why? Because I like how the Galaxy Z Fold 8 looks a lot more
You've got to love that boxy Samsung aesthetic. | Image by PhoneArena
Yep, that’s it. That is literally my biggest reason for liking the Fold 8 over the Duo. Let me explain.
When I first saw the Fold 8 in action, I immediately saw the practicality of it. However, I was still not sold on it. It still looked odd to me. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, on the other hand, looked normal. It looked “right” because that was what I was used to.
Then I saw the iPhone Duo.
Don’t get me wrong, I think that the Duo is a very pretty device, and the Apple event itself was one of the best that I’ve seen in quite some time. But the design of the Duo made me realize how much I prefer Samsung’s approach instead.
Which of these passport-style foldables looks better?
17 Votes
The iPhone Duo looks too ordinary
I've never been a fan of phones that are too rounded. | Image by Apple
I feel like Apple took its established design too far with the Duo. The very round corners, the extremely curved and extra shiny edges, and the oddly shaped camera island on the back, none of these do it for me.
It looks so…bland. And I know this is probably a very controversial opinion, but once the initial attraction wore off following the Duo’s announcement, I started appreciating the Fold 8 a lot more instead.
Samsung’s iconic boxy look, the way the cameras are arranged on the back, the sheer elegance of its super-slim chassis, it all looks so good. And once I saw it in action a bit more, I realized I had fallen for the new form factor, and now the Ultra looks like the odd one to me. Credit to Apple for the layout, of course.
Aside from its design, the iPhone Duo has another problem as well. To hide the display crease, Apple has used a nano-texture coating for the inner display. While it reduces glare significantly, it also makes the screen look like a matte surface, which some users might not appreciate at all.
No, the Fold 8 isn’t perfect, but is any phone?
If only there was a third camera there. | Image by PhoneArena
So, am I rushing to get a Fold 8 as my daily driver? I’m still on the fence. I’ve really been into foldables since the Fold 7, but there’s always some shortcoming that keeps me away.
With the Fold 8, I just can’t get over the lack of a telephoto lens. It’s also a first-generation product — which shows in how some apps work on it — and I would be going against my own advice if I bought it.
It’s a brilliant little thing, more addictive than any smartphone in recent memory. But for now, there’s not much it can do that you couldn’t just achieve with a traditional Galaxy flagship and a Samsung tablet alongside it for media consumption.
I’m definitely feeling the pull, though. Perhaps if Samsung includes a telephoto next year.
A handful of other perspectives on the iPhone Duo:
Abdullah loves smartphones, Virtual Reality, and audio gear. Though he covers a wide range of news his favorite is always when he gets to talk about the newest VR venture or when Apple sets the industry ablaze with another phenomenal release.
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