Tom's Guide Picks iPhone 18 Pro Max Over $1,999 iPhone Duo

3 articles · Updated · Tom's Guide · Nov 1

Tom's Guide concluded the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the better buy, saying Apple's foldable iPhone Duo offers novelty and a larger screen but too many trade-offs for its higher price.
Battery life and cameras drove the verdict: the Pro Max lasted 17 hours 31 minutes versus 13:20 for the Duo, and its 48MP telephoto lens sharply outperformed the foldable on long-range zoom.
Performance was close because both use the A20 Pro chip, though the Pro Max posted slightly better benchmark scores, while the Duo's 7.6-inch inner display, split-view multitasking and Apple Pencil support remained its main advantages.
Price and availability widened the gap: the Pro Max starts at $1,299 and ships in two to three weeks, while the Duo starts at $1,999 with delivery delays stretching toward late 2026 and into 2027.