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Introducing the new iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and Duo Smartphones

By: Megan

Content Writer

13 min read

Apple has reimagined what the iPhone can do, from your daily routines to capturing photos to using your calendar. And with Apple Intelligence’s Private Cloud Compute, the most private details of your life are protected 24/7. With the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and new foldable Duo, Apple has honed its focus on four main categories: intelligence, battery, performance and camera functions. Below, we dive into just what the new iPhone 18 Pro line-up and the Duo have to offer.

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: Your Personal Smart Hub

Available for purchase on September 18th, the iPhone 18 Pro redefines the world of smartphones. Its capabilities outshine previous generations, offering a new level of handheld convenience for all users. And if we’re being honest, this model looks as good as it performs with its sleek design and color selection. You’ll have the option between a classic black or silver, and two new shades: Glacier and Burgundy. The iPhone 18 also has several storage options, ranging from 256GB to 2TB.

The Smartphone Experience Reimagined

Since the iPhone’s initial debut, Apple has never failed to release an upgrade that wows us—and the iPhone 18 Pro has surpassed expectations. iOS 27 reshapes your home screen with the improved Dynamic Island, now showcasing three live activities at once. Face ID security keeps your private data protected, both when unlocking your phone and when using various apps, such as Apple Wallet. iPhone Handoff is designed for multi-device users, allowing you to use one number across two phones.

And the upgrades don’t stop there. Siri is more capable and conversational than ever, with a new app that gives you complete customization over your personal assistant. Adjust Siri’s pace and expressiveness, and securely connect to your conversations, including ones from your email and text messages. Once connected, it can give suggestions based on an email chain or conversation you had with a loved one. You can even snap a photo of an event flyer and have Siri add it to your calendar.

All-Day Productivity

The all-new A20 Pro chip is the fastest, most powerful Apple chip to date. And not one part has been left without an upgrade. Its 6-core CPU includes two desktop-class super-cores, while the advanced 7-core GPU design delivers up to 40 percent faster graphics rendering. For AI-based tasks, the dual 16-core neural engine provides two times the computing power. Combined, you get a 50% improvement in memory bandwidth. The iPhone 18 Pro truly is a powerhouse designed for everything from demanding workloads to intense AAA games.

The A20 Pro chip of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max provides yet another advancement: battery life. The Pro has an impressive 36 hours of video playback. Charge up to 50% in just 15 minutes with a wired connection, or wirelessly charge to 50% in 30 minutes. The Pro Max offers the largest jump seen for iPhones, delivering up to 45 hours of video playback on a single charge. And just five minutes of charging gives you seven hours of playback, perfect for quick power-ups before long road trips or extended flights.

An Upgraded Camera System

Both professional and casual photographers will love the Pro’s new camera system—with variable aperture being the main focus for this year’s updates. Depending on the scene, the aperture automatically adapts to match. You can also manually adjust between the four aperture settings: f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0. The new 48MP Fusion main camera has an improved sensor for better performance in low-light settings. And the result is truly breathtaking. Before capturing the moment, experiment with different white balance settings and change the shutter speed to create professional-looking photos, all with your iPhone. Instead of constantly tapping the screen to focus on a target, Focus Tracking locks onto the subject, even if they step out of frame.

After snapping the perfect shot, experiment with the camera’s new and improved tools to clean up content and adjust the composition as needed. Achieve more with the Cinematic Effects, which can be added after recording at up to 60 fps. Or capture time-lapse videos in 4K and Dolby Vision HDR for one-of-a-kind content. Audio Mix gives you control over your video’s sound, delivering higher-quality playback. You can even isolate music to make melodies stand out from background voices. For still images, try out the new Photographic Styles to enhance skin texture and have more grain control. Apple made one more announcement for the new camera system: the addition of Image Authenticity. This feature verifies the authenticity of captured content. Apple Reference Image creates an unchangeable reference image and logs when the photo was taken. In a world of AI-generated content, this feature is a must-have.

The iPhone Duo: Apple’s First Foldable Smartphone

For months, people have been speculating, and Apple’s September event confirmed the suspicions. The iPhone Duo is the world’s first foldable iPhone. And in true Apple style, this new release combines a sleek design with impressive performance. Available in Star White and Night Sky, its distinct shape and rounded corners provide exceptional versatility. Either hold it one-handed or flip it open for a wider display. Regardless of its position, the uniform aspect ratio keeps your experience consistent across both screens. The hinges and integrated magnets allow for smooth, secure opening and closing. Though two displays in one, the iPhone Duo is Apple’s thinnest model when opened—even compared to the iPhone Air.

Two Displays in One

The iPhone Duo is an innovation unlike any other iPhone. When closed, you’ll be able to use the 5.4-inch outer Super Retina XDR display, which is 90% of the iPhone 18 Pro’s screen area. The size is comparable to that of a passport, fitting comfortably into your hand while still displaying information clearly. Open the Duo to use the 7.6-inch inner display. The surface area is 50% larger compared to that of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, making it perfect for viewing content, gaming, streaming and multitasking. Each has a special nano-textured finish to minimize glare and will support the Apple Pencil in the future. To maintain a smooth experience, the Duo automatically reorients to match its position, whether placed on its side or folded over.

More than 100 components make up the hinge, delivering precise movements and reliable support. A multi-layer lamination design adds to the flat look. Paired with strong titanium and reinforced antenna splits, the Duo is crafted to withstand years of use. The durability extends to the front and back of each display thanks to Ceramic Shield and Ceramic Shield 2, which provide three times better scratch resistance. The IP68 rating makes the Duo splash-, water-, and dust-resistant. Another important note is that the Duo is eSIM-only worldwide. This makes room for the all-day battery, which we talk about later.

Performance at the Core

Similar to the iPhone 18 Pro, the vapor-cooled A20 Pro Chip powers the Duo. And iOS 27 gives you a familiar yet intuitive experience. Touch ID is integrated with the side button, while navigation has been moved to the side to maximize screen space. And the Dynamic Island has a new vertical position. Due to the iPhone Duo’s unique construction, Apple apps have been redesigned to match. Conveniently view two apps at once or create a split view for two Safari windows. The divider lets you keep up with sports games while catching up on emails. You won’t miss out on the new and improved Siri AI, either. The conversational upgrades make Siri the perfect, pocket-sized personal assistant.

The eSIM-only design enables the Duo’s impressive battery life. When only using the inner display, you’ll have up to 31 hours of video playback, while the outer display provides up to 44 hours. Using both displays equally gives up to 24 hours, so you’ll never have to worry about finding an outlet on busier days. The Duo also supports fast charging, reaching 50% in just 20 minutes. You can also wirelessly charge to 50% in about 30 minutes.

An Elevated Camera

Capture breathtaking photos with the iPhone Duo’s 48MP Fusion main camera, which also supports 4K 120 fps recording and 4K time-lapse content. Or zoom in with the integrated optical-quality 2x Telephoto lens. The main camera includes a larger sensor, allowing it to excel in low-light conditions. The Center Stage front camera expands your creative abilities, helping you capture content in any orientation—all without rotating the phone. Take advantage of Smart Take to snap group photos without setting a timer or needing a third party. Duo Preview uses the outer display to show the subject how they look, allowing them to perfect their pose. For shoots with small children, Kid Cue plays fun animations to keep their attention on the camera.

But Duo’s innovations don’t stop there. FaceTime has been redesigned to match the unique display. The camera stays hidden, only becoming visible when you need it, creating a continuous viewing experience. While some of your video conversations might be just you, group calls just got easier with Duo FaceTime. This feature takes advantage of both the front and rear cameras, meaning you and your loved ones don’t have to crowd around each other.

Get Your New iPhone 18 at Abt

We can’t wait for Apple’s new smartphone line-up to officially be released. But these weren’t the only announcements from Apple’s September event. Discover the brand’s other upcoming releases with our full coverage of the "Surprise and Shine" event. The iPhone 18 Pro will be available for pre-order starting on September 12th and can be purchased on September 18. Meanwhile, pre-orders for the Duo start on October 16 and the foldable device will be available starting on October 23. If you have any questions, either about one of these smartphones or another device, contact our team at 800-860-3577 for personalized support. Our smartphone buying guide is another great resource if you’d prefer to continue your research.