iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro: which should you choose?

Date:
Sat, 31 Oct 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Description:
The iPhone Duo gives you two devices in one, but does that make it a better choice than the single-screen iPhone 18 Pro? The answer is complicated.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Apple iPhone Duo 1,999 at Mobiles.co.uk 256GB 1,999 at Mobiles.co.uk 256GB | White 2,599 at Simply Be 1TB | Silver Check Amazon



The iPhone Duo is a phone-and-tablet all-in-one, offering an extra screen at
a much higher price than the iPhone 18 Pro. It also loses some key Pro features. Pros Excellent design Two screens Stylus support Cons Very
expensive Worse cameras No Face ID Apple iPhone 18 Pro 1,199 at Mobiles.co.uk 256GB | Black 1,199 at Carphone Warehouse 256GB | Black | HDR | OLED 1,799 at very.co.uk 1TB 1,799 at Laptops Direct 1TB



The iPhone 18 Pro is a much cheaper phone than the iPhone Duo, with better cameras to boot. But its single screen makes it far less versatile. Pros Superb cameras Much lower price Has Face ID Cons Just one screen No stylus support Smaller battery The iPhone Duo has been a long time coming, but is Apple s first foldable a home run? And even if it is, do you even really need a dual-screen device?

Those are questions you might be asking yourself if you're in the market for
a new iPhone especially when the iPhone 18 Pro is also available, which only has one display but is a better device in various other ways. So, to help you decide which of these two models is best for you, weve compared the iPhone
Duo and iPhone 18 Pro across various categories, including price, display,
and design. Happy decision-making! Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro: specs comparison Before we look in depth at the key elements of the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro, the specs
table below provides an overview of their similarities and differences. Swipe to scroll horizontally Header Cell - Column 0

iPhone Duo

iPhone 18 Pro

Dimensions:

117.8 x 84.1 x 11.3mm (folded) / 117.8 x 164.6 x 5.2mm (unfolded)

150 x 71.9 x 8.8mm

Weight:

254g

211g

Display:

7.6-inch Super Retina XDR OLED (foldable) / 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED (cover)

6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED

Refresh rate:

1Hz120Hz

1Hz120Hz

Peak brightness:

3,000 nits

3,000 nits

Chipset:

A20 Pro

A20 Pro

RAM:

12GB

12GB

Rear cameras:

48MP main, 48MP ultra-wide

48MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 48MP telephoto

Front camera:

12MP cover, 4MP under-display

18MP

Battery:

4,883mAh

4,288mAh (eSIM-only) / 4,056mAh (physical SIM)

Charging:

50% in 20 minutes

50% in 15 minutes

Storage:

256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB

256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro: price and availability Image 1 of 2 The iPhone Duo (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) The iPhone 18 Pro (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2
of 2 View Original The iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro were both announced in September 2026. But while the iPhone 18 Pro shipped shortly after its announcement, the iPhone Duo wasnt available until October 23. Both phones
are available now, though, across much of the world. You may like iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone Air: which should you choose? Apple iPhone Duo review: this is the foldable Apple fans have been waiting for iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17: which should you choose?

The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 / 1,999 / AU$3,499, for which youll get 256GB of storage. Theres also a 512GB model for $2,199 / 2,199 / AU$3,899, a 1TB version for $2,599 / 2,599 / AU$4,699, and a 2TB model for $3,199 / 3,199 / AU$5,899.

The iPhone 18 Pro is a lot more affordable (relatively speaking), while still being expensive. This device starts at $1,199 / 1,199 / AU$2,099 for 256GB of storage, rising to $1,399 / 1,399 / AU$2,499 for 512GB, $1,799 / 1,799 / AU$3,299 for 1TB, and $2,399 / 2,399 / AU$4,499 for 2TB. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

So, the iPhone Duos starting price is some $800 / 800 / AU$1,400 higher than the iPhone 18 Pro's; that difference is the price of a high-end phone (or indeed the new iPad mini ) all on its own. So while youre essentially getting a phone and tablet all in one with the Duo, youre also paying handsomely for that privilege. Swipe to scroll horizontally Apple iPhone Duo pricing

Storage

US price

UK price

AU price

256GB

$1,999.99

1,999

AU$3,499

512GB

$2,199

2,199

AU$3,899

1TB

$2,599

2,599

AU$4,699

2TB

$3,199

3,199

AU$5,899 Swipe to scroll horizontally Apple iPhone 18 Pro pricing

Storage

US price

UK price

AU price

256GB

$1,199

1,199

AU$2,099

512GB

$1,399

1,399

AU$2,499

1TB

$1,799

1,799

AU$3,299

2TB

$2,399

2,399

AU$4,499 iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro: design Image 1 of 2 The iPhone Duo (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) The iPhone 18 Pro (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2 View Original The iPhone Duo doesnt really look like any other iPhone, and not just because it folds. When folded shut, you might expect it to look like the iPhone 18 Pro, but youd be wrong, as it has a much shorter, passport-shaped footprint,
coming in at 117.8 x 84.1 x 11.3mm compared to the iPhone 18 Pros 150 x 71.9
x 8.8.mm size.

Of course, the iPhone Duo is substantially larger when unfolded, opening out to 117.8 x 164.6 x 5.2mm (we'll touch on their displays in the next section). What to read next Apple iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: a big battle
of small differences Apple iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max review: better in all the right places iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: which should you choose?

Other differences include the phones' respective camera arrangements. The iPhone Duo has a punch-hole camera in the top right corner of its cover display, and an under-screen camera in its foldable display. The iPhone 18 Pro, meanwhile, has a much larger cut-out for its Dynamic Island, but this larger opening also allows for Face ID, which the iPhone Duo lacks.

On the back, the iPhone Duo has a horizontally arranged dual-lens camera, while the iPhone 18 Pro has a larger triple-lens camera block (which Apple describes as the 'camera plateau').

The Duo is also unsurprisingly heavier at 254g to the iPhone 18 Pros 211g,
and their colors differ, with the iPhone Duo being sold in Night Sky and Star White shades, while the iPhone 18 Pro is available in Black, Silver, Glacier, and Burgundy options. Image 1 of 2 The iPhone Duo (folded) and iPhone 18 Pro (Image credit: Future) The iPhone Duo (unfolded) and iPhone 18 Pro (Image credit: Future) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2 View Original Their materials differ a bit too, with the iPhone Duo having a titanium frame and a glass back (not unlike the iPhone Air ), while the iPhone 18 Pro has an aluminum frame and uses a mix of metal and glass on the back.

However, both phones have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and both use Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and Ceramic Shield on the back so
they should be similarly durable, aside from the inherent fragility that
comes with a second screen and a hinge mechanism (Apple has confirmed to TechRadar that the Duo's viral screen-cracking issue only affected a "small number of units" at launch, so you shouldn't worry about experiencing that level of vulnerability).

Ultimately, we praised the designs of both these phones, with our iPhone Duo review describing it as beautifully designed and engineered, while our iPhone 18 Pro review highlighted its fantastic new shades.

There's certainly a learning curve to be experienced with the iPhone Duo's folding form factor its volume buttons, for instance, are positioned on the top, not the side while the iPhone 18 Pro feels extremely familiar in the hand. But we'd urge you to try the Duo out for yourself in a store before dismissing its design as a reason not to buy it.

In essence, both of these devices are a treat to use. iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro: display (Image credit: Future) If youre considering the iPhone Duo, then its screen is probably the most important factor for you, since it has two of them. The Duo's main display is a 7.6-inch 1878 x 2670 foldable LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel, with a 120Hz refresh rate, 430 pixels per inch, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits.

The aspect ratio of this inner display is a content-friendly 1.4:1, giving
you room to run two full apps side-by-side, play games on a larger canvas, or watch wide-format media (note, though, that most YouTube and Netflix content is still displayed in 16:9).

Crucially, this inner screen also features a nano-texture coating to reduce glare and make the Duo's crease appear invisible face-on. Sure, you can see this crease when looking at an angle, but nano-texture really does work for making you forget about the crease during general use.

Being a foldable phone, the iPhone Duo also has a 5.4-inch 1398 x 2034 LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED cover screen, which likewise has a 120Hz refresh rate,
a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, and around 460 pixels per inch. Image 1 of 2 The iPhone Duo (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) The iPhone 18 Pro
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2
View Original The iPhone 18 Pro just has one screen, but its a good one. It's a 6.3-inch 1206 x 2622 LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, and around 460 pixels per inch.

On paper, then, the iPhone Duos screen specs are very similar to those of the iPhone 18 Pro except you get both a bigger and a smaller screen here than
the Pros mid-size display. But the Duo has an extra trick up its sleeve, as its foldable screen also supports the Apple Pencil, which the iPhone 18 Pro doesnt.

As far as screen quality goes, though, theres not much to choose between
these two devices, with our iPhone Duo review praising its bright, sharp, fluid screens along with a surprisingly well-hidden crease, and our iPhone 18 Pro review calling its display punchy, sharp, and smooth. iPhone Duo vs
iPhone 18 Pro: cameras Image 1 of 2 The iPhone Duo (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) The iPhone 18 Pro (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2 View Original While the iPhone Duo arguably has the edge where screens are concerned, its the iPhone 18 Pro that takes
the win for photography.

The Duo has two rear cameras: a 48MP f/1.6 wide snapper and a 48MP f/2.2 ultra-wide with a 120-degree field of view. It also has a decent 12MP f/2.2 camera on the cover screen, and a paltry 4MP f/1.8 under-display camera on
the foldable screen.

The iPhone 18 Pro, on the other hand, has a triple-lens camera setup on the back, with the same ultra-wide snapper as the Duo, but a superior 48MP variable aperture wide camera that can move between f/1.5 and f/4.0. It also has a 48MP f/2.8 telephoto camera capable of 4x optical zoom.

The selfie camera on the iPhone 18 Pro is also slightly higher spec than that of the Duo, being an 18MP f/1.9 one.

So, if you buy the Duo, youll be getting a less versatile wide camera and no telephoto camera, along with fewer megapixels for its front-facing cameras.

Of course, the Duo is far from a bad camera phone, with our review praising its two strong 48MP lenses and an above-average Center Stage selfie camera. You can absolutely take great shots with either of these phones.

But when it comes to photography, Apple's first foldable is simply no match for the iPhone 18 Pro, which we summed up as offering better detail than its predecessor, along with strong low-light performance, and excellent 4x and 8x zoom.

The iPhone 18 Pro is one of the best camera phones you can buy; the Duo is good, but not great. iPhone Duo camera samples Image 1 of 23 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff/ Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff/ Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff/ Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff/ Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff/ Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff/ Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff/ Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) Image 1 of 23 View Original Image 2 of 23 View Original Image 3 of 23 View Original Image 4 of 23 View Original Image 5 of
23 View Original Image 6 of 23 View Original Image 7 of 23 View Original
Image 8 of 23 View Original Image 9 of 23 View Original Image 10 of 23 View Original Image 11 of 23 View Original Image 12 of 23 View Original Image 13
of 23 View Original Image 14 of 23 View Original Image 15 of 23 View Original Image 16 of 23 View Original Image 17 of 23 View Original Image 18 of 23 View Original Image 19 of 23 View Original Image 20 of 23 View Original Image 21
of 23 View Original Image 22 of 23 View Original Image 23 of 23 View Original iPhone 18 Pro camera samples Image 1 of 26 (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) Image 1 of 26 View Original Image 2 of 26 View Original Image 3 of 26 View Original Image 4 of 26 View Original Image 5 of 26 View Original Image 6 of 26 View Original Image 7 of 26 View Original Image 8 of 26 View Original Image 9 of 26 View Original Image 10 of 26 View Original Image 11 of 26 View Original Image 12 of 26 View Original Image 13 of 26 View Original Image 14 of 26 View Original Image 15 of 26 View Original Image 16 of 26 View Original Image 17 of 26 View Original Image 18 of 26 View Original Image 19
of 26 View Original Image 20 of 26 View Original Image 21 of 26 View Original Image 22 of 26 View Original Image 23 of 26 View Original Image 24 of 26 View Original Image 25 of 26 View Original Image 26 of 26 View Original iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro: performance and software Image 1 of 2 The iPhone Duo (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) The iPhone 18 Pro (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2 View Original The iPhone Duo
and iPhone 18 Pro should offer comparable performance, as both phones have an A20 Pro chipset, 12GB of RAM, and a vapor chamber.

Thats a capable combination, with our iPhone Duo review mentioning smooth performance across the board, while our iPhone 18 Pro review highlighted that its fast, efficient, and ready for whatever comes next.

Obviously, the iPhone Duo may be a more enjoyable phone to play mobile games on (given its larger inner screen), but it's not an inherently better or more powerful gaming phone than the iPhone 18 Pro.

The same applies to productivity, since you can split the Duo's display in
two by swiping up from the bottom and slowly dragging an app left or right. For obvious reasons, you can't do any such multitasking magic on the iPhone
18 Pro.

The software on both phones is similar, with the iPhone Duo running iOS 27.1 out of the box and the iPhone 18 Pro running iOS 27. At the time of writing, both phones can be updated to iOS 27.2 , and its likely theyll be supported for the same amount of time.

There are, however, some software differences to be aware of, with Apple taking advantage of the Duo's dual-screen nature to add and change some features. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) While using its cover
screen, for instance, you'll notice a status bar and side-positioned dock that's easier to reach with your thumb, but sometimes cuts into the Duo's screen real estate.

Several apps, too, are not yet optimized for the Duo's unusual screen sizes first-party apps like Mail and Safari look great, but others (like LinkedIn and Instagram) are a little clunky at the time of writing.

These optimization issues will almost certainly be resolved quickly as app developers release Duo-specific updates, but they're worth bearing in mind nonetheless. iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro: battery Image 1 of 2 The iPhone Duo (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) The iPhone 18 Pro (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2 View Original The iPhone Duo has a 4,883mAh battery, while the iPhone 18 Pro has either a 4,288mAh cell (if youre getting an eSIM-only model like those sold in the US) or a 4,056mAh cell.

So in either case, the iPhone Duo has a higher-capacity battery, but it wont necessarily last longer, with Apple claiming it can manage an impressive 44 hours of video playback if you're only using the outer display, but just 31 hours if you're mostly using the larger foldable screen.

The iPhone 18 Pro, meanwhile, splits the difference at 34 hours. For typical use, theyre similar, with the iPhone Duo listed at 24 hours and the iPhone 18 Pro at 23.

In our own tests, we found that the iPhone Duo had solid all-day battery
life, while the iPhone 18 Pro offered outstanding endurance. So neither phone should run low on battery too fast.

When they do need charging, the iPhone Duo can be juiced to 50% in around 20 minutes with a 60W or higher charger, or it can reach 50% in 30 minutes with
a 35W or higher MagSafe charger.

The iPhone 18 Pro is slightly faster here, with Apple claiming it can reach 50% in just 15 minutes with a 60W wired charger, and the same 50% in 30 minutes with a 35W MagSafe charger. Those speeds proved accurate in our testing. iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro: verdict (Image credit: Future) The iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro are refreshingly different product offerings
from Apple. They're similar in some ways, but very distinct in others.

The Duo gives you both phone- and tablet-sized screens, along with a higher-capacity battery and stylus support, at a much, much higher price than the iPhone 18 Pro which itself has better cameras, Face ID, and a slightly faster-charging battery.

In other areas, theyre largely similar devices, offering comparable power and software (despite some early teething issues for the Duo), plus similar-quality outer screens.

The Duo gets a beautiful nano-texture inner display, though by virtue of it being a foldable phone, it's also heavier than the iPhone 18 Pro, and when folded shut, its also thicker.

So youve really got to think about what factors are most important to you and whether the benefits of the iPhone Duo outweigh its enormous price. Indeed,
at such a high cost, you might want to consider buying both the iPhone 18 Pro and an iPad mini instead.

Still, the Duo is more pocketable than an iPad (crucially, you're getting two device experiences in one ), and its an undeniably great phone, scoring 4.5 stars in our review. So if it suits your needs, youre unlikely to regret buying it. Just be aware of the learning curve. Today's best iPhone deals Contract Deals Sim Free voucher gift Apple iPhone 18 Pro 48 months Unlimited mins 25GB data 30 upfront 69.03 /mth View Deal at EE See all prices voucher gift Apple iPhone Air 36 months Unlimited mins 1GB data 50 upfront 40.50 /mth View Deal at Vodafone Ltd See all prices gift Apple iPhone 17 24 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 100GB data 29 upfront 38.99 /mth View Deal at Mobiles.co.uk See all prices voucher gift Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max 48 months Unlimited mins 25GB data 30 upfront 57.73 /mth View Deal at EE See all prices voucher gift Apple iPhone Duo 48 months Unlimited mins 25GB data 30 upfront 87.11 /mth View Deal at EE See all prices voucher gift Apple iPhone 17e 48 months Unlimited mins 5GB data 30 upfront 37.92 /mth View Deal at EE See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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