SuperSaf's iPhone Duo camera test, published October 21, is a full iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 camera comparison across photos, selfies, and video, with sample shots indoors, outdoors, and in low light. His overall read: both phones have good cameras with their own advantages and disadvantages, and neither is quite a flagship camera. The iPhone Duo comes out ahead in his testing for portraits, low-light brightness, and video dynamic range, while the Fold 8 wins his picks for the ultrawide camera and extended zoom. This is our analysis of his footage and findings, with Apple's confirmed specs added for context; our roundup of the first iPhone Duo reviews covers how reviewers judged the phone overall. iPhone Duo Hub has not tested the phone itself.
Watch the video: SuperSaf, "iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Camera Test Comparison" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRiG8JjuaCU)
Key takeaways
- SuperSaf does not declare an overall winner; he says both have good cameras and that neither is quite at the level of non-folding pro phones.
- He picks the iPhone Duo for portraits and found it brighter in low light, with better dynamic range on video.
- He picks the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for the ultrawide camera and for zoom beyond 2x.
- He found the Duo's under-display inner selfie camera much weaker than the Fold 8's, and recommends rear-camera selfies using the cover screen.
- Apple confirms a 48MP Fusion Main and 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide, optical-quality 2x from the main sensor, and no dedicated telephoto.
SuperSaf's findings at a glance
| Test section | SuperSaf's finding |
|---|---|
| Primary camera | Close in good light; iPhone more neutral color, Fold 8 more vibrant and slightly wider |
| Low light | Relatively close; iPhone brighter with more shadow detail, Fold 8 sharper in one example |
| Ultrawide and macro | His pick: Fold 8, sharper with better dynamic range |
| Zoom | Both good at 2x; Fold 8 much cleaner at up to 10x digital zoom |
| Portrait mode | His pick: iPhone, with more natural color |
| Selfies | Front cameras both very good; Fold 8's inner camera much better than the Duo's under-display camera |
| Video | iPhone better dynamic range and brighter in low light; Fold 8 adds 8K and more pro controls |
| Stabilization | Close; iPhone sharper, Fold 8 more stable on selfie video |
| Cinematic video | iPhone better edges |
| 4K 120fps slow motion | Both good, with different camera options |
Primary camera
SuperSaf found both primary cameras "very good" with lots of detail and dynamic range, and called them pretty close in good light. He saw the Fold 8's main camera as slightly wider, with Samsung's typically more vibrant, punchy color against more neutral color on the iPhone. He points out that the iPhone shoots 24MP photos by default while the Fold 8 defaults to 12MP, giving the iPhone more detail in good light out of the box. He also credits Apple's Photographic Styles for letting you dial in a look, including a more vibrant one.
How good is the iPhone Duo camera in low light?
In low light, SuperSaf again found the two relatively close. In one example the iPhone had less noise but the Fold 8 was sharper at 100 percent; more often, he found the iPhone brighter, with more detail in shadow areas. In extreme low light indoors, neither phone could focus in his test, while an iPhone 18 Pro Max took the shot straight away. His takeaway: neither is "quite the pro flagship level" camera you get on the iPhone 18 Pro Max or the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Ultrawide and macro
This is where SuperSaf preferred Samsung. He found the Fold 8's ultrawide sharper overall with better dynamic range, and much sharper in low light, while noting that Samsung's post-sharpening works in these situations. He also preferred the Fold 8's sharper macro results. His pick for the ultrawide camera: the Fold 8.
Does the iPhone Duo have a telephoto zoom?
Neither the iPhone Duo nor the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a dedicated telephoto camera, SuperSaf notes. Both zoom 2x without loss and do well there. Apple describes the Duo's 2x as optical-quality zoom from its 48MP Fusion Main camera. Pushing further, both can zoom digitally up to 10x, and SuperSaf found the Fold 8 "way cleaner" at extended zoom, which he credits to Samsung's processing and experience. He says zoom is not why you would buy either phone, but if it matters, his pick is the Fold 8.
Portrait mode
SuperSaf's pick for portraits is the iPhone. He found edge detection very good on both, including the gaps between his arms, but says the Fold 8 tends to wash out the image in portrait mode, while the iPhone keeps blacks and colors more true to life. He also notes the 2x lossless option on both phones for portraits.
Which takes better selfies, the iPhone Duo or the Galaxy Z Fold 8?
From the main front cameras, SuperSaf found both phones very good. He highlights the iPhone's Center Stage camera, which Apple lists at 12MP, for shooting portrait and landscape selfies without rotating the phone, and calls it a feature that makes the iPhone stand out.
The inner display is a different story. SuperSaf found the Fold 8's inner selfie camera "way better" for photos and video, and says the Duo's under-display camera is only 4 megapixels. Apple lists it as an under-display FaceTime camera that records 1080p video and does not give a megapixel figure. SuperSaf frames this as a trade-off: an under-display camera is less distracting, but a small punch-hole camera gives better results.
His recommended method on either phone is to use the cover screen as a viewfinder and take selfies with the rear cameras, which he found gives much more detail. He liked Samsung's hand gesture for triggering the shutter this way, and on the iPhone pointed to Smart Take, which captures automatically and works with the phone propped up on a desk. He notes the standard Fold 8 does not officially stay halfway open in Flex Mode for that kind of shot. Our photography tips guide covers how Apple describes Smart Take and rear-camera selfies.
AI features
SuperSaf found Apple much improved on AI photo features with iOS 27. He rated Clean Up against Samsung's AI Eraser as very good on both, and both can edit images with prompts. He likes two iPhone features in particular, Extend and Spatial Reframe. On manual control, he found the Fold 8 ahead, with more controls and RAW photo capture, which he says the iPhone lacks.
Video, stabilization, cinematic, and slow motion
Video. SuperSaf found 4K video very good on both, with the iPhone showing better overall dynamic range, holding cloud detail the Fold 8 clipped and transitioning more smoothly from shadow to bright areas. In low light, he found the iPhone much brighter, while noting the Fold 8 shows fewer lens flare orbs. The Fold 8 can shoot 8K from its primary and ultrawide cameras, and has more pro video controls, including shutter speed, log, and APV video, which SuperSaf says the iPhone lacks. Apple lists 4K at up to 120 fps in Dolby Vision for the Duo.
Stabilization. At 4K he found the two pretty close, with the iPhone sharper; in Action Mode against Samsung's Super Steady, both were stable and the iPhone again sharper. The Fold 8 adds Super Steady with horizontal lock, which the iPhone does not have. For selfie video, he found the iPhone had better dynamic range but the Fold 8 was more stable.
Cinematic video. SuperSaf found the iPhone did a better job with edges, and noted that on the iPhone you can turn a regular video into a cinematic one afterward.
4K 120fps slow motion. Both did a pretty good job in his test. The Fold 8 can use its ultrawide for 4K 120fps; the iPhone cannot, but it can zoom 2x while shooting 4K 120fps, which the Fold 8 cannot. At 240fps in HD, he found the Fold 8 better and suggests avoiding that mode on the iPhone.
Audio. SuperSaf compared Samsung's Audio Eraser with Apple's Audio Mix and left the verdict to viewers.
What Apple confirms versus what only the footage shows
Apple confirms (specs): a 48MP Fusion Main and a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera, optical-quality 2x zoom from the main sensor, no dedicated telephoto, a 12MP Center Stage front camera, an under-display FaceTime camera on the inner display with 1080p video, and 4K video at up to 120 fps in Dolby Vision. Our iPhone Duo camera guide covers these in detail.
Only the footage shows: how those cameras compare in practice. Every quality judgment above, from low-light brightness to ultrawide sharpness, selfie quality, and stabilization, is SuperSaf's finding from one test, not an Apple claim. So are his statements about Galaxy Z Fold 8 features, such as 8K and log video, and his description of the Duo's inner camera as 4 megapixels, which Apple does not state.
What it means if you are choosing between the two
On SuperSaf's footage, neither foldable is a camera-first phone; he says you get better cameras overall on non-folding pro or ultra phones. Marques Brownlee's iPhone Duo review similarly puts the Duo's cameras on par with other foldables, a tier below slab-style flagships. Within that, the iPhone Duo suits buyers who care most about portraits, natural color, low-light brightness, and video quality. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 suits buyers who want a sharper ultrawide, better extended zoom, a better inner selfie camera, and more pro photo and video controls. Our iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 comparison covers the rest of the decision beyond cameras.
Frequently asked questions
Does the iPhone Duo have a better camera than the Galaxy Z Fold 8?
SuperSaf does not name an overall winner in his camera test. He picks the iPhone Duo for portraits and finds it brighter in low light and stronger on video dynamic range, while he picks the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for the ultrawide camera and extended zoom. He concludes both have good cameras with their own advantages, and that neither is quite a flagship camera.
How good is the iPhone Duo camera at night?
In SuperSaf's camera test, low light was relatively close: the iPhone Duo was often brighter, with more detail in the shadows, though the Galaxy Z Fold 8 was sharper in one example. In extreme low light indoors, neither phone could focus. For low-light video he found the iPhone much brighter, while the Fold 8's ultrawide camera was much sharper in low light.
Does the iPhone Duo have a zoom lens?
No dedicated telephoto lens. Apple lists optical-quality 2x zoom from the iPhone Duo's 48MP Fusion Main camera. In SuperSaf's camera test, both the iPhone Duo and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 did well at 2x, and the Fold 8 was much cleaner at extended digital zoom up to 10x.
Can you take selfies with the iPhone Duo rear cameras?
Yes. SuperSaf says the best way to take selfies on a folding phone is to use the cover screen as a viewfinder and shoot with the rear cameras, which he found gives much more detail, and the ultrawide works too. He notes Smart Take can capture automatically, including with the iPhone Duo propped up on a desk.
Does the iPhone Duo record 4K 120fps video?
Yes. Apple lists 4K video at up to 120 fps in Dolby Vision. In SuperSaf's camera test, 4K 120fps slow motion was pretty good on both phones. The iPhone Duo can zoom 2x while shooting it but cannot use the ultrawide for it, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 can use its ultrawide.
Sources
- SuperSaf, "iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Camera Test Comparison," YouTube, October 21, 2026: all test findings.
- Apple, iPhone Duo technical specifications: 48MP Fusion Main and Fusion Ultra Wide cameras.
- Apple, iPhone Duo and Apple Newsroom, "Apple unveils iPhone Duo": optical-quality 2x Telephoto, 12MP Center Stage front camera, under-display FaceTime camera with 1080p video, 4K120 Dolby Vision.
- Thumbnail image: SuperSaf via YouTube.