iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max & iPhone Duo: Specs, Price, and 2026 Release
Apple has introduced its new iPhone generation – and this year marks a true premiere. Alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and the larger iPhone 18 Pro Max, the iPhone Duo brings Apple’s first foldable iPhone to market. New processors, improved cameras, and longer battery life meet a new form factor from Apple.
We show you the most important new features, prices, and release dates.
iPhone 18 Pro: More performance and a significantly more flexible camera
Visually, the iPhone 18 Pro with its 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display remains close to the iPhone 17 Pro at first glance. ProMotion with up to 120 Hz and the Always-On display are also retained. Under the hood, however, Apple has stepped things up considerably.
At its core is the new A20 Pro chip, which is manufactured using a 2-nanometre process for the first time. According to Apple, compared to the A19 Pro, it offers 50 percent more memory bandwidth and a significantly more powerful GPU, among other things. A revised vapour chamber cooling system is also intended to ensure that high performance can be maintained for longer.
The new camera system is particularly interesting. The 48 MP main camera now features a variable aperture with multiple aperture settings for the first time. This makes it easier to control, among other things, how much light hits the sensor and the depth of field for the foreground and background. It is complemented by a 48 MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 48 MP telephoto camera.
iPhone 18 Pro Max: More display and even more endurance
Those looking for the largest possible iPhone will get a 6.9-inch display with the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Resolution, ProMotion, and the fundamental display technology largely correspond to the smaller Pro model.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are also nearly identical in terms of chip and camera system. The biggest difference remains the size and battery life. According to Apple, the Pro Max achieves up to 43 hours of video playback, compared to 37 hours for its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
It is also interesting that Apple now offers storage variants from 256 GB to 2 TB for both Pro models. For the iPhone 17 Pro, the 2 TB option was previously reserved for the Pro Max.
iPhone Duo: Apple's first foldable iPhone
The biggest innovation of the year, however, is the iPhone Duo. For the first time, Apple is bringing a foldable smartphone to market.
When folded, a 5.4-inch external OLED display is available. When the device is opened, a 7.6-inch foldable Super Retina XDR display is revealed. Both displays support ProMotion with up to 120 Hz as well as the Always-On display.
The casing is made of titanium; the device is only 5.2 mm thin when opened and weighs 254 grams. The A20 Pro chip is also used here. In terms of cameras, the Duo is slightly less well equipped than the Pro models: on the back, there is a 48 MP main camera and a 48 MP ultra-wide-angle camera.
Its big advantage, however, is flexibility. The iPhone Duo can be used in book, tent, or half-open mode, for example, and supports multitasking features on its large inner display. It also supports the Apple Pencil USB-C.
iOS 27 has also been specifically adapted to the foldable concept of the iPhone Duo. Content automatically switches between the 5.4-inch external display and the 7.6-inch internal display when opening and closing, adapting to different positions and orientations. On the large display, Split View allows two apps to be used side-by-side on the iPhone for the first time; furthermore, two windows of the same app can be opened, and app pairs can be saved for later.
For a more comfortable working and media experience, the large foldable OLED display features a special nanotexture coating as well as an anti-reflective coating, which reduces reflections and glare while also making the visible display crease appear less noticeable. The user interface has also been adapted to the foldable design. On the Duo, important control elements such as the dock, app navigation, and controls are located on the side of the screen, which leaves more vertical space for content, especially when closed, and adapts operation better to the narrow display. The Dynamic Island has also been redesigned for the Duo and sits vertically on the side.
Apple has omitted Face ID on the iPhone Duo. Instead, Touch ID is located in the side button and can be used regardless of whether the smartphone is currently folded or unfolded. This keeps biometric unlocking quickly accessible in both modes of use.
The models differ significantly in terms of SIM support: the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max support dual SIM with nano-SIM and eSIM, as well as two active eSIMs in Germany. The iPhone Duo, however, relies exclusively on eSIM globally and has no slot for a physical nano-SIM. Two eSIMs can be active simultaneously, and several other profiles can be stored.
Apple is also freshening up the colour range for the new generation. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are available in Black, Silver, Polar and the new Burgundy. Burgundy in particular adds a striking new accent to the Pro series.
The iPhone Duo comes in two elegant finishes: Starlight and Midnight.
The iPhone 18 Pro is likely to appeal to most users who want maximum performance and the new camera system, but would rather not have a particularly large smartphone.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max essentially offers the same technology, but combines it with a larger display and longer battery life.
The iPhone Duo, on the other hand, follows a completely different concept. It is aimed primarily at users who want plenty of space for videos, apps, or multitasking, and who want to combine a smartphone and a small tablet into one device if possible.
Prices: How much do the new iPhones cost?
In Germany, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at 1,449 euros. The iPhone Duo is priced significantly higher, starting at 2,299 euros for 256 GB. For 512 GB the price is 2,549 euros, 3,049 euros for 1 TB, and 3,799 euros for the largest 2 TB version.
With this, Apple is clearly positioning the iPhone Duo as a premium model above the classic Pro series.
When are the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Duo being released?
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max can be pre-ordered from 12 September 2026 and will be available from 18 September 2026.
For the iPhone Duo, anyone interested will have to wait a little longer: in Germany, pre-orders open on 16 October, with the official launch following on 23 October 2026.
Is the upgrade worth it?
If you already own an iPhone 17 Pro, you won't get a fundamental design change with the new generation, but there are some interesting technical improvements. The A20 Pro, longer battery life, and the new variable camera aperture are particularly strong arguments for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.
The much bigger step is the iPhone Duo. With it, Apple is expanding its product range to include a foldable model for the first time, creating a new device category between the classic iPhone and the iPad.
Whether the Duo is worth the high price depends primarily on how important the large foldable display and multitasking on the go are to you. If you are looking for a classic iPhone with the most powerful camera possible, the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max is likely the better choice.
Our conclusion
With the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple is steadily refining its classic Pro range. The new A20 Pro chip, longer battery life, variable camera aperture, and new colours make a difference, especially for users who value performance, photography, and the familiar iPhone experience.
The iPhone Duo, on the other hand, is the much bigger step. The foldable 7.6-inch display opens up brand-new possibilities for multitasking and media consumption thanks to the adapted user interface, Split View, and side-mounted controls. The anti-reflective coating on the large display also improves everyday usability. Instead of Face ID, Apple uses Touch ID in the side button, which is available in both folded and unfolded states.
There are also differences in connectivity: while the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in Germany continue to support Nano-SIM and eSIM, the iPhone Duo relies entirely on eSIM.
With this, Apple offers three very different concepts in 2026: the more compact iPhone 18 Pro, the larger and especially long-lasting Pro Max, and the more experimental iPhone Duo with a foldable display. Those who want to stay as close as possible to the classic iPhone are well served by the Pro models. Anyone looking for a new way of using a phone, more display area, and a stronger focus on multitasking will find the most exciting innovation of the generation in the iPhone Duo.
