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Apple's folding phone is finally (well, almost) here. The phone goes up for preorder on Oct. 16 and reaches stores on Oct. 23. That means you have until then to decide if the iPhone Duo is the right phone for you or if you should settle for the yearly refresh of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Both slab-style phones have proven their worth in our detailed reviews, offering outstanding performance, long-lasting batteries, and top-notch cameras. But they're the same boring old slab that phone makers have been churning out for decades.
The iPhone Duo, on the other hand, is a brand new style of device from Apple: a phone that opens to reveal a larger inner screen. We haven't put the Duo through its paces, but we will soon. If you're wondering whether it's the right phone for you, or whether the 18 Pro or 18 Pro Max is a better choice, here are a few things to consider.
Full Specs
| Apple iPhone 18 Pro | Apple iPhone Duo | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | ||
| Operating System | iOS 27 | iOS 27 |
| CPU | ||
| CPU | Apple A20 Pro | Apple A20 Pro |
| Dimensions | ||
| Dimensions | 5.91 by 2.83 by 0.34 inches | 4.64 by 3.31 by 0.44 inches folded, 4.64 by 6.48 by 0.21 inches unfolded |
| Screen Size | ||
| Screen Size | 6.3 inches | 7.6 inches |
| Screen Resolution | ||
| Screen Resolution | 2622 by 1206 pixels | 2,670 by 1,878 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | ||
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 48MP, 48MP, 48MP, 25MP | 48MP. 48MP; 12MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | ||
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 23 hours and 45 minutes | TBD |
Price: More and Even More
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 for 256GB, $1,399 for 512GB, $1,599 for 1TB, and $1,999 for 2TB. The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 for 256GB and $1,499 for 512GB, then jumps to $1,899 for 1TB and $2,499 for 2TB.
The iPhone Duo carries an $800 premium over the base model iPhone 18 Pro. It starts at $1,999 for 256GB, $2,199 for 512GB, $2,599 for 1TB, and $3,199 for 2TB. The iPhone Duo is not an inexpensive choice.
Everything costs too much, and I'll never stop complaining about it.
Winner: iPhone 18 Pro
Design and Size: One Folds, the Others Don't
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max refine Apple's traditional slab-style aesthetic and introduce several new stunning colors, including Burgundy, a cherry bronze, and Glacier, an icy blue. The iPhone Duo is Apple's first book-style foldable. It has a hinge mechanism built from Grade 5 titanium. It comes in Star White, a clean white, and Night Sky, a near-black with subtle dark blue undertones.
The color is the easiest decision you'll make between the two device types. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max qualify as normal phones, meaning they're the candybar shape you're used to carrying around. The 18 Pro is 5.91 by 2.83 by 0.34 inches (HWD), while the Pro Max is 6.43 by 3.07 by 0.34 inches. Both devices are nearly the same size as their predecessors, though they're slightly heavier. The iPhone 18 Pro weighs 7.44 ounces, and the Pro Max is the heftiest at 8.78 ounces.
The iPhone Duo is a different experience. You are choosing a device with two shapes and sizes: open and closed. When it's closed, the iPhone Duo sneaks away like a passport at 4.64 by 3.31 by 0.44 inches. Open, it's twice as wide at 4.64 by 6.48 by 0.20 inches. It also wobbles because, even though Apple insists it doesn't, it's a caveat of a book-style foldable, where the main cameras are two lenses off in the corner. The iPhone Duo is the heaviest of these three at 8.96 ounces, though the difference from the Pro Max is small.
Both devices feature IP68 water and dust resistance, Ceramic Shield protection, and MagSafe. The 18 Pro is the most compact of the bunch and benefits from a mature design, while the Duo is a brand new style of device and carries its own appeal.
Winner: Tie
Display: Would You Prefer a Slab or a Book?
The iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 2,622-by-1,206 pixel resolution and 460ppi pixel density. The Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display with the same technology, a resolution of 2,868 by 1,320 pixels, and the same 460ppi density. Both are covered in Apple's Ceramic Shield 2 to protect from scratches and breakage.
The iPhone Duo has a dual-display system—that means two screens. The cover screen is a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 2,034-by-1,398-pixel resolution and 460ppi. The inside folding screen is a 7.6-inch panel with a 2,670-by-1,878-pixel resolution at 430ppi. It features a nano-textured anti-reflective finish to minimize crease visibility and reduce glare.
All three devices feature 120Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh rates, Always-On display technology, and outdoor peak brightness reaching 3,000 nits.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max have tried-and-true screens and don't suffer the weaknesses of a folding glass panel. But the Duo offers more flexible use cases.
Winner: Tie
Performance and Connectivity: Better Than Android
All three iPhone devices share similar specs. They run on the 2nm Apple A20 Pro chip, featuring a six-core CPU, a seven-core GPU, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine, which we extensively tested in our reviews of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The A20 Pro repeatedly beat the latest silicon in Android devices, so it's a solid bet no matter which iPhone form factor you choose.
All models share the same RAM configuration, which Apple doesn't openly disclose, though we expect it to be 12GB. They use Apple's reworked vapor-chamber thermal cooling system, though the iPhone Duo's internal layout differs from that of the 18 Pros. We haven't tested the latter's effectiveness, as the foldable isn't yet available for testing.
All three devices have Apple's N1 wireless networking chip, Thread connectivity, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), and Emergency Satellite features. Apple's integrated C2 5G cellular modem is inside the Duo and 18 Pro, but the Pro Max has a Qualcomm X80 for reasons that remain undisclosed.
Winner: Tie (for now)
Batteries: The Pro Max Will Likely Win Out
Battery life across the three devices scales with size and display specs. Again, Apple doesn't reveal exact milliamps. It offers hourly estimates instead.
The smaller iPhone 18 Pro lasted 23 hours and 45 minutes in testing, after promising up to 36 hours of video playback. The iPhone 18 Pro Max outlasted it by managing 34 hours and 31 minutes, nine hours under its initial promise of 45 hours of video playback. Still, that's a tremendous result, and enough for a PCMag Lab Award for the longest-lasting battery. Both the Pro and Pro Max also support fast wired charging to 50% in 15 minutes with a high-capacity power brick. We tested it, and it works for both sizes.
The iPhone Duo utilizes a dual-battery layout split across the hinge. Apple promises up to 44 hours of video playback on the 5.4-inch cover screen and up to 31 hours on the main 7.6-inch inner screen. We don't have the phone in hand, but if you want a better battery, the slab iPhone is likely the answer.
Winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max
Cameras: Three vs. Two
If you want all the camera performance available, you'll want the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max. Both devices feature a triple 48MP camera system: a main Fusion camera with variable aperture, an ultra-wide camera, and a telephoto with 4x optical zoom. The front camera is an 18MP TrueDepth shooter.
The two Pros support a host of professional-grade camera and capture features. This includes ProRes and ProRes RAW video recording up to 4K at 120fps, plus Apple Log 2 recording. These are also the only devices with a variable aperture, which we praised in our full iPhone reviews.
The iPhone Duo is a dual 48MP camera system. It features a main fusion camera (without a variable aperture) and an ultrawide shooter. It lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, which Apple omitted to keep the Duo relatively thin. Both the front-facing camera and the inside under-display camera are 12MP Center Stage sensors.
Winner: iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max
Software: The Biggest Differentiator
The differences between the software are minimal but worth considering, especially if you've never used a foldable before. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are both optimized for the standard one-handed and two-handed use mechanisms you're used to with a slab of glass. They have a smaller Dynamic Island that now expands to three Live Activities, on-device Siri AI, and everything else iOS 27 offers.
The iPhone Duo runs a tailored version of iOS 27 designed specifically for the foldable form factor. This version includes split-screen multitasking so that you can run two full iPhone apps side by side or two instances of the same app. It also includes Flex Mode layouts that shift as you orient the iPhone in different ways.
The iPhone Duo also supports Apple Pencil on the inner display. It allows for more ways to use the software and hardware together, which may delight many first-time foldable users.
Winner: iPhone Duo
Which iPhone is Best for You?
Look, it's a tough job deciding between a smartphone that folds and makes everyone around you "ooh" and "ahh" and the practicality of a slab of glass Apple's been churning out for nearly 20 years. Here's a cheat sheet on how to lean if you're choosing between the regular iPhone and the folding one:
Choose the iPhone 18 Pro if: You want the new variable aperture main camera and capable telephoto in a comfortable, lightweight design while keeping it under $1,200
Choose the iPhone 18 Pro Max if: You prioritize a big screen and battery life that lasts longer than any phone we've tested.
Choose the iPhone Duo if: You are feeling brave and have been waiting for Apple's foray into the foldable world. It's also a good choice if you want a tablet you can carry around in your pocket.
The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are on sale now, so be sure to read our full reviews. The iPhone Duo is slated for release in October, and we expect to review it in the weeks ahead.
