Apple has finally unveiled its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, alongside the flagship iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. But this has also raised the inevitable question: which new iPhone should you choose?
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be instantly familiar to most people, and although the latter has a larger screen and battery, we’ll treat them as one option here since they share the same key features. As with previous iterations, both phones offer better cameras, plenty of performance and the familiarity of a candybar design. Then there is the iPhone Duo, which comes in a passport-sized foldable body that opens to reveal a much larger 7.6-inch display – but costs an eye-watering S$3,099 for the base model.
Yet, despite their very different appearances, the three phones share quite a lot beneath the screen. All are powered by the same A20 Pro chip, have ProMotion displays, Wi-Fi 7, and storage options ranging from 256GB to 2TB. So, choosing the Duo does not mean sacrificing performance, although you will have to make concessions elsewhere.
Five reasons to buy the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max
Burgundy is the new flagship colour for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.
Photo: HWZ
1. It has the better camera system
The Duo might be the most expensive iPhone, but it does not have Apple’s most capable camera system. That honour still belongs to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which have a trio of 48-megapixel cameras comprising (Main, Ultra Wide and Telephoto units).
The new Fusion Main is the main highlight and features a physical variable aperture on its 48MP Fusion Main Camera built using a six-blade mechanical diaphragm, which offers four aperture settings between f/1.48 and f/4.0.
The Duo only has 48-megapixel Main (but without physical variable aperture) and Ultra Wide cameras. While these are probably enough for everyday photos, telephoto is a big miss in my opinion, especially for frequent travellers.
2. You prefer a more conventional design
The iPhone 18 Pro weighs 211g, while the larger Pro Max comes in at a hefty 249g. Surprisingly, the Duo is heavier than the latter at 254g, although weight is only part of the story.
When closed, the Duo is 11.3mm thick and 84.1mm wide. Its shorter, passport-sized body should fit inside most pockets, but I suspect that extra thickness and width will be more noticeable than the 5g difference between it and the Pro Max. The regular 18 Pro remains the easier choice if you want something that is reasonably comfortable to use with one hand.
3. No Face ID, no deal
Apple has dropped Face ID from the Duo and brought back Touch ID, with the fingerprint reader integrated into its side button. This means it can unlock consistently whether the phone is folded or open, so the decision makes sense even if it feels like a step backward.
Both iPhone 18 Pros retain Face ID through their 18-megapixel Centre Stage cameras, and they also get the Action button that is absent from the Duo. These may sound like relatively minor differences, but unlocking your phone is something you do many times a day and I know taking away Face ID is a deal-breaker for some iPhone owners.
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