Apple has finally made the leap into the world of foldable devices with the launch of the new iPhone Duo.
The tech giant’s first foldable smartphone features a book–like folding design, with a 7.6–inch inner display that is wider than it is tall when unfolded.
However, keen–eyed tech fans have noticed some glaring similarities to other foldables that have been on the market for years.
On social media, Samsung has been quick to poke fun at Apple for bringing out its first foldable – a full seven years after the Korean rival.
On X, Samsung Mobile US quipped: ‘Let us know when you’re done reheating our leftovers.’
The Korean tech giant even took aim at one of the iPhone Duo’s new features, the ability to partially unfold and stand up like a digital alarm clock.
In response to this announcement, Samsung joked: ‘Not the bed side clock. It’s giving groundhog day.’
Samsung has poked fun at Apple for releasing its first foldable device, seven years after its Korean rival
Samsung’s jabs were particularly cutting due to the uncanny resemblance between the iPhone Duo (right) and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 (left)
Samsung’s jabs were particularly cutting due to the uncanny resemblance between the iPhone Duo and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, released earlier this year.
Both devices share the same short and wide form factor, with a 7.6–inch inner display and a very similar aspect ratio.
The only differences are that the Z Fold8 has a 5.5–inch outer screen and is 4.5 mm thick unfolded, while the iPhone Duo has a 5.4–inch outer display and is 5.2 mm thick unfolded.
This similarity was not lost on Samsung’s social media team, who quickly shared a flurry of insults.
The company wrote: ‘It’s feeling very familiar. Is this a Sims sequel?’
It added: ‘Making us wait? Fine. We’ll be over here, folding 3 ways,’ in a reference to the Galaxy Trifold, which had a limited release in Korea last year.
Some tech fans flocked to take Samsung’s side in the online debate, with one writing: ‘Apple is about to charge you $2,000 for a foldable phone that Samsung perfected 7 generations ago and people will still call it revolutionary.’
‘Apple just showed up to the party seven years late calling it innovation,’ chimed in another.
As Apple proudly unveiled its new lineup of products, Samsung took to social media to mock the American tech giant
The iPhone Duo features a book–like folding design, with a 7.6–inch inner display that is wider than it is tall when unfolded
However, not everyone was so impressed with the company’s social media antics, with one tech fan comparing Samsung to ‘a toxic ex after a breakup’.
Another commenter simply wrote: ‘Samsung is having a mental breakdown right now.’
Samsung wasn’t the only company to pile in on Apple’s latest products.
Duolingo, the language learning app, took offence to the new foldable taking the name of their company’s own mascot, Duo.
The company wrote on X: ‘iPhone Duo: $1999. Duo on your iPhone: free.’
Even Chipotle, the chain of Mexican restaurants, got involved, sharing a burrito wrapping video, and writing: ‘We’ve had foldable technology for years btw.’
Despite the inevitable jokes, the iPhone Duo appears to be a top–end foldable device capable of competing with anything else on the market.
Most importantly, Apple claims to have finally solved the issue of creases appearing on the screen through continued use.
The language–learning app Duolingo got in on the fun after noticing that the foldable iPhone had taken the same name as the company’s bird mascot, Duo
Even Chipotle started making fun of Apple, joking that their restaurants have had ‘foldable technology for years’
Ben Wood, founder of CCS Insight, told the Daily Mail: ‘The iPhone Duo has clearly benefited from major advances in the quality and reliability of flexible displays.
‘A good example is the near–creaseless screen which, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, uses a titanium plate below the display.
‘However, a differentiator is the nano–texture finish on the display, previously used on the MacBook Pro.’
That should make the iPhone Duo more legible in bright conditions, less prone to smudging, and further reduce the appearance of the crease.
Thanks to its ‘effortlessly smooth’ hinge, the tech giant claims its first foldable will be even more durable and should keep annoying screen creasing to a minimum.
Users will be able to use the iPhone Duo in any orientation or position, leaving it half open to prop up and watch movies hands–free or holding it partially folded like a book.
The iPhone Duo is available in two colours – night sky and star white – and is constructed from titanium.
But with prices ranging from £1,999 to £3,199 ($1,999 to $3,199), this is Apple’s most expensive iPhone ever.
The trillion-dollar rise of Apple
1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1, 1976, as they set about selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple I.
1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market.
Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation’s new Macintosh in California on February 6, 1984
1981: Jobs became chairman.
1984: The Macintosh was introduced during an ad break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.
1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first colour Mac.
1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that involves Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took the role in 2000.
Steve Jobs, then-chief executive officer of Apple, with the iPhone
2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod.
The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold up to 1,000 songs.
2007: Apple unveils the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad was unveiled.
2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October from pancreatic cancer.
2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones – the 6 and 6 Plus.
2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California, with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with just the owner’s face.
Jobs at an Apple event at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California
2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was spawned by a strongly worded letter from shareholders that urged the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among kids and teenagers.
2019: In January, Apple reports its first decline in revenues and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed steep declines in revenue from China.
2020: In March, Apple closes all its brick-and-mortar retail stores outside of China in response to coronavirus.
2021: In an online virtual event in April, CEO Tim Cook declares Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral for Earth Day. Later in the year, the iPhone 13 was announced.
2022: In September, the iPhone 14 was announced. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car crash, as well as an improved camera system.
2023: Apple brings back its ‘Home Pod’ after the first generation was discontinued. The ‘Home Pod’ can be seen as an alternative to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home, as it is powered by voice commands.
2024: Apple makes its first steps into artificial intelligence with the release of Apple Intelligence. The features are not all released at once, with many delayed until the following year.
2026: Apple announces a leadership shakeup. After 15 years leading the company, Tim Cook steps aside from his position as CEO to become executive chairman. John Ternus, 51, Apple’s widely respected hardware chief, takes as CEO on September 1.
