Planning to upgrade your iPhone this year? If you want the most feature-packed device, the choice is usually easy: You'd buy the latest iPhone Pro Max, and this time around, that's the very impressive 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 have to make a difficult choice. I know because I'm one of them. Before the September iPhone event, I assumed I'd go with the new Pro Max, but the unveiling of the Duo had me second-guessing my decision.
So, should you 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 important features that the other has.
Our first-hand experience: iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max
Mashable has now had plenty of hands-on time with both devices.
Here's what we can say based on our real-world testing:
If you want the most powerful iPhone on the market, get the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
If you want a whole new iPhone experience, get the iPhone Duo.
As Mashable's Stan Schroeder wrote in his iPhone Duo review, the new foldable is "the most interesting iPhone since the first one." Apple has successfully pulled off its first foldable device, despite a few minor quirks. The user experience is excellent, and Apple really thought through all the ways a larger, foldable screen can benefit iOS. Schroeder scored the iPhone Duo more highly than the iPhone 18; ultimately, the cool factor was decisive.
With that said, the iPhone Duo does have a learning curve that will take some getting used to. The iPhone 18 Pro Max offers no such learning curve. In fact, it uses the same exact form factor as its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. On top of that, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has all the bells and whistles, whereas Apple leaves some things out of the iPhone Duo in order to make it work. This is especially noticeable when it comes to the cameras, one of the main areas where the iPhone Duo is lacking.
And, of course, while neither phone is cheap, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is significantly less expensive than the Duo.
Still not sure which Apple phone you should get: the iPhone 18 Pro Max or the iPhone Duo? Instead of just comparing specs and throwing numbers at you, let's look at the use cases for each device.
If you want the biggest screen...
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 you want the lightest phone...
Honestly, if your priority is getting a lightweight smartphone, neither the iPhone 18 Pro Max nor the iPhone Duo is for you.
Both the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo are rather heavy, weighing in at 8.78 ounces (249 grams) and 254 grams (8.96 ounces), respectively. That's right. If you've seen reviews of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, you'll see that one of the quibbles about the device is that its a heavyweight. And the iPhone Duo is even heavier.
I will say this. I upgraded from the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the new iPhone is significantly heavier. But I can attest to the fact that you just get used to it. It no longer feels like a heavy phone. It's just the regular weight of my iPhone now. I'm sure the experience will be the same for the iPhone Duo. In the end, you'll just get used to it.
But if you must get one of the two phones and you must acquire the lightest option, you'll want the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max
If cameras are of the utmost importance
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.
Apple introduced an 8x zoom with the telephoto lens with the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max and has carried that feature over with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Obviously, without a telephoto camera lens, the iPhone Duo does not have this feature. So, keep in mind if you're coming from an older iPhone that you're not only losing a 4x zoom telephoto lens with the iPhone Duo, but a new 8x zoom one too.
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 variable physical 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 are 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
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.
The iPhone Duo can be folded in multiple ways to serve as its own stand or tripod, enabling full-body photos and videos when working solo. The iPhone Duo even has unique features like Smart Take, which leverages those capabilities to automatically snap photos of users without 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 want an iPhone right now
Here's another easy one. iPhone Duo pre-orders sold out quickly and the device is currently backordered. Some customers say that Apple has provided them with an estimated December delivery date, although Apple appears to be in the midst of fulfilling those orders sooner.
However, if you want a new iPhone this very minute, you're going to have to wait at least some amount of time for the iPhone Duo to be restocked. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is available right now.
The winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max
You have too many iPhone accessories already
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 if you're upgrading from an older iPhone.
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.