Apple’s September 9, 2026 presentation of the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, appears to have coincided with greater interest in Samsung’s competing devices. Richard Chang, vice president of Samsung’s mobile division for the UK and Ireland, told Forbes that Google searches for Samsung foldables increased 300% over the past month. Samsung separately reports that demand for the Galaxy Z Fold8 family is up 16% since its launch.
The numbers suggest that Apple’s entry may be bringing more attention to the foldable category, where Samsung has several generations of products already on the market. However, the search increase does not establish a matching increase in purchases, Samsung has not disclosed the underlying search volume, and the reported 300% rise covers its foldable lineup rather than the Z Fold8 alone.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 has been on sale since August 7. Samsung’s book-style foldable is positioned around a passport-like form factor intended to be easier to hold in one hand, and it has a measurable size and weight advantage over Apple’s newly announced rival.
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 | Apple iPhone Duo |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 201 g | 254 g |
| Thickness when unfolded | 4.5 mm | 5.2 mm |
| Starting price in the United States | US$1,899 | US$1,999 |
That makes the Z Fold8 53 g lighter and 0.7 mm thinner when open, based on the stated specifications. Apple’s iPhone Duo is also offered with up to 2 TB of storage, with that version priced at US$3,199. Whether heightened interest in Samsung’s foldables translates into sustained sales—and how the iPhone Duo performs after launch—remains unconfirmed.
