Apple’s latest iPhone lineup is beginning to receive closer attention after several days of hands-on use and early testing. While the company is expected to maintain strong demand for its new models, the newly introduced iPhone Duo foldable has become the biggest talking point of the lineup.
Apple reportedly began working on foldable technology years ago, with development said to have started around 2019. After several expected launch windows failed to materialize, the company has finally entered the foldable smartphone market in 2026.
The iPhone Duo appears to benefit from Apple’s extended development period. Its inner display reportedly has a minimal crease, an anti-reflective coating and a sturdy design. Apple has also focused heavily on software, with smooth opening and closing animations and a left-aligned dock designed to improve multitasking. Apple Pencil support is also expected to arrive.
However, the Duo is not without limitations. The current design appears better suited to right-handed users, while the placement of the volume controls on the top could take some getting used to. Its approximately $2,000 price is also difficult to overlook, particularly because the main camera reportedly uses hardware closer to the less expensive iPhone 17e rather than the larger sensor found on the Pro models. The inner display’s under-display camera is another potential compromise.
The iPhone 18 Pro models, meanwhile, bring a more significant hardware upgrade through Apple’s A20 Pro processor. The 2nm chip reportedly delivers faster processing and graphics performance, while its Neural Engine has twice as many cores as the previous generation. Memory bandwidth has also increased, supporting Apple’s growing focus on on-device artificial intelligence.
Battery life has improved as well, with the iPhone 18 Pro Max reportedly offering up to six additional hours of video playback. Charging speeds, however, remain relatively modest compared with some competing smartphones.
Apple has also introduced a variable-aperture camera system on the Pro models. While the technology offers greater control over depth of field, its practical benefits on a smartphone may be limited because phone cameras already have considerable depth of field.
For existing iPhone 17 Pro owners, the upgrade may therefore be difficult to justify. Pricing is another concern, with increases reported across several international markets. In India, prices have reportedly risen by around ₹30,000, making the latest generation considerably more expensive for local buyers.
