There are a handful of things that Apple’s iPhone Duo and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 have in common. They both feature a passport-sized design, dual rear cameras, and roughly the same battery capacity. These are also two of my favorite phones I’ve reviewed this year.
The compact, book-style setup looks like the future of foldable devices, and Apple and Samsung have each come up with their offerings. Both phones are incredibly versatile, giving you the option to quickly browse apps on the palm-sized cover screen or open up to a more sprawling 7.6-inch inner screen, ideal for watching videos and multitasking at the same time. This innovation comes at a cost, however, since the Duo starts at $1,999 for 256 GB and the Z Fold 8 starts at $1,900 for the same level of storage.
A more compact design has some drawbacks, especially when it comes to rear cameras. There’s no telephoto lens on either phone, which may make the high prices a little harder to swallow. Additionally, the wide and ultra-wide cameras aren’t as good as what you’ll get on premium non-foldable phones like the iPhone 18 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra, which have more advanced optical zoom capabilities and larger main camera sensors.
However, the cameras of the iPhone Duo and Z Fold 8 are nothing ridiculous. The Duo has a 48-megapixel and 48-megapixel ultra-wide cameras, as well as a 12-megapixel selfie camera on the cover display and a FaceTime camera on the interior display (Apple didn’t share the resolution). Meanwhile, the Z Fold 8 has a 50-megapixel and 50-megapixel ultra-wide cameras, as well as 10-megapixel selfie cameras on the cover and interior displays. This means you should always get impressive photos, whether you’re in a well-lit exterior or a dark, dreary environment.
To compare the cameras, I took the iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold 8 to Filoli, a historic house and garden in the San Francisco Bay Area. Here are some of my favorite photos, highlighting the highlights and unique features of each phone’s cameras.
Both phones do a great job depicting the dynamism of the lush background, but the iPhone Duo has the edge here. It better preserves the details of the bench and stone floor, and the greenery takes on a deeper, more satisfying hue.
These photos turned out to be very similar and both are equally stunning. But the Z Fold 8’s image is slightly sharper, as seen in the lines on tree bark and brighter, more pigmented greenery and flora. So I offer this one to the Z Fold 8.
These portrait images highlight some of the key color and tonal differences between the iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold 8. I prefer the richer blacks and more vibrant colors captured by the iPhone Duo. It also helps keep the crow in focus better, allowing the bird to stand out more distinctly from the background and creating a more striking overall image. In comparison, the Z Fold 8 produces a softer, softer look, with a more subdued overall tone.
I like the brightness of the iPhone Duo’s image, and although the Z Fold 8’s photo has slightly deeper shadows, the hydrangeas are also more vibrant. The blues and greens stand out more on the Z Fold 8, just like the sky, a little washed out on the Duo. So this one goes to the Z Fold 8.
I’m still tossing and turning on this one, but eventually the richer colors and texture of the Duo image won me over. The iPhone’s camera tends to cast a warmer glow, as you can see on the stone benches, while the Z Fold 8 adopts a more neutral tone. Ultimately, the differences are subtle and come down to personal preference.
And finally, here I am relaxing with a book. By default, the iPhone Duo applies a nice background blur, which I like for the added drama. (This effect can be turned off when taking a photo, but I rarely choose to do so.) The Z Fold 8, by comparison, keeps distant lawns and wooded hills sharper, preserving these details remarkably well. Ultimately, I prefer the Duo’s approach, which keeps the book sharper and makes it stand out from the background. That said, I appreciate the Z Fold 8’s ability to capture finer details throughout the scene, especially individual, sharp blades of grass.
Final Thoughts: Which Camera is Best?
Because I’m a fan of both the iPhone Duo and the Galaxy Z Fold 8, it’s hard to wholeheartedly recommend one camera over another. Each has its strengths, and there are times when one preserves detail and color better than the other.
In general, iPhone Duo photos tend to have warmer tones and richer, deeper colors, which can also lead to more pronounced shadows. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 often produces brighter images, although this can sometimes come at the expense of finer details. But these results may vary depending on factors like lighting and angles.
Ultimately, both foldable phones deliver impressive results, and the choice depends on which picture features you value most. Luckily, you really can’t go wrong with either one.
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