Apple enters foldable market with iPhone Duo, seven years after Samsung

Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, on Wednesday, seven years after Samsung, entering a mature market to reduce risks, according to an expert. The Cupertino company's strategy of waiting for technology to mature avoids first-mover risks and development costs, said Renato Hübner Barcelos, a UQAM marketing professor. Samsung launched its Galaxy Fold in 2019, followed by Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Honor, with early versions suffering from screen crease and durability issues. Foldables represent under 2% of global smartphone sales, but Apple is expected to capture nearly a third this year, per IDC. Priced at 2,999 CAD, the iPhone Duo targets affluent or tech-savvy consumers as an alternative between an iPhone and iPad, not a replacement.