The iPhone Duo is already delayed for months just hours after pre-orders have opened, leaving those interested in foldables unable to get Apple’s take anytime soon. If you’re seriously interested in a foldable, though, may I interest you in some Android alternatives?
Apple opened up pre-orders for the iPhone Duo earlier today and, as our sister site 9to5Mac points out, delivery dates slipped immediately. The first wave arrives later this month but, within less than an hour, every configuration had been delayed to January 2027 or later.
Oof.
So, if you really want to try out a foldable, here are some Android alternatives to take a look at.
Galaxy Z Fold 8: Same difference
The obvious choice here is Galaxy Z Fold 8, the foldable that’s directly benefiting from the sheer existence of iPhone Duo. And that’s largely because the comparisons are obvious. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 shares nearly the same form factor as the iPhone Duo with its short and wide outer display, and its wide inner display. It also has virtually no display create, an anti-reflective display (admittedly much less aggressive than Apple’s), and the same basic camera setup.
It’s more or less the same phone, just not made by Apple. That does mean you’re losing out on some of Apple’s integrations, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 does support iMessage-like texting over RCS, as well as AirDrop support with MacBooks, iPad, and other iPhones.
And it’s cheaper, too.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts $100 less than the iPhone Duo at $1,899, but it’s frequently on sale and easier to find around $1,600-1,700 at any given time.
Motorola Razr Fold: For the stylus and battery
If you don’t want Apple’s exact form factor, the Motorola Razr Fold is an underrated option. Starting at $1,899, it has a typical smartphone display on the outside and a square-ish inner display. That bigger canvas is still useful for multitasking and media just like the Duo, just in a different shape.
The benefit of Razr Fold is that you get a way bigger battery than anything Samsung is offering, as well as stylus support on both displays. They’re both big reasons to go for Motorola’s foldable.
Oppo Find N6: If you can get it
If you can get it, and that’s a big “if,” the Oppo Find N6 is absolutely worthy of consideration.
Like the Motorola Razr Fold, it has a huge battery and stylus support, but with stronger cameras and a thinner design, as well as one of the best display creases in the business. The software, especially following the latest ColorOS update, will also feel very iPhone-like.
But, in the US, it’s almost impossible to get it.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: The standard for a reason
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra isn’t the “new” option, but it’s still a great one. A thin chassis, all of the camera lenses you’d want, and a bigger battery than past generations while checking every box in terms of hardware and software features.
Not exciting, but excellent. And heavily discounted quite frequently. You can get a Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra for around $1,899 pretty easily, around $200 off its usual price, and it’s well worth your consideration.
Honorable mention: Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Google’s Pixel series is one of the standouts in the industry because it’s not just copying Apple’s playbook. And, if you’re going to switch away from iPhone, this might be the best place to go. Between clean and stable implementations of cross-platform features like RCS, AirDrop over Quick Share, and more, the Pixel is very much the best choice in terms of experience alone.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold, however, lags behind in the overall foldable space. It’s a perfectly fine foldable that’s still thinner than Apple’s, but it also lacks the polish of Samsung’s foldables.
It’s fourth-best, but that’s still “last” for the time being. You’ll be happy with it, just don’t expect anything crazy.
More on Foldables:
- Samsung says the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is more popular than ever thanks to iPhone Duo
- The iPhone Duo didn’t reinvent Android foldables, but I fear the copycats anyway
- iPhone Duo is thicker and heavier than basically every Android foldable
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