It’s been nearly a week since the iPhone Duo was released, and there have been mixed reviews about the first foldable iPhone. But regardless of whether you’re a fan of the phone or not, its inception has created a shift in the foldable phone market. People may not actually be purchasing these phones, but consumer interest continues to increase. This helps other phone manufacturers who have already passed their second generation of foldable phones, including Samsung and Google.

Before the iPhone Duo’s release, the Galaxy Z Fold and Pixel Fold models had a strong hold on the U.S. foldable market, and Samsung will likely continue to lead that market for the foreseeable future. However, do people actually know that foldable phones existed before the Duo?

Kai Cenat was mind-blown to figure out Samsung had a foldable phone

It raises the question of whether the average phone consumer knew this as well

A recent viral clip shows an interaction between streamer Kai Cenat’s stream and a fan, in which Cenat takes the fan’s Samsung Galaxy Z Fold phone and asks if it’s the iPhone Duo. The person repeatedly tells the streamer it’s a Samsung phone as Cenat stands there in shock. Cenat then asks the person when he got the phone, to which the fan replies, “Last year,” which shocks Cenat even more to learn that Samsung had already been making foldables years before the Duo. The video ends with Cenat saying he has to get the “Samsung Duo.”

The interaction isn’t too shocking, as I’ve met people who’ve had no idea there were foldable smartphones, including a recent interaction where I saw someone completely taken aback when they saw someone with a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, and another time where someone was trying to figure out why a Google Pixel phone was folding in half.

In response to the Kai Cenat clip, tech reviewer MKBHD posted a clip of his iPhone Duo review on X, noting that many people have genuinely not seen a foldable smartphone before. And given the iPhone’s strong hold on U.S. smartphone pop culture, it makes a lot of sense that foldable phones may be more for people with higher incomes or those interested in consumer technology than for the average person.

The iPhone Duo helps push the foldable phone market forward

Now, Samsung and Google have even healthier competition

In late October, Samsung announced a 45% increase in sales of its Galaxy Z Fold 8 series in the first nine weeks after its release compared to the 2025 predecessor. The company also revealed that Google searches for Samsung foldables across major European markets increased by over 260% during September, including a 460% jump during the week of September 6 through 12, coinciding with the unveiling of the iPhone Duo, and showing a strong chance that the iPhone Duo helped with foldable phone search traffic.

If the Duo is a consumer’s first time seeing a foldable smartphone, a subsequent Google search may reveal similar phones at lower prices, offering a more affordable entry point into the foldable market. Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold 8 base model currently starts at $1,699, while the Ultra model starts at $1,899, both cheaper than the Duo’s $1,999 starting price. Google’s latest Pixel Fold 11 is also currently $100 cheaper than the foldable iPhone. Motorola is expected to release its Razr Flex 27 in mid-December 2026, a foldable phone that’s rumored to be priced around $1,680, according to Digital Trends.

Now that more people are discovering foldables, it’s best to do research

The iPhone Duo is going to come with first-gen problems

Beyond cost and specs, it’s wise to compare foldable phones rather than purchase the Duo because it’s Apple. This is a first-gen product, and it will come with its own first-gen problems, unlike competitors that have long since passed their first-gen foldables and have found ways to mitigate some of the potential issues the Duo may face, such as inner-screen cracking, unoptimized apps, and camera limitations, according to BGR.

As an Apple user, I’m interested in the iPhone Duo because it could be very helpful for multitasking, especially within the Apple ecosystem. However, I’m going to wait for a second-gen Duo to come out, if that ever happens. There is a chance the Duo could be a one-and-done, and they may never release a foldable phone again, especially given that it is currently a niche product with a high price tag.

It would also be interesting to see if Apple releases a series of different Duos, similar to Samsung’s Z Fold series, offering foldables at different price points, including a cost-friendly version. It’s too early to tell, but with Apple being rather experimental with its products, including the Duo and upcoming touchscreen MacBook Pro, there may be hope.