Apple Pits $1,199 iPhone 18 Pro Against $1,999 Foldable Duo Ahead of Oct. 23 Debut
Updated
Updated · CNET · Sep 23
Apple Pits $1,199 iPhone 18 Pro Against $1,999 Foldable Duo Ahead of Oct. 23 Debut
3 articles · Updated · CNET · Sep 23
Summary
Apple’s newly released iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the foldable iPhone Duo will arrive Oct. 23 at $1,999, setting up a premium showdown between camera performance and a new form factor.
The 18 Pro’s main edge is imaging: a triple 48-megapixel rear system adds a telephoto lens and Apple’s first variable aperture on an iPhone, plus a redesigned interior with a larger vapor chamber for cooling.
The Duo trades those camera extras for hardware novelty, opening from a 5.4-inch cover screen to a 7.6-inch inner display near iPad Mini size; it uses Touch ID, carries IP68 protection and is just 0.2 inches thick when open.
Both phones run the 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip, which Apple says delivers a 20% faster CPU and 40% faster GPU than the A19 Pro, though battery claims differ with the Duo rated up to 44 hours of closed-screen video playback.
The comparison underscores Apple’s split premium strategy: the 18 Pro pushes conventional flagship photography, while the Duo asks buyers to pay a steep premium for Apple’s first foldable design.