Apple is finally expected to enter the foldable smartphone market, but Samsung already has years of experience behind it. So, if youāre ready to buy a premium foldable phone, should you grab the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 nowāor wait to see what Apple has up its sleeve?
For years, Samsung has largely defined the book-style foldable smartphone. Now, in 2026, Apple appears ready to challenge it with its first folding iPhone, widely rumoured to be called either the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra.
That leaves buyers with a surprisingly difficult decision: buy Samsungās proven Galaxy Z Fold 8 today or wait for Appleās first attempt at a foldable iPhone.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: The Foldable You Can Buy Now
Samsung has one major advantage over Apple: experience.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 represents another generation of refinement rather than a first-generation experiment. Samsung has continued improving its hinge, folding display and software while making the foldable format increasingly practical for everyday use.
The Fold 8 provides a conventional display when closed and opens into a much larger tablet-like screen, making it particularly useful for web browsing, video, email, documents and multitasking.
Samsung has also spent years adapting Android and One UI for large folding displays. Multi-window functionality is one of the Fold series’ biggest strengths, allowing users to run multiple apps and take advantage of the additional screen space rather than simply having a larger version of a normal smartphone.
Early reviews have also praised the Fold 8’s slimmer design and multimedia experience, although cameras and battery endurance remain areas where buyers may find compromises compared with conventional flagship phones.
Why Buy the Galaxy Z Fold 8?
The strongest argument for Samsung is simple: you know what you’re getting.
Samsung has already worked through several generations of foldable hardware. The Fold 8 benefits from years of improvements to hinges, screens, software and durability.
You also don’t have to wait.
If you want a folding phone today, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a mature product rather than a promise of something coming later.
Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Change the Market
Apple entering the foldable market could be one of the biggest iPhone developments in years.
Current reports suggest Apple’s first foldable could arrive alongside the iPhone 18 Pro family in September 2026, although Apple itself has not officially announced the device.
Rumors point towards a book-style design similar in concept to Samsung’s Fold range, with reports suggesting an internal display around 7.7 to 7.8 inches.
Apple also appears to be concentrating heavily on one of the most obvious weaknesses of current foldables: the crease running through the folding display.
Recent reports suggest Apple’s folding display and hinge system are being engineered to minimise the visible crease. If Apple can achieve this while maintaining durability, it could immediately give the new iPhone a major selling point.
But Apple’s First Foldable Could Have Compromises
Waiting for Apple isn’t automatically the better decision.
Samsung has had years to refine the Galaxy Fold platform. Apple will effectively be releasing a first-generation product.
Reports also suggest Apple’s foldable could make some surprising compromises. Rumoured specifications have included Touch ID rather than Face ID and a simpler rear-camera system that may lack the telephoto capabilities buyers expect from Apple’s most expensive iPhones.
Then there’s the price.
Apple’s folding iPhone is expected to sit above the iPhone Pro models and could become the company’s most expensive mainstream smartphone ever.
Current estimates vary considerably, but figures around US$2,000āUS$2,500 have repeatedly appeared in reports.
Availability could also be a problem. Analysts have warned that initial production may be limited, meaning that even if Apple announces the phone in September, getting one immediately could be difficult.