Foldable Phones From Royole FlexPai to Apple's iPhone Duo

Tech outlet Engadget has published an overview of how foldable smartphones have evolved, from the first experimental models in 2019 to the arrival of US company Apple's iPhone Duo. The author argues that Apple's entry could turn foldables into a mainstream product, but that this rests on the successes and failures of earlier manufacturers.

The first stumbles

The first commercially available foldable smartphone, the FlexPai, was shown at CES 2019 by Royole, a Chinese display maker. Engadget's reporters at the time described it as rough around the edges and oddly sized, yet it proved that flexible OLED screens could be used in a real product.

Samsung's first Galaxy Fold followed, priced just under $2,000. Several reviewers reported broken screens, and it emerged that many had peeled off a plastic layer that served as a screen protector. Samsung delayed the public launch and recalled the units sent to reviewers in order to re-engineer the product.

Huawei's Mate X, presented at MWC 2019, folded outward, with a single display wrapped around the outside. The design was elegant, but the screen scratched easily. The phone was never sold in the US because of sanctions on Chinese technology imposed by then-President Donald Trump. Its successor, the Mate X2, switched to an inward fold.

The Android years

Between 2020 and 2025, Android makers released a wave of foldable models. Early efforts focused on protecting screens. Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip introduced ultra-thin glass for the inner display in 2020, and the Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 gained IPX8 water resistance in 2021. Google's Pixel 10 Pro Fold reached full IP68 dust and water protection in 2025.

Oppo's 2021 Find N achieved a nearly invisible crease. Honor's Magic V series kept reducing thickness, and Samsung answered with the slim Galaxy Z Fold 7. Prices also approached those of regular flagships: the Galaxy Z Flip 3 cost $999.

Apple enters the market

Apple announced the iPhone Duo in 2026. Folded, it is passport-sized, with a 7.6-inch internal display and a 5.4-inch external one, starting at $1,999. Reviewers have called it Apple's most exciting device in a decade. Research firm Counterpoint told Bloomberg that sales are expected to reach 6 million units in 2026.