4 foldable phones cheaper than the iPhone Duo that are definitely worth buying

The iPhone Duo marks Apple’s debut in the foldable device market and prices start at $1,999, placing the device among the most expensive smartphones today. Fortunately, there are several foldable phones that are cheaper than Apple’s. In addition to being cheaper, many of these models are already in mature generations with more refined features.

This market offers good alternatives from brands like Samsung, Google and Motorola, which offer different designs, good hardware and software designed specifically for this foldable format. For anyone who wants access to the exclusive features of a foldable phone, several options are available that offer unique experiences to users while costing a fraction of what Apple charges for the iPhone Duo.

This means that anyone interested in a foldable phone but doesn’t want to invest nearly $2,000 to get Apple’s premium experience doesn’t need to spend that much. Several foldable models cost significantly less than the iPhone Duo and still offer advantages over Apple’s phone. For this reason, we’ve highlighted some options that may make more sense for anyone looking for a foldable.

Samsung offers one of the most direct alternatives to the iPhone Duo with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, mainly because the two phones offer similar concepts. They’re passport-sized foldable, but Samsung’s model is $100 cheaper, costing $1,899, and offers some of the best hardware in the category. Even though the difference is not that big, it is an option for anyone who wants to save a little, especially since the Galaxy may appear on sale.

The screens of the two phones also have similarities. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a 5.5-inch exterior panel and a 7.6-inch interior panel, while the iPhone Duo combines 5.4 and 7.6 inches respectively. In practice, the wide screen of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 translates well to multitasking, reading, or even multimedia consumption, even if it is not very different from what Apple offers.

Inside, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, one of the best Android processors of 2026. There’s also 12GB of RAM and a 4,800mAh battery. The iPhone Duo uses the A20 Pro, but has the iOS 27 ecosystem, so it depends on your preferred platform. Still, Samsung has more mature experience with foldables and is a slightly cheaper option.

For anyone who likes the iPhone Duo but wants to try a foldable with an even bigger screen, the Motorola Razr Fold is a better alternative. It’s also available in book form, and the company’s first phone in this segment costs $1,899, which is a bit below what Apple charges for its phone. But for that price on Motorola’s phone, you get 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, double the Duo with 256GB.

The screen is actually the biggest advantage of the Motorola Razr Fold. The phone has a 6.6-inch exterior display that expands to 8.1 inches when opened, leaving plenty of room for apps and multitasking. The Razr Fold also has a 6,000 mAh battery, which gives the Razr Fold an advantage over the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, for example, and is also suitable for anyone who uses their phone a lot.

In terms of cameras, Motorola has three 50 MP cameras on the Razr Fold, while the iPhone Duo only has two 48 MP rear cameras. The device supports charging up to 80W wired and 50W wireless, compared to 60W wired on the Apple model. Although it costs a bit less, this phone ends up winning when you consider some key specs, making it a good option for anyone who wants more powerful hardware.

Most high-end Android foldables cost around $1,899, and the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is no different. The model comes with a Tensor G6 accompanied by 16 GB of RAM and focuses heavily on hardware integration, with a cleaner operating system. If you want to move away from the Apple ecosystem, this is an interesting option, especially because of the Android experience it offers.

Additionally, several of the new features of the Pixel 11 phones have also reached the Pro Fold, including the camera and artificial intelligence tools. The device also offers foldable-specific features, such as split-screen, drag and drop and snap view, allowing even better use of available space when the phone is open.

The screen is another important advantage over the iPhone Duo. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold offers a 6.5-inch exterior panel and an 8-inch interior panel. Apple’s device lags behind in size in both categories, so Google’s phone has the edge, offering more space to let you have a better view of your apps and productivity.

Another choice for those who want to enter the foldable world, but don’t want to spend almost $2,000 for an iPhone Duo or a similar price for other Android options, the best choice is the Motorola Razr Ultra (2026). The device starts at $1,499, almost $500 less than other models. But it’s in flip format rather than book style design, so it has a slightly different approach, offering more portability.

The Razr Ultra comes with a Snapdragon 8 Elite, which isn’t as powerful as the Gen 5 in many other smartphones, but still capable of outperforming several older laptops. The device also included 16GB of RAM, which is very useful when multitasking, as well as a 5,000mAh battery. So even though it costs less than other options, it has good features for the price.

Between the iPhone Duo and this model, the biggest difference is the screen. Since it’s a flip phone, the Razr Ultra has a lot less space, since the main screen is 7 inches and the exterior screen is only 4. For anyone who wants more space, it falls a bit short in this area compared to book-style models, but makes up for it with portability and a lower price.

To select the phones for this list, we used the iPhone Duo’s starting price of $1,999 as our primary benchmark. From there, we looked at other models on the market and chose those that had a lower starting price than Apple’s foldable at its official price.

Second, we chose those that offer a premium experience similar to what the Duo can offer. We also considered performance, screen quality, cameras, battery, and other features that might make them more interesting.

For this reason, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra remained off the list. Although it is one of the most advanced Android devices available, it has a starting price of $2,099, which exceeds the price of the iPhone Duo. It was therefore not possible to include it. Finally, we have not limited the selection to just book-type models. We’ve also included flip options where they offer quality hardware and features, but at a more competitive price, giving users alternatives to enter the foldable market without paying as much.