Samsung has directly criticized Apple's newly unveiled foldable "iPhone Duo," accusing the tech giant of "reheating their leftovers" during the device's launch event. The criticism came via social media posts from the South Korean company, which has been producing foldable phones for years.
Apple announced the $1,999 iPhone Duo on Wednesday, September 9, during its "Surprise and Shine" event. Apple CEO John Ternus, in his first keynote since replacing Tim Cook, highlighted the device's passport-like hinge and an inner screen that expands to 7.6 inches, 80% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro's display. Ternus claimed the Duo's crease is nearly invisible, contrasting it with other foldables that he suggested resemble "two phones awkwardly stuck together."
Samsung, however, countered these claims by pointing to its own foldable offerings, including the Galaxy Z Fold8 released earlier this year and the original Galaxy Fold, which debuted seven years prior. Samsung's X posts during the Apple event included jabs like "It’s feeling very familiar. Is this a Sims sequel…" and the pointed remark, "Let us know when you’re done reheating our leftovers."
Samsung also mocked the iPhone Duo's ability to convert into a stand-up alarm clock, referring to it as "Not the bed-side clock. It’s giving groundhog day." The company further teased its own upcoming foldable technology, stating, "We’ll be over here, folding 3 ways," referencing the Galaxy Trifold, which had a limited release in South Korea last year.
The iPhone Duo features a 5.4-inch outer display and measures 5.2 mm thick when unfolded. This contrasts with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, which has a 5.5-inch outer screen and is 4.5 mm thick unfolded.
The social media exchange extended to the language learning app Duolingo, which playfully joined the fray by tweeting, "iPhone Duo: $1999 Duo on your iPhone: free." Samsung responded to Duolingo with solidarity, implying Apple's name choice for the device was derivative.
Commenters on social media largely sided with Samsung, with some calling the iPhone Duo "revolutionary" for a technology Samsung has refined over multiple generations. Others criticized Apple for presenting the foldable concept as new, despite Samsung's years of shipping similar devices.
However, some users defended Apple, with one commenter stating that Samsung's foldables were a "Temu version" compared to the iPhone Duo. Another user recounted a negative experience with a Samsung Fold, citing an "awful" crease and poor typing experience, and praising Apple's execution.
Tech experts, such as TechRadar contributor Lance Ulanoff, expressed positive impressions of the iPhone Duo, particularly praising its "bright" and "sharp" 5.4-inch external display and "astonishing" main screen. Ulanoff specifically lauded the device's nearly imperceptible hinge and crease, attributing it to a special nano-texture covering on the main display that disperses light. The primary drawback cited for the Duo is its high price tag, making it Apple's most expensive iPhone to date. The iPhone Duo is scheduled to be available starting October 23.