Some are calling it “Same-sung.”
Samsung has taken a jab at Apple, claiming the tech company is simply “reheating their leftovers” with the launch of their new foldable smartphone, the “iPhone Duo,” priced at $2,000.
This highly anticipated device was revealed on September 9 during Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event, which also marked the debut keynote of CEO John Ternus since taking over from Tim Cook just days earlier.
During the presentation of the $1,999 device, Ternus showcased its unique passport-like hinge that allows it to function like a standard iPhone when closed. The Duo opens up to reveal a 7.6-inch display, offering 80% more screen area than the iPhone 18 Pro.
Ternus pointed out that while many foldable phones look like “two phones awkwardly stuck together,” the crease in the Duo is nearly invisible to the naked eye.
However, Samsung was not impressed, especially since they introduced the similar Galaxy Z Fold8 earlier this year, alongside the original Galaxy Fold released seven years back.
“It’s feeling very familiar. Is this a Sims sequel…,” they remarked in a post on X during the Apple event.
They followed up with, “Let us know when you’re done reheating our leftovers.”
Samsung also mocked the Duo’s ability to transform into a digital alarm clock, scoffing, “Not the bed-side clock. It’s giving groundhog day.”
“Making us wait? Fine. We’ll be over here, folding 3 ways,” they added, referencing their Galaxy Trifold, which had a limited run in Korea last year.
The criticisms struck a chord, given the similarities between the iPhone Duo and the Fold 8, which features a comparable transformable design. The Fold 8 has a 5.5-inch outer screen and a thickness of 4.5 mm when unfolded, while the Duo has a 5.4-inch outer display and a thickness of 5.2 mm.
Samsung even joked that the name “Duo” was a nod to the language learning app Duolingo, saying, “I’m so sorry, @DuoLingo. They copied us too #Solidarity.”
Duolingo quickly entered the conversation, tweeting, “iPhone Duo: $1999 Duo on your iPhone: free.”
Many users sided with Samsung. One critic remarked, “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.”
Another commented, “Apple just announced a foldable like it’s 2019 and they invented the hinge. Samsung’s been shipping these for years.”
Yet, some offered Apple support, with one fan saying, “The Samsung one is literally the Temu version of this.”
Another user shared, “I bought a Samsung Fold like 5 years ago and exchanged it for an iPhone within less than two weeks. The fold line was awful, felt terrible in hand, and typing on it while folded was a nightmare. Your guys’ phones are only good for taking pictures. Apple did it better lol.”
Tech experts had a mixed take on the Duo. Lance Ulanoff from TechRadar expressed being “seriously impressed,” praising the 5.4-inch external display for its brightness and sharpness, and calling the larger main screen “astonishing.”
The standout feature, according to Ulanoff, is the hidden hinge.
“The crease is gone on the iPhone Duo,” he noted while praising its seamless design. “I can feel it with my finger, but cannot see it, because Apple decided to put a special nano-texture covering on the main display.”
He added that this covering disperses light, making the crease practically imperceptible. Yet, he did highlight the hefty price tag of the Duo, which stands as Apple’s priciest iPhone to date.
