Apple’s first foldable iPhone Duo and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 use similar OLED-based folding displays, but the two companies have taken notably different approaches to reducing glare, improving durability and making the crease less distracting. Apple is relying heavily on custom display materials, while Samsung is building on several generations of foldable-screen engineering.

Both Offer 7.6-Inch Inner Displays

The iPhone Duo has a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR OLED inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 also features a 7.6-inch inner screen, but its cover display is slightly larger at 5.5 inches.

Both phones support refresh rates of up to 120Hz and can reach 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. However, their screen proportions are different.

Apple has designed the Duo so that its inner and outer displays share the same aspect ratio. This is intended to make the transition between the two screens more consistent when users open or close the phone.

Samsung instead uses a more square 4:3 inner display and a taller 10:16 cover screen, giving the two screens different shapes and use cases.

Apple Uses a Nano-Texture Display

One of Apple’s biggest display differentiators is its custom nano-texture finish.

The inner Duo display consists of 10 ultra-thin layers and uses the nano-texture surface to reduce reflections and glare. Apple says the finish also contributes to making the fold less visually prominent.

The company has developed a custom polymer for the nano-textured cover layer, which Apple says is 40% stiffer than materials typically used elsewhere. A scratch-resistant coating is also applied to the surface.

The under-display FaceTime camera means there is no visible camera cutout interrupting the inner screen.

Samsung Focuses on Reinforcement

Samsung has taken a different approach with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Its main display uses an anti-reflective coating designed to improve visibility and reduce glare, particularly outdoors.

Samsung has also placed a titanium layer beneath the display and strengthened the shock-absorbing layer to improve resistance to everyday impacts.

The outer glass uses Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, while the rear is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The approach reflects Samsung’s experience refining foldable displays over several generations.

Two Different Solutions to the Foldable Problem

The two displays ultimately pursue similar goals: reducing reflections, making the crease less noticeable and improving durability.

Apple is leaning toward custom materials, adhesives and nano-texturing, while Samsung is relying more heavily on structural reinforcement and established display-protection technologies.

The difference also reflects the companies’ positions in the foldable market. Samsung has spent years refining its Z Fold lineup, while Apple entered the category much later with the benefit of seeing how earlier foldables evolved.

Summary: The iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold 8 both feature 7.6-inch OLED inner displays with up to 120Hz refresh rates and 3,000-nit peak brightness. Apple differentiates its foldable with a custom nano-texture finish, a 10-layer inner display and an under-display camera, while Samsung uses anti-reflective treatment, titanium reinforcement and tougher protective glass. The two companies are taking different engineering routes to solve the same core foldable-display challenges.

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