Samsung fighting iPhone Duo by launching six foldable phones next year

Samsung reportedly plans no fewer than six different foldable phones next year to fight Apple's iPhone Duo, Ben Lovejoy wrote in 9to5Mac's report at 5:00 am PT on Oct. 20, 2026. The British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac says Samsung's worry was clear even before Apple launched the phone. The iPhone Duo is announced and heavily backordered, and those six foldables are seemingly Samsung's best way to fight back.

This is for buyers facing an iPhone Duo whose demand substantially exceeds supply, and for readers tracking Samsung's foldables. It covers a 9to5Google leak of half a dozen folding phones, Samsung's claim that it welcomed Apple into the foldables market, the counter that its own folding phones were lighter, and a Galaxy Z Trifold 2 launch reportedly brought forward. Lovejoy calls the apparent plan spray-and-pray and, if it is accurate, sees an air of desperation. He also says more competition is better.

Samsung fighting iPhone Duo: the announcement

Lovejoy writes that Samsung was worried even before Apple launched the iPhone Duo. The phone is now announced and heavily backordered. Samsung seemingly feels that launching no fewer than six different foldable phones next year is its best way to fight back. The piece runs at 5:00 am PT on Oct. 20, 2026, under his byline as EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He presents the Korean company as answering that one Apple phone with this six-model plan in the foldables market.

On the eve of the iPhone Duo launch, Samsung claimed it welcomed Apple's entry into the foldables market. Lovejoy calls that a weak counter: Samsung said its own folding phones were lighter. Samsung also reportedly brought forward the Galaxy Z Trifold 2. In 9to5Mac's Take on the leak, an accurate six-phone plan has an air of desperation. More competition is better, he writes, and substantial Samsung innovations would push Apple to match or beat them in future generations of the iPhone Duo.

What actually changed with Samsung fighting iPhone Duo

The shift is how many folding phones Samsung aims at the iPhone Duo. 9to5Mac's sister site 9to5Google reports a leak suggesting Samsung will launch half a dozen different folding phones next year. Lovejoy reads it as a spray-and-pray approach, because demand for the iPhone Duo substantially exceeds supply. Samsung's earlier moves are still part of the shift. Samsung claimed it welcomed Apple into the foldables market, said its own folding phones were lighter, and reportedly brought the Galaxy Z Trifold 2 forward.

The leak names Galaxy Z Slide, Galaxy Z TriFold2, Galaxy Z Fold9 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold9 Pro, Galaxy Z Fold9, and Galaxy Z Flip9. The brought-forward phone is written Galaxy Z Trifold 2, while the leak writes Galaxy Z TriFold2. He treats that half-dozen as the plan to compete with the iPhone Duo. Substantial innovations on the list would push Apple to match or beat them in future generations of the iPhone Duo. An air of desperation applies only if the leak is accurate.

Who should care about Samsung fighting iPhone Duo

The other audience is anyone waiting on Galaxy Z Slide, Galaxy Z TriFold2, Galaxy Z Fold9 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold9 Pro, Galaxy Z Fold9, or Galaxy Z Flip9 instead of the heavily backordered iPhone Duo. Substantial Samsung innovations, Lovejoy writes, will push Apple to match or beat them in future generations of the iPhone Duo. More competition is better, he says. If the six-phone leak is accurate, it carries an air of desperation. The Oct. 20, 2026 byline is his, as a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac.

How to try Samsung fighting iPhone Duo

This report gives no way to try the six phones now. At 5:00 am PT on Oct. 20, 2026, Lovejoy places Galaxy Z Slide, Galaxy Z TriFold2, Galaxy Z Fold9 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold9 Pro, Galaxy Z Fold9, and Galaxy Z Flip9 on a launch next year, citing the 9to5Google leak. He states no price and no preorder. The names count if the leak is accurate. Short of an actual launch, the piece has model names and a year, not a hands-on of Galaxy Z Fold9 Ultra or Galaxy Z Flip9.

The announced phone in the piece is the iPhone Duo, and it is heavily backordered because demand substantially exceeds supply. Samsung's nearer timing fact is the Galaxy Z Trifold 2, whose launch was reportedly brought forward. On the eve of the iPhone Duo, Samsung claimed a welcome for Apple in the foldables market and said its own folding phones were lighter. Lovejoy reports those claims and the six-phone leak. He is not describing a hands-on of the phones planned for next year.

What to watch after Samsung fighting iPhone Duo

Watch whether Samsung ships the leaked slate. The count Lovejoy uses is half a dozen, no fewer than six foldable phones next year, which Samsung seemingly feels is its best way to fight the iPhone Duo. The names are Galaxy Z Slide, Galaxy Z TriFold2, Galaxy Z Fold9 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold9 Pro, Galaxy Z Fold9, and Galaxy Z Flip9. If accurate, he sees an air of desperation and a spray-and-pray approach aimed at demand that substantially exceeds supply. The piece is dated Oct. 20, 2026.

Also watch the eve-of-launch claims and iPhone Duo supply. Samsung claimed it welcomed Apple's entry into the foldables market and countered that its folding phones were lighter. It reportedly brought the Galaxy Z Trifold 2 forward. The leak list writes Galaxy Z TriFold2 and still puts the wider set next year. The iPhone Duo stays announced and heavily backordered. Lovejoy writes that substantial Samsung innovations will push Apple to match or beat them in future generations of the iPhone Duo. More competition, he writes, is better.