Our verdict: buy the iPhone 18 Pro. It has Apple's best camera, the same chip as the $1,999 Duo and a lower price. Get the Pro Max for the longest battery life, the Duo only if you'll use a tablet-sized screen every day, and if you already own a 17 Pro, keep it.
Apple has never asked iPhone buyers a harder question. You can pay $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro, $1,299 for the Pro Max, or $1,999 for the iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable, which shipped October 23. Last year's iPhone 17 Pro, meanwhile, is turning up at carrier and reseller discounts.
iPhone 18 Pro
iPhone 18 Pro Max
iPhone Duo
iPhone 17 Pro
Four iPhones by the numbers
The 4 iPhones at a glance
iPhone 18 Pro- Variable aperture, f/1.48 to f/4
- 48MP 4x telephoto, 8x optical quality
- Up to 36 hours of video
The catch: a small step up from a 17 Pro.
iPhone 18 Pro Max- Up to 45 hours of video, the most of any iPhone
- 6.9-inch screen
- Same cameras and chip as the Pro
The catch: 249 g and hard to use one-handed.
iPhone Duo- 7.6-inch inner, 5.4-inch cover screen
- A20 Pro, IP68, titanium frame
- 5.2 mm thin when open
The catch: 254 g, 11.3 mm closed, no telephoto.
iPhone 17 Pro- Runs iOS 27 and the new Siri
- 4x telephoto, like the 18 Pro
- Up to 33 hours of video
The catch: fixed aperture, older A19 Pro.
Price, screen, cameras and battery
Prices checked October 23, 2026, on apple.com. Apple now sells the 17 Pro only through authorized resellers.
| Spec | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max | iPhone Duo | iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1,199 | $1,299 | $1,999 | Discounted (launched at $1,099) |
| Chip | A20 Pro (2nm) | A20 Pro (2nm) | A20 Pro (2nm) | A19 Pro |
| Screen | 6.3 in | 6.9 in | 7.6 in inner + 5.4 in cover | 6.3 in |
| Main camera | 48MP, variable f/1.48 to f/4 | 48MP, variable f/1.48 to f/4 | 48MP, fixed aperture | 48MP, fixed aperture |
| Telephoto | 48MP 4x | 48MP 4x | None (2x crop) | 4x |
| Video playback | Up to 36 hrs | Up to 45 hrs | Up to 31 hrs (inner screen) | Up to 33 hrs |
| Wired fast charge | 50% in about 15 min | 50% in about 15 min | 50% in about 20 min | – |
| Weight | 211 g | 249 g | 254 g | 206 g |
| Max storage | 2TB | 2TB | 2TB | 1TB |
| Available | Now | Now | Now (shipped Oct 23) | Resellers, discounted |
What each one has
| Feature | 18 Pro | 18 Pro Max | Duo | 17 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variable aperture | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dedicated telephoto lens | ✓ | ✓ | 2x crop | ✓ |
| A20 Pro chip | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Opens to a 7.6-inch screen | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Under 215 g | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| 50% charge in about 15 min | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | – |
| Sold by Apple | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Resellers |
– means we couldn't confirm it on Apple's current pages.
Camera: the real reason to upgrade
The iPhone 18 Pro is the first iPhone with a variable aperture: six blades in the 48MP main camera that move between f/1.48 and f/4. Open it wide for low light and soft backgrounds, or close it down to get a whole table of friends sharp.
It keeps the 48MP 4x telephoto too. The Duo gets neither: a fixed aperture and a 2x crop from the main sensor.
Speed: same chip, very different prices
The 18 Pro, Pro Max and Duo all run the 2nm A20 Pro. Apple says its graphics are up to 40% faster than the A19 Pro's, and early Geekbench 6 results put it around 4,719 single-core and 12,677 multi-core.
So the Duo's extra $800 buys a different shape, not more speed. A 17 Pro owner will feel the gain in games and 4K exports, and little else.
Battery: the Pro Max stands alone
Apple rates the 18 Pro for up to 36 hours of video and the Pro Max for up to 45, the longest of any iPhone. The Duo's big inner screen costs it: up to 31 hours.
The Pro models reach 50% in about 15 minutes wired, the Duo in about 20. If you end most days under 20%, the Pro Max's extra $100 is the best money in this lineup.
iPhone Duo: who it's for
The Duo opens like a book into a 7.6-inch screen, and both screens share one shape so apps don't reflow. If you read long documents, edit spreadsheets or run two apps side by side every day, it can replace an iPad mini.
For everyone else it's heavier (254 g), thicker (11.3 mm closed), has a weaker camera and costs $800 more. We compare it with every rival foldable in our iPhone Duo review.
Should you upgrade?
- From an iPhone 17 Pro: no, unless you want the variable aperture. Wait for 2027.
- From an iPhone 16 Pro: only if your battery is visibly worn.
- From an iPhone 15 Pro or older: yes. The chip, camera and battery add up to a real upgrade.
- From a non-Pro iPhone: a discounted 17 Pro gets you most of the way for less.
Which iPhone should you buy?
The verdict
The iPhone 18 Pro is the iPhone to buy in 2026: the best camera and the fastest chip at the most sensible price. Step up to the Pro Max for nine more hours of rated video, choose the Duo only if you'll open it every day, and if you have a 17 Pro, you already have most of this phone.
FAQ
Should I upgrade from iPhone 17 Pro to iPhone 18 Pro?
Most people shouldn't. The 18 Pro adds a variable-aperture camera, the faster A20 Pro and longer battery life, but the 17 Pro still runs iOS 27 and the new Siri and remains an excellent camera. Upgrade only if you shoot a lot of photos or your battery is worn.
How much is the iPhone 18 Pro?
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,299, both with 256GB. Storage goes up to 2TB. Both went on sale September 18, 2026.
iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone Duo?
The iPhone 18 Pro for most people. It has the same A20 Pro chip, a better camera with variable aperture and a telephoto lens, longer battery life and a lower price, $800 less. Buy the Duo only if you'll use its 7.6-inch inner screen every day.
Is the iPhone 18 Pro Max worth $100 more?
Yes, if battery life matters to you. Apple rates the Pro Max for up to 45 hours of video playback versus 36 for the Pro, a 25% jump for $100. If you prefer one-handed use, the smaller Pro is the better phone.
Is a discounted iPhone 17 Pro still a good buy?
Yes, if it's well under $1,199. It runs iOS 27, supports the new Siri and has a triple camera with telephoto. You give up the variable aperture, some battery life and the A20 Pro's extra speed.