In search of the hypothetical iPhone Duo buyer and other foldable phones

At the end of August, I had the chance to fiddle with a Galaxy Z Fold8, Samsung’s passport-style foldable phone. It’s smaller than I expected. I found it somewhat curious. My time with the device was brief and I think I saw enough. It’s not for me. This Wednesday (9th), Apple made its debut in the foldable phone segment with the announcement of the iPhone Duo. It looks a lot like the Galaxy Z Fold8. The biggest highlight from first impressions is the animation on the screens when opening and closing them. (It’s cool, indeed.) Samsung’s phone has a suggested price of BRL 12,600 in Brazil (~USD 2.4k). The iPhone Duo will arrive here for a cool R$ 22,000 (~USD 4.3K). Even the prices abroad are startling — US$ 1,800 and US$ 2,000, respectively. I’ve been thinking about the audience for this type of device, if it even exists. I mean, beyond influencers, tech youtubes and show-offs in general. I’m talking about people who convince themselves that a phone that folds and costs twice as much…