Technology brands Duolingo and Samsung have joined the online conversation surrounding Apple’s newly unveiled foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, with humorous posts targeting its design and Apple’s late entry into the foldable market.
Duolingo shared an edited image showing its green owl mascot stretched across the iPhone Duo’s large internal display.
The joke centred on how images and applications could appear when spread across the phone’s folding screen.
Samsung, which has sold foldable smartphones for years, also used the launch to remind consumers that Apple is arriving late to the market.
Ahead of the unveiling, the South Korean manufacturer released a “Welcome to Foldables” video targeting its longtime rival.
The posts drew reactions from users as the two brands capitalised on attention generated by Apple’s annual product event.
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo on Wednesday during its “Surprise and Shine” event at its headquarters in Cupertino, California.
It is the company’s first foldable smartphone and the biggest redesign of the iPhone since the device was introduced in 2007.
The passport-shaped phone has a 5.4-inch outer screen and opens to reveal a 7.6-inch internal display. Apple says it is the company’s thinnest iPhone when unfolded and its largest phone display to date.
The device is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro processor and features a titanium body, a custom-built hinge, two 48-megapixel rear cameras and Touch ID integrated into the power button.
It also supports multitasking and the Apple Pencil.
Apple CEO John Ternus described the Duo as a new design intended to provide an iPad-like experience in a device that can fit inside a pocket.
The iPhone Duo will cost $1,999 for the entry-level model with 256GB of storage.
Pre-orders are scheduled to begin on October 16, ahead of its release on October 23.
Reuters reports that Apple’s arrival could expand a foldable-phone market previously dominated by Samsung and Chinese manufacturers.
Samsung’s reaction continues a long-running advertising rivalry between the companies.
The Galaxy manufacturer has repeatedly mocked Apple for introducing features later than its competitors, including larger screens, multiple cameras and foldable displays.
