4 Folding Phones Cheaper Than The iPhone Duo Actually Worth Buying

The iPhone Duo marks Apple's debut in the foldable 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. Besides costing less, many of these models are already in mature generations with more refined features.

This market has 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 functions of a foldable phone, there are several options available that offer unique experiences for users while costing a fraction of what Apple charges for the iPhone Duo.

This means anyone interested in a foldable phone but who doesn't want to invest almost $2,000 to get Apple's premium experience doesn't need to spend that much. Several foldable models cost much less than the iPhone Duo and still offer advantages over Apple's phone. For that reason, we 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 foldables with a passport-style format, but Samsung's model is $100 cheaper, costing $1,899, and offers some of the best hardware in the category. Although the difference isn't that large, it's an option for anyone who wants to save a little, especially because the Galaxy can appear on sale.

The screens on both phones also have similarities. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a 5.5-inch outer panel and a 7.6-inch inner one, while the iPhone Duo combines 5.4 and 7.6, respectively. In practice, the Galaxy Z Fold 8's wide screen translates well into multitasking, reading, or even media consumption, although it's not very different from what Apple offers.

On the 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 4,800 mAh battery. The iPhone Duo uses the A20 Pro, but has the iOS 27 ecosystem, so it comes down to your preferred platform. Still, Samsung has more mature experience with foldables and is a slightly cheaper option.

For anyone who liked the iPhone Duo but would like to try a foldable with an even larger screen, the Motorola Razr Fold is a better alternative. It also comes in a book-style format, and the company's first phone in this segment costs $1,899, sitting a little below what Apple charges for its phone. But for that price on Motorola's phone, you get 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, which is double the Duo with 256GB.

The screen is actually the biggest advantage of the Motorola Razr Fold. The phone has a 6.6-inch outer screen that expands to 8.1 inches when open, so there's 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 good for everyone who uses their phone a lot.

In terms of cameras, Motorola has three 50 MP cameras on the Razr Fold, while the iPhone Duo has only two 48 MP rear cameras. The device supports charging of up to 80 W wired and 50 W wireless, compared to 60 W wired on Apple's model. Despite costing a little less, this phone ends up winning when considering some key specifications, making it a good option for anyone who wants stronger hardware.

Most premium 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 16GB of RAM and focuses heavily on hardware integration, with a cleaner operating system. If you want to move away from Apple's ecosystem, it's an interesting option, especially because of the Android experience it offers.

In addition, several of the new features on Pixel 11 phones also reached the Pro Fold, including camera and artificial intelligence tools. The device also offers features specific to the foldable format, such as Split Screen, Drag and Drop, and Instant View, making even better use of the 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 outer panel and an 8-inch inner one. Apple's device falls behind in size in both categories, so Google's phone has the advantage, offering more space for you to get 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 on an iPhone Duo or similar money on other android options, the best choice is the Motorola Razr Ultra (2026). The device begins at $1,499, almost $500 cheaper than the other models. But it's in the flip format rather than the book-style design, so has a slightly different approach, offering more portability.

The Razr Ultra comes with a Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is not as strong as the Gen 5 of many other smartphones, but still capable of outperforming several older laptops. The device also included 16GB of RAM, which helps a lot during multitasking, along with a 5,000 mAh battery. So, even costing less than other options, it has some good specs 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 much less space, as the main screen is 7 inches and the outer display is only 4. For anyone who wants more space, it falls a little short in this area compared to book-style models, but makes up for it with portability and a lower price.

To select the phones on this list, we used the iPhone Duo's starting price of $1,999 as the main reference. From there, we looked at the 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 provide. We also considered performance, screen quality, cameras, battery, and other features that could make them more interesting.

For that reason, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra stayed off the list. Although it's one of the most advanced Android devices available, its starting price is $2,099, which exceeds the price of the iPhone Duo. Therefore, it wasn't possible to include it. Finally, we didn't limit the selection only to book-style models. We also included flip options when they offer good hardware and features, but at a more competitive price, giving users alternatives to enter the foldable market without paying quite as much.