Apple used its September 9 "Surprise and Shine" event to reset the top of its phone lineup. Three new iPhones were announced: the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the long-rumored foldable, which Apple is calling iPhone Duo. Notably absent was a standard iPhone 18. Reporting from MacRumors says the base iPhone 18, a cheaper iPhone 18e and a second-generation iPhone Air are now expected in spring 2027, splitting Apple's launch calendar in two.
What the Pro models cost
Pricing for the Pro phones held steady at the entry tier, but storage starts higher this year:
- iPhone 18 Pro: from $1,199 (or $49.95 per month over 24 months)
- iPhone 18 Pro Max: from $1,299 (or $54.12 per month over 24 months)
- Storage tiers: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and a new 2TB option
- Colors: Black, Silver, Glacier and Burgundy
Apple's own trade-in program offers up to $1,200 in credit for an iPhone 14 or newer, and a new Apple Upgrade lease through Klarna starts at $34.99 per month.
The foldable is the headline
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for 256GB and climbs to $3,199 for a 2TB configuration. It opens to a 7.6-inch inner display with a 5.4-inch outer screen, runs the same A20 Pro chip as the Pro phones, and ships in Night Sky and Star White.
Key dates
Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max opened Saturday, September 12 at 5 a.m. PT. The phones arrive in stores Friday, September 18 in more than 65 countries, with 20 additional countries following on September 25. The iPhone Duo is on a later schedule: pre-orders begin October 16 and the phone goes on sale October 23 in more than 70 countries.
Alongside the new hardware, Apple raised prices on its existing iPhone 16, iPhone 17, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air by $100 each and discontinued the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, so shoppers hunting for a bargain will find the entry ladder has moved up.
Source: Apple Newsroom, MacRumors
Photo: Apple (source)
