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Apple’s iPhone Duo starts at USD 1,999, making it significantly more expensive than several competing foldable smartphones available from major technology brands.
Samsung, Google, Honor and Motorola offer foldable alternatives with different strengths, including productivity features, durability, slimmer designs, software support and portability.
Buyers comparing foldable phones should consider display design, cameras, battery capacity, software updates, durability, ecosystem compatibility and overall pricing before choosing.
Apple has finally entered the foldable phone market with the iPhone Duo, and the announcement has generated as much debate as excitement. The device carries a starting price of USD 1,999, which makes it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold. For many buyers, this price tag raises a fair question. Is a foldable phone from Apple worth it, or would the same budget be better spent on a rival device that offers similar innovation at a lower cost?
The foldable phone category has matured a great deal over the past few years, and several brands now offer devices that rival Apple on design, durability, and software, often at a friendlier price. This article looks at why the iPhone Duo costs so much and lists five foldable phones worth considering as alternatives.
Also Read: 5 Exclusive iPhone Duo Features You Should Know About
The iPhone Duo opens like a book and reveals a 7.6-inch internal display, which Apple describes as the largest screen ever placed inside an iPhone. The cover screen measures 5.4 inches, and the device runs on Apple's A20 Pro chip paired with a new cooling system.
Apple claims this combination delivers 35% higher sustained performance compared with the iPhone 17 Pro. Battery life is rated at 31 hours of video playback, and the phone includes dual 48-megapixel rear cameras along with an under-display FaceTime camera. These components, along with the folding mechanism and reinforced hinge, add to key manufacturing costs.
Foldable displays remain expensive to produce, and Apple has spent years refining the technology to avoid a visible crease, a problem that affected earlier foldables from other brands. The result is a premium device built with premium components.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 remains one of the strongest book-style foldables on the market and starts at around USD 1,799, which is USD 200 less than the iPhone Duo. It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, features a flagship camera system, and is noted for being one of the thinnest foldables available when closed.
Samsung's DeX mode also turns the phone into a near-laptop experience when connected to a keyboard, adding genuine productivity value beyond entertainment and browsing.
Pixel 10 Pro Fold is priced near USD 1,799 at launch, though it can often be found closer to USD 1,499 through retailers. What sets this device apart is durability. It carries the first IP68 water resistance rating given to a folding phone, a meaningful upgrade over earlier foldables that struggled with dust and moisture protection.
Google also backs the phone with seven years of software updates, the longest commitment offered on any foldable today, which gives buyers strong long-term value for their money.
Honor has positioned the Magic V5 as a direct challenger to Samsung and Apple, pricing it at EUR 1,999 euros in Europe, which works out to roughly 100 pounds less than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in the UK market. The phone measures just 8.8 millimetres when folded, making it one of the slimmest foldables sold anywhere.
It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, includes a 5,820mAh battery, and offers a triple rear camera system with a periscope telephoto lens. For buyers who want flagship specifications without paying Apple-level prices, the Magic V5 is a compelling option.
Not every buyer wants a large book-style device, and Motorola's Razr Ultra 2026 caters to those who prefer a compact flip phone. Priced at USD 1,499, it features a 5,000mAh battery, dual 50-megapixel cameras suited for vlogging, and a bright cover display that supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 plus.
Reviewers have noted that the price rose by 200 dollars over the previous generation, yet the phone still undercuts the iPhone Duo by USD 500 while offering a genuinely different form factor built around portability and design.
For buyers who want to experience a foldable phone without spending close to USD 2,000, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 starts at around USD 999, roughly half the price of the iPhone Duo. It features a 4.1-inch cover screen that displays notifications, camera previews, and widgets without needing to open the phone.
Samsung has also strengthened the hinge design in this generation, addressing a common concern among flip phone owners regarding long-term durability. It is not built for heavy multitasking the way the larger Fold models are, but it delivers the foldable experience at a price that many more people can afford.
iPhone Duo is a genuinely impressive piece of engineering, and Apple has clearly worked to solve problems that affected earlier foldables, including screen creasing and hinge durability. However, its USD 1,999 starting price places it firmly in premium territory, and buyers now have several strong alternatives that offer comparable innovation at a lower cost. Samsung, Google, Honor, and Motorola have each built foldables that suit different needs, whether that means better software support, a slimmer design, a compact flip form, or simply a friendlier price.
Choosing the right foldable ultimately depends on individual priorities such as brand ecosystem, camera quality, and long-term software support, rather than price alone. For most buyers, comparing these options carefully before committing to Apple's most expensive iPhone yet is a sensible step.
1. How much does the Apple iPhone Duo cost?
The iPhone Duo starts at USD 1,999, placing it among the most expensive mainstream smartphones. Its price reflects Apple’s foldable display technology, A20 Pro chip, cooling system, cameras, and reinforced hinge construction.
2. Which foldable phones are alternatives to the iPhone Duo?
The alternatives covered here include Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Honor Magic V5, Motorola Razr Ultra, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, covering both book-style and compact flip designs.
3. Is Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 cheaper than iPhone Duo?
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts around USD 1,799, making its entry price approximately USD 200 lower than the iPhone Duo. Samsung also offers features such as DeX, which expands the phone’s productivity capabilities.
4. Which foldable phone offers the lowest price among these options?
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 has the lowest starting price among the five alternatives discussed, at around USD 999. Its compact design provides a foldable experience without approaching the iPhone Duo’s USD 1,999 starting price.
5. What should buyers consider before choosing a foldable phone?
Buyers should compare price, display size, hinge construction, durability ratings, battery capacity, cameras, software support, and ecosystem compatibility. The choice also depends on whether they prefer a large productivity-focused foldable or compact flip design.
