iPhone Duo Costs Rs 1.2 Lakh More Than the Galaxy Z Fold 8: What You Need to Know Now

The iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 question becomes real this week. Apple opens India pre-orders for its first foldable on Friday, 16 October.

However, the two phones are far closer on paper than their prices suggest. Both have a 7.6-inch inner screen, two rear cameras and no zoom lens.

Yet the Duo costs Rs 2,99,900 and the Fold 8 launched at Rs 1,79,999. So this piece says whether that Rs 1.2 lakh gap buys you anything.

The Short Version

• Price: the iPhone Duo starts at Rs 2,99,900 and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Rs 1,79,999, both for 256GB.
• The gap: Rs 1,19,901 in India, against only $100 in the US.
• Where the Fold 8 wins: it is 53g lighter and thinner, it takes a physical SIM, and it has seven Android upgrades promised.
• Where the Duo wins: IP68 water and dust protection, a titanium frame, and longer claimed video playback.
• Buy the Fold 8 if: you want a foldable today and care about value.
• Wait on the Duo if: you live in Apple’s world and still want one. Do not pre-order blind.

iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8: Price in India

Apple’s India store lists the iPhone Duo at Rs 2,99,900 for 256GB. The 512GB model is Rs 3,24,900, the 1TB is Rs 3,74,900 and the 2TB is Rs 4,49,900.

Pre-orders open at 5:30 PM on 16 October, and sales begin on 23 October. In addition, Apple offers Rs 7,000 instant cashback on eligible American Express, Axis Bank and ICICI Bank cards.

Samsung, on the other hand, priced the Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Rs 1,79,999 for 256GB. The 512GB model is Rs 1,99,999 and the 1TB is Rs 2,39,999.

| | iPhone Duo | Galaxy Z Fold 8 |

|—|—|—|

| 256GB | Rs 2,99,900 | Rs 1,79,999 |

| 512GB | Rs 3,24,900 | Rs 1,99,999 |

| 1TB | Rs 3,74,900 | Rs 2,39,999 |

| Inner screen | 7.6-inch | 7.6-inch |

| Outer screen | 5.4-inch | 5.5-inch |

| Rear cameras | 48MP + 48MP | 50MP + 50MP |

| Weight | 254g | 201g |

| Thickness folded | 11.3mm | 9.7mm |

| Water and dust rating | IP68 | IP48 |

| SIM | eSIM only | Nano-SIM and eSIM |

So the gap is Rs 1,19,901 at 256GB. It then grows to Rs 1,24,901 at 512GB and Rs 1,34,901 at 1TB.

Besides, the Fold 8 has already been on sale since August. We tracked it at Rs 1,74,999 in our Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs Z Fold 7 verdict, so check today’s price before you compare.

Why the Gap Is So Much Bigger in India

Here is the part that should annoy you. In the US, the Duo costs $1,999 and the Fold 8 starts at $1,899.

That is a $100 difference. SamMobile worked out that the Duo is about 5% dearer in the US but 67% dearer in India.

No other market it checked comes close. For example, the premium is about 18% in the UK and 30% in Australia.

Import duty explains part of it. One analysis estimates the duty on an imported Duo at roughly Rs 36,000, because Samsung builds the Fold 8 in India.

However, that figure is one outlet’s estimate, not Apple’s. Even if it is right, it covers only a third of the gap.

In other words, Indian buyers are paying the largest Apple premium in the world for this phone. We explained the wider trend in our piece on why smartphone prices are rising in 2026.

Size and Weight: Samsung Is Easier to Carry

The Fold 8 is the lighter phone by a wide margin. GSMArena lists it at 201g and 9.7mm thick when folded.

The Duo, in contrast, weighs 254g and is 11.3mm thick when closed. That makes it the heaviest iPhone Apple has made.

As a result, you will feel the 53g difference in a pocket and on long calls.

The screens are almost a tie. Both phones open to 7.6 inches. Meanwhile, the outer screens are 5.4 inches on the Duo and 5.5 inches on the Fold 8.

Still, the Duo is tougher on paper. It carries an IP68 rating and a Grade 5 titanium frame, while the Fold 8 is IP48 with an aluminium frame.

Therefore, the Duo is sealed against fine dust and the Fold 8 is not. For a hinge that lives in Indian pockets, that matters.

Camera: Neither Phone Has a Zoom Lens

This is the surprise at Rs 3 lakh. The Duo has two rear cameras, a 48MP main and a 48MP ultrawide.

The Fold 8 has the same layout, with a 50MP main and a 50MP ultrawide. Consequently, neither phone gives you a real telephoto lens.

Both use the main sensor for a 2x crop instead. For video, the Duo shoots 4K at 120fps in Dolby Vision, while the Fold 8 goes up to 8K at 30fps.

So if photos come first, neither is your phone. A slab flagship does more, as our iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro verdict shows.

Battery, Charging and SIM

Apple does not publish a battery size. Instead, it claims up to 31 hours of video on the inner screen.

Samsung’s official figure for the Fold 8 is 26 hours, according to SamMobile’s comparison. So the Duo leads on claims, but nobody has tested it in India yet.

The Fold 8, meanwhile, has known numbers. It has a 4,800mAh battery and 45W charging, and GSMArena measured 63% in 30 minutes.

Apple says the Duo reaches 50% in around 20 minutes. In addition, neither phone ships with a charger.

There are two catches for Indian buyers. First, the Duo is eSIM only, with no SIM tray in any market. Second, it uses Touch ID in the side button, not Face ID.

Software: What Each Phone Does Better

The Duo runs iOS 27, and it can sit half open like a small laptop. Moreover, Apple Pencil support for both screens is due later this year.

The Fold 8 runs One UI 9 on Android 17. It has Samsung DeX for a desktop view, but it has no S Pen support.

Samsung also promises seven Android upgrades. Apple, however, has not published an update promise for the Duo.

Our earlier look at whether the iPhone Duo is worth it covers Apple’s multitasking features in more detail.

Which Should You Buy?

Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8 if you want a foldable now. It is lighter, thinner and takes a normal SIM. It also leaves you Rs 1.2 lakh for a laptop. This is the one I would buy.

Wait on the iPhone Duo if you own a Mac, an iPad and an Apple Watch, and money is not the issue. Even then, do not pre-order on 16 October. Instead, wait for reviews after 23 October.

Skip the Duo if you need a physical SIM, a zoom camera or Face ID. It has none of them.

Skip both if you want the biggest screen. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has an 8-inch display and launched at Rs 1,99,999, which is still Rs 1 lakh under the Duo.

Quick Answers

What is the iPhone Duo price in India?

It starts at Rs 2,99,900 for 256GB and goes up to Rs 4,49,900 for 2TB. Pre-orders open on 16 October.

Is the iPhone Duo heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 8?

Yes. The Duo weighs 254g and the Fold 8 weighs 201g. The Duo is also 1.6mm thicker when folded.

Does the iPhone Duo have a physical SIM slot?

No. It is eSIM only in every market, so check that your operator supports eSIM first.

Which has the better camera?

It is close on paper. Both have two rear cameras and no telephoto lens, and no side-by-side tests exist yet.

The Bottom Line

In the iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 contest, the hardware is close and the price is not. Samsung gives you a lighter phone for Rs 1.2 lakh less.

So I would buy the Fold 8 today. The Duo only makes sense for a committed Apple user, and only after reviewers have tested it.

A few things are still unknown. Nobody has tested the Duo’s hinge over months, because the phone is not on sale yet.

Also, Apple has not shared a battery size or an update promise. Finally, it is not confirmed whether the Duo will see any festive discount in India this year.