Five Android foldables that undercut Apple's iPhone Duo Fold

Apple has launched a phone called the iPhone Duo Fold, and its price has left people stunned. In India it starts at Rs 2,99,900, or nearly Rs 3 lakh. That kind of money could buy a good bike or a second-hand car. Before paying Rs 3 lakh for an iPhone, it is worth pausing, because companies such as Samsung, Motorola, Google, Xiaomi and Huawei already sell foldable phones. These phones are considerably cheaper than the iPhone, and in some respects such as battery, camera and screen, they are ahead of it.

First is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. Samsung is considered the oldest and most experienced player in foldables. It is priced at Rs 1,79,999, nearly Rs 1,20,000 cheaper than the iPhone. It has a large 7.6-inch inner screen and a 5.4-inch outer screen, a 4800mAh battery, a 50-megapixel camera and storage of up to 1TB.

Second is the Motorola Razr Fold, available at roughly half the iPhone's price, starting at Rs 1,49,999. It has an 8.1-inch 2K inner display running at 120Hz, and a 6.6-inch outer display at 165Hz for smooth scrolling. It runs on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, has three 50-megapixel rear cameras, and a 6000mAh battery with 80W super-fast charging that fully charges the phone in half an hour.

For those who like photography and want AI features, the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is a better option, priced at Rs 1,86,999. It has an 8-inch inner display and a 6.5-inch outer display, Google's own Tensor G6 chip and 16GB RAM. Its 48-megapixel camera produces natural-looking photos, and the battery lasts more than 24 hours.

The Xiaomi 18 Fold is currently available in China but will reach India soon, priced at around Rs 1,05,000. It has a 7.58-inch inner screen and a 5.38-inch outer screen, a 6000mAh battery, 67W wired and 50W wireless charging. Its standout feature is a 200-megapixel camera, and it runs on Xiaomi's own X-Ring O3 processor.

The fifth option is the Huawei Pura X Max, priced at around Rs 1,57,000. It has a 7.7-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display, a 5300mAh battery, 66W charging and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera, along with the company's own HarmonyOS 7 system.

Overall, instead of paying Rs 3 lakh just for the Apple logo, phones with equally strong features are available in the market for around Rs 1.5 lakh. The choice now is for the buyer to make, whether brand matters more to them or features.