So Far, So Same: Apple’s iPhone Duo Launch Turns Into Meme Fest As Samsung, Duolingo Join

Apple’s first foldable iPhone has barely been unveiled, but the iPhone Duo has already become the centre of a social media meme fest. Samsung, Duolingo and Motorola have all joined the online roasting, while users are turning the phone’s design, marketing images and nearly $2,000 price tag into viral jokes.

Samsung was among the first to take aim at Apple. As the company unveiled its iPhone 18 Pro on September 9, Samsung Mobile US posted, “So far, so same”, along with the hashtag #ItsTimeToSwitch. It later added another jab, saying, “It’s feeling very familiar. Is this a Sims sequel?”

Samsung had more jokes ready for Apple’s long awaited entry into the foldable market. Before the iPhone Duo was unveiled, it posted, “Making us wait? Fine. We’ll be over here, folding 3 ways”, referring to Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold. Once Apple finally showed its foldable iPhone, Samsung delivered its biggest punchline: “Let us know when you’re done reheating our leftovers.”

The joke then moved beyond the Apple versus Samsung rivalry. Duolingo jumped in because of Apple’s choice of the name Duo, which is also the name of its famous green owl mascot. The language learning platform posted, “They named a phone after me and made it bend over.” Samsung quickly replied, “I’m so sorry, @DuoLingo. They copied us too #Solidarity.”

Motorola also joined the post launch chatter. The company shared a video highlighting the history of its Razr foldables, ending with its newer foldable products and the caption, “Some are just discovering it. We’ve been making it even better. Just wait for our next move.”

The internet has found another target in Apple’s promotional images. Social media users have focused on the hands holding the iPhone Duo, with some claiming the fingers look unusually long. Photoshop edits and jokes about oversized palms have since circulated widely. However, there is no confirmed evidence that Apple digitally altered the fingers, so those claims remain internet speculation.

The price has provided another easy source of memes. The iPhone Duo starts at Rs 2,99,900 in India, with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB storage options. Pre orders begin on October 16, while sales start October 23.

At nearly Rs 3 lakh in India and $1,999 in the US, kidney jokes were almost inevitable. Social media users have been joking about having to sell a kidney to afford Apple’s first foldable.