Apple Enters Foldable Phone Market With iPhone Duo, Challenging Samsung and Huawei

Apple launched its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, on September 9, entering the foldable smartphone market seven years after Huawei and Samsung, with pre-orders opening October 16 and sales starting October 23. The iPhone Duo, priced from 15,999 yuan for 256GB to 26,499 yuan for 2TB, features a 7.6-inch inner screen, a 5.4-inch outer screen, grade 5 titanium, and an A20 Pro chip. Huawei's Mate XT 2 Ultimate Design tri-fold starts at 19,999 yuan, while Xiaomi's 18 Fold starts at 10,999 yuan, creating a clear price tier among the three rivals. Counterpoint Research forecasts global foldable shipments will grow 21% in 2026, with cumulative sales exceeding 100 million units. Apple is expected to capture 25% global market share this year, behind Samsung's 38% and ahead of Huawei's 22%, as foldables remain just 2% of the overall smartphone market.