The year 2025 marks a major turning point in mobile innovation, as Apple and Samsung, two of the world’s most influential tech giants, intensify their rivalry—this time in the domain of foldable AI-powered smartphones. What began as a niche experiment in design has evolved into a full-fledged technological battleground, with devices now representing the cutting edge of smartphone evolution. Paired with on-device AI, they are no longer just fashion statements or prototypes—they’re becoming intelligent tools that define the future of personal computing.
There is much more to this rivalry between Apple and Samsung than just hardware.. It’s about creating the most advanced, adaptable, and AI-integrated foldable device. As the lines blur between phone, tablet, and assistant, users are watching closely to see which company will lead the way.
The Rise of Foldable AI Smartphones
Foldable phones have grown from experimental novelties to commercially viable products. Their appeal lies in their ability to merge portability with productivity—a smartphone that fits in your pocket but unfolds into a tablet-sized screen. When infused with AI-powered interfaces, personalized assistants, and edge-based learning, these devices become dynamic hubs for work, entertainment, health, and creativity.
In 2025, smartphones are no longer judged solely by their flexible displays—they are measured by how intelligent, adaptive, and seamlessly integrated they are into daily life.
Samsung’s Head Start and AI Push
Samsung has been the pioneer in foldable devices, with its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series defining the early market. In 2025, Samsung continues to innovate with:
- Ultra-durable foldable glass capable of withstanding more than 500,000 folds
- Edge AI chips are embedded into the device for on-device processing
- Multitasking enhancements, allowing multiple app windows on the foldable screen
- Personalized Galaxy AI, which learns user behavior for task predictions, translations, and camera enhancements
Samsung’s ecosystem is growing more intelligent with every update, combining the freedom of Android with a maturing, responsive AI layer designed to predict and enhance user interactions.
Apple’s Entry into Foldables
Apple, known for cautious but polished entries into new markets, finally unveiled its first foldable AI smartphone, the iFold Pro, in 2025. Apple concentrated on perfecting rather than competing to be the first: Seamless hinge engineering with no visible crease
- A fold-optimized iOS experience, blending iPadOS and iPhone UI
- Apple Neural Core chip enabling powerful on-device AI
- Real-time translation, photo enhancement, and app behavior prediction
- Handoff between foldable and other Apple devices, using AI to suggest tasks
Apple’s approach is cohesive and elegant, with every detail—from software animations to haptic responses—carefully designed. The foldable form is not just a novelty but a native part of the Apple ecosystem, with apps that transform based on device orientation and usage.
Form Factors & User Experience
Both companies are experimenting with various form factors:
- Samsung keeps up its book-style fold by including an external display and an internal big screen.
- Apple’s iFold Pro adopts a clamshell design, emphasizing portability, with a rollable display option teased for future releases.
Where Samsung emphasizes multitasking and productivity for professionals and creatives, Apple focuses on user-centric AI flows, tightly integrating with services like Siri, Safari, Notes, and FaceTime.
The format is now being seen not just as a hardware innovation, but as a canvas for smarter AI experiences. The inner screen becomes a workspace, media center, sketchpad, or assistant—based on what the user needs in the moment.
AI Capabilities That Set Them Apart
In 2025, both companies have made serious strides in on-device artificial intelligence, reducing dependency on the cloud while improving speed, privacy, and functionality.
Samsung’s Galaxy AI:
- Camera AI that auto-edits, stabilizes, and enhances photos based on scene and emotion
- Smart Scheduler that learns your calendar habits and makes intelligent recommendations
- Transcribe+ that records and summarizes meetings in real-time
- DeX 2.0, powered by AI, allows seamless switching between phone and desktop modes
Apple’s Neural Intelligence:
- Proactive Siri, offering suggestions without being prompted
- Smart Widgets that evolve in real-time based on user context
- Live Journal AI, which logs events, moods, and health metrics using on-device ML
- VoiceClone Assistant, which mimics your voice for dictation, messaging, or accessibility features
The real power lies in context-awareness: the ability of your phone to understand where you are, what you’re doing, and what you might need next, all while respecting user privacy.
Ecosystem Integration
One of Apple’s major advantages remains its tight-knit ecosystem. The iFold Pro seamlessly works with Macs, iPads, Apple Watch, AirPods, and HomeKit devices. For example:
- Open a document on the screen and continue editing on a MacBook without saving
- Take a FaceTime call on the inner screen and move it to an iPad with a swipe
- Use the outer screen as a dedicated controller for Apple TV or Apple Home
Samsung’s approach leans on cross-brand partnerships and Android flexibility. It syncs with Windows PCs, Samsung TVs, and SmartThings smart homes. Its DeX feature, evolved for, turns the phone into a productivity machine, especially for business users and creators.
Market Dynamics & Consumer Demand
As foldables move mainstream, consumer expectations are evolving. Buyers are no longer just tech enthusiasts—they’re everyday users seeking long battery life, intuitive interfaces, durability, and most importantly, value.
Samsung holds a market advantage in terms of pricing tiers and accessibility, offering both high-end and mid-range foldables. Apple, true to form, targets the premium buyer, emphasizing design, privacy, and brand loyalty.
However, both brands are investing in making foldables lighter, thinner, and more durable, solving early concerns like battery drain, hinge wear, and app compatibility.
The Road Ahead
In the next few years, expect even more innovation in the foldable AI race:
- Rollable and stretchable screens
- Real-time biometric AI assistants based on emotion and stress levels
- Foldable gaming devices with high-refresh adaptive displays
- Cross-device AI mesh networks, where your phone, car, and wearables learn together
This war between Apple and Samsung is only just beginning—and consumers stand to benefit the most.
FAQs: Foldable AI Smartphone Battle
Q1: What makes a foldable phone AI-powered?
An AI-powered foldable phone uses artificial intelligence to enhance user experience—such as predicting tasks, managing apps, optimizing performance, or customizing UI—on a foldable screen layout.
Q2: Who launched the first foldable smartphone with AI features?
Samsung led the market in foldables and integrated AI earlier, while Apple entered later with a refined, cohesive product combining foldability and intelligent features.
Q3: Are foldable phones more fragile than regular phones?
Early foldables had durability issues, but 2025 models from Apple and Samsung use reinforced glass and hinge technology to ensure high durability and longevity.
Q4: What’s the battery life like on foldable AI smartphones?
Thanks to power-efficient AI chips and optimized OS, most foldables now offer all-day battery life, with smart battery management that adapts to user behavior.
Q5: Can I use apps normally on a foldable phone?
Yes, apps are optimized to scale and transition between folded and unfolded modes, often offering extra features like split-screen or multi-window modes.
