Apple’s first foldable iPhone Duo has drawn mockery from Samsung’s U.S. account, which posted a series of messages describing Apple as eating "leftovers," according to a Sept. 10 report from BlockBeats.
But the report says the bigger story sits behind the Apple-Samsung back-and-forth: the real technology contest in foldables may have already shifted.
Specs cited in the report show Chinese rivals pushing key metrics
BlockBeats said the iPhone Duo measures 5.2 mm when unfolded, weighs 254 grams, and has a crease depth of about 150 microns. By comparison, the OPPO Find N5 was cited with a crease of about 101 microns. Huawei’s Mate X6, using its Xuanwu waterdrop hinge, was said to reduce crease depth to about 5 microns. Honor’s Magic V6 was listed at 4 mm unfolded.
Competition now spans several product formats
In terms of form factor, Apple’s first foldable uses a traditional inward-folding, book-style design. Huawei has already launched a tri-fold device, while Honor and Xiaomi are building out vertical clamshell foldables. Chinese manufacturers are also continuing to compete on hinges, hover support, thinness, durability, and overall weight, the report said.
Market focus is shifting beyond Apple versus Samsung
Samsung still leads the global foldable market, according to the report, but Chinese brands are catching up fast. As the technology keeps iterating and prices move lower, foldable-phone competition is gradually changing from an Apple-versus-Samsung story into a broader, multi-dimensional contest led by Chinese manufacturers.
BlockBeats concluded that Samsung may not be wrong to say Apple is late to the game, but the real race in foldables now centers on devices that are lighter, thinner, show fewer creases, and explore more hardware formats.