Planning to upgrade your iPhone this year? If you’re someone looking to get the most feature-packed device, typically the choice would be easy: You’d buy the latest iPhone Pro Max model, and this time around, that’s the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
However, Apple decided to throw a curveball at iOS users this year with the release of its first-ever Apple foldable, the iPhone Duo.
Now, iPhone users looking for a new smartphone have to make a difficult choice. I know. I’m one of those users who assumed I’d just go with the new Pro Max, but the unveiling of the Duo has me second-guessing that choice.
Do I go with the iPhone 18 Pro Max or the iPhone Duo? Each is powerful in its own right, as they both have Apple’s new Apple Silicon chip A20 Pro. But, both are missing features that the other has.
So, instead of just comparing specs, let’s look at the use cases for each device.
If you want the biggest screen…
Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable
At 6.9 inches, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the largest traditional smartphone display. When the iPhone Duo is closed and in its smartphone “form,” it’s smaller. The Duo’s outer display is only 5.4 inches.
However, when the Duo is opened up, the inner display has 50 percent more screen space than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, measuring 7.6 inches. Ultimately, the Duo has more screen for you to work with.
The winner: The iPhone Duo
If cameras are of the utmost importance
Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable
The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a 48MP Pro Fusion camera system, a 48MP Fusion Main lens, a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide lens, and a 48MP Fusion Telephoto lens. It also introduces a physical variable aperture feature for the first time. The Duo has the same main lens but without the variable aperture, and the same ultra-wide lens. The iPhone Duo does not have a telephoto lens, but it does have a 12MP Center Stage selfie camera and an under-display FaceTime camera.
Hardware-wise, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the superior smartphone camera when compared with the Duo. It has more rear camera lenses, and that physical variable aperture will provide users with plenty of control of lighting and depth of field.
For serious photographers or filmmakers looking for a smartphone to match your workflow, the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s new software capabilities with Pro Controls is going to be a big plus too. With Pro Controls, users can adjust shutter speed, lens aperture, white balance, and more.
If you care about photography or videography above all, then the choice is clearly the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The winner: iPhone 18 Pro max
If you’re a content creator
Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable
I just made the case that when it comes to smartphone cameras, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is superior to the iPhone Duo. And that’s true…for the most part.
While filmmakers will want to go with the iPhone 18 Pro Max, online content creators may actually want to consider the iPhone Duo.
Yes, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the extra lens and pro control features. Yes, the iPhone 18 Pro Max even has a better front-facing camera with its 18MP selfie camera compared to the iPhone Duo’s 12MP selfie camera.
However, the foldable aspect of iPhone Duo opens up a whole world of creative use cases, especially for those who typically make social media-friendly content.
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The iPhone Duo can be folded in numerous ways to act as its own stand or tripod in order to take full-body photos and videos when working solo. The iPhone Duo even has unique features like Smart Take that take advantage of those capabilities and automatically snap photos of users without having to utilize a countdown.
When opened, the iPhone Duo’s outer display can be used as a monitor so users can take selfies with the better 48MP without just guessing if they’re even in the frame.
If you’re a content creator who never manually changes the settings on your camera and barely, if ever, utilizes the telephoto lens, the iPhone Duo may actually be better for you.
The winner: The iPhone Duo
Price matters
Finally, an easy one.
If you’re looking for the most powerful but also simultaneously the most affordable device, don’t even look at the iPhone Duo. It’s the most expensive iPhone ever.
The Duo starts at $2,000. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is $700 cheaper at $1,299. Get the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The winner: The iPhone 18 Pro Max, duh
You’re a mobile gamer
If mobile gaming is your thing, it seems like Apple may have finally created the perfect iPhone for you.
People who’ve already had a hands-on with the iPhone Duo are saying that the foldable is seemingly made for gamers. The full-sized inner screen provides a perfect balance of display real estate with mobility. In addition, when turned to its side, one screen can be used as a traditional landscape-mode display, while the other can be used as a full-sized game controller.
Now, there is one addendum to add here. It may be a while for most game developers to update their games to use these features or even create games specifically tailored to the iPhone Duo. But, when all is said and done, the iPhone Duo will clearly have the upper hand over the iPhone 18 Pro Max when it comes to gaming.
The winner: iPhone Duo
You’re a multitasker
This is a no-brainer choice if you’re a multitasker. Go with the iPhone Duo.
The Duo appears to work much like an iPad, with the ability to run multiple apps side by side. The inner screen will also provide an optimal experience when using features like picture-in-picture video.
The winner: iPhone Duo
You have too many iPhone accessories already
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Unless you’re upgrading your iPhone 17 Pro Max to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which is the same size as its predecessor, you’re going to have to buy a new iPhone case.
However, most other accessories should still work! Rigs to utilize your iPhone as a professional camera, swappable camera lenses, attachable battery packs, selfie sticks, tripod mounts – all of those should be compatible with your iPhone 18 Pro Max. After all, the traditional iPhone design has been this way for some time.
That may not be so with a completely different-looking iPhone product like the iPhone Duo. While some accessories may still work with your Duo, they certainly weren’t designed to fit or align perfectly with its design. Many accessories may just not be compatible at all.
So, if you rely on many essential third-party iPhone accessories, you may want to stick with the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max
You just really want a foldable device
Yeah, just buy the iPhone Duo.
You think foldables are dumb
Why are you even here? Get the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Top iPhone pre-order deals
The iPhone 18 Pro Max opens for pre-orders on Sept. 12, and the big carriers are rolling out their best offers:
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T-Mobile: Get the iPhone 18 Pro for free when you switch or trade-in an eligible phone on an Experience Beyond plan
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AT&T: Get up to $1,200 off the new iPhones with qualifying trade-ins of iPhone 14 or later
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Total Wireless: Save $600 on iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max on the All Access plan
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Verizon: Get up to $1,200 off when you add a new line (with qualified trade-in) on eligible myPlan
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Visible: Buy the iPhone with Visible+ Pro and receive $480 through monthly credits
