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Google Says iPhone Duo Validates Foldables and Could Boost Android

Google says Apple’s folding iPhone could raise consumer demand by giving developers more incentive to optimize apps for large folding screens.

Overview

  • Google’s Android president Sameer Samat publicly welcomed Apple’s iPhone Duo, calling Apple’s entry a validation of the foldable smartphone category.
  • Samat said a bigger foldable market will give developers stronger reasons to redesign apps for large folding displays, and Google reports developers are already in conversations about those changes.
  • Apple plans to open preorders for the iPhone Duo in mid‑October with store availability in late October, and the device starts at $1,999.
  • Market analysts expect Apple to take a sizable share of the market—Counterpoint projects roughly 25% in year one and about 40% by the end of 2027—but early supply limits and first‑generation tradeoffs could slow initial sales.
  • Android brands like Samsung have led foldable development since 2019, so Google frames Apple’s arrival as a potential halo for an existing ecosystem that could mean more device choices and better app experiences for users.