iPhone 18: Release Dates, Prices, Pro Max and iPhone Duo

The iPhone 18 is the 2026–27 generation of Apple’s smartphone, and this year Apple changed how it launches. Instead of revealing four phones every September, Apple introduced only its Pro models and a brand-new foldable in the fall. As a result, many shoppers searching for the iPhone 18 find a lineup that looks incomplete. This guide sorts out what Apple has actually released, what it costs in the US, and what is still only a report.

Every price, date and spec below comes from Apple’s own Newsroom, product pages and online store, checked on October 21, 2026. Meanwhile, anything Apple has not confirmed is clearly marked as a rumor, along with who reported it.

Is the iPhone 18 Out Yet?

Partly. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are out, while the standard iPhone 18 is not. Apple unveiled the two Pro phones on September 9, 2026, opened pre-orders on Saturday, September 12 at 5 a.m. PT, and started sales on Friday, September 18, according to Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro press release. Twenty more countries and regions followed on September 25.

At the same event, Apple also announced the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone. Pre-orders opened Friday, October 16, and the phone becomes available on Friday, October 23, 2026, in the US and more than 70 countries and regions. Then 28 more countries get it on October 30.

In addition, iOS 27, Apple’s latest operating system, arrived as a free update on September 14. The iPhone Duo ships with iOS 27.1. So if you are asking “when is the iPhone 18 coming out,” the answer depends on the model you want.

Model	Announced	Pre-orders	Available
iPhone 18 Pro	Sept 9, 2026	Sat, Sept 12, 2026	Fri, Sept 18, 2026
iPhone 18 Pro Max	Sept 9, 2026	Sat, Sept 12, 2026	Fri, Sept 18, 2026
iPhone Duo	Sept 9, 2026	Fri, Oct 16, 2026	Fri, Oct 23, 2026
iPhone 18 (standard)	Not announced	Not announced	Spring 2027 (reported, not confirmed)

iPhone 18 Lineup and US Prices

The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,299, both with 256GB of storage. Both also come in 512GB, 1TB and a new 2TB tier. The table shows unlocked prices from the Apple Store, before tax and trade-in.

Storage	iPhone 18 Pro	iPhone 18 Pro Max	iPhone Duo
256GB	$1,199	$1,299	$1,999
512GB	$1,399	$1,499	$2,199
1TB	$1,799	$1,899	$2,599
2TB	$2,399	$2,499	$3,199

Notably, Apple raised prices on its older phones on launch day. MacRumors reported on September 9 that the iPhone 16, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17 and iPhone Air each went up by $100. At the same time, Apple discontinued the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Here is what the rest of the current lineup costs today.

Model	Display	Chip	Starting price
iPhone Duo	7.6-inch inner, 5.4-inch outer	A20 Pro	$1,999
iPhone 18 Pro Max	6.9-inch	A20 Pro	$1,299
iPhone 18 Pro	6.3-inch	A20 Pro	$1,199
iPhone Air	6.5-inch	A19 Pro	$1,099
iPhone 17	6.3-inch	A19	$899 with carrier activation ($929 unlocked)
iPhone 17e	6.1-inch	A19	$699
iPhone 16	6.1-inch	A18	$799 (per MacRumors)

What’s New in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max?

The biggest upgrades are a main camera with variable aperture, the new A20 Pro chip with much better cooling, and longer battery life, especially on the Pro Max. Otherwise, the overall design stays close to last year’s aluminum unibody.

Camera: variable aperture arrives

For the first time on an iPhone, the 48MP Fusion Main camera has adjustable aperture. Six laser-cut blades move between settings from f/1.48 for low light to f/4 for deeper focus. Night mode changes it automatically, but you can also pick it yourself in the Camera app alongside manual shutter speed, white balance and a histogram.

In addition, all three rear cameras are now 48MP. The telephoto uses a tetraprism design at 4x (100mm), with an 8x optical-quality option and digital zoom up to 40x, according to Apple’s tech specs page. Apple also added an opt-in “Reference mode” that keeps an unaltered reference image next to your edited photo, so you can show what the camera actually captured.

A20 Pro chip and cooling

The A20 Pro, Apple’s first 2-nanometer phone chip, has a 7-core GPU that Apple says is up to 40% faster than the A19 Pro. It also doubles AI processing with a dual 16-core Neural Engine. Because the memory now sits beside the chip, the processor touches a larger vapor chamber directly, which Apple says delivers up to 40% better sustained performance for gaming and video work.

Battery life and charging

Battery life is the headline for the Pro Max. Apple rates it at up to 45 hours of video playback, six hours more than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and up to 30 hours of mixed use. Meanwhile, the smaller Pro is rated at up to 36 hours of video. Both reach about 50% in roughly 15 minutes with a 60W-capable adapter, and both support 25W MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging.

Design, colors and size

• Colors: black, silver, glacier and a new burgundy.
• Displays: 6.3-inch (Pro) and 6.9-inch (Pro Max) OLED with ProMotion up to 120Hz and 3,000 nits peak outdoor brightness.
• Weight: 211 g (Pro) and 249 g (Pro Max); both are 8.75 mm thick.
• Durability: Ceramic Shield 2 on the front, Ceramic Shield on the back, IP68 water resistance.
• Dynamic Island: redesigned to show up to three Live Activities at once; Face ID stays.
• Connectivity: Apple’s N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread; US models are eSIM-only.

Software matters too. Every new model runs iOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI, which is still labeled a beta. Siri AI launched in English first, with French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish arriving in October, and it is not initially available in the EU. Some server-based AI features also have daily usage limits, so check our iOS 27 guide before you buy for AI alone.

What Is the iPhone Duo, Apple’s Foldable?

The iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable iPhone, a book-style phone that opens into a 7.6-inch screen. Before launch, rumors widely called it the “iPhone Fold,” but Duo is the official name. It starts at $1,999 and goes on sale Friday, October 23, 2026, according to Apple’s iPhone Duo announcement.

Apple also says Apple Pencil (USB-C) support on either display is coming later this year. Because the Duo is a first-generation device, though, independent long-term reviews of the hinge and crease are still limited.

When Is the Standard iPhone 18 Coming Out?

Apple has not announced a standard iPhone 18, so there is no official release date. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, as reported by MacRumors in April 2026, Apple plans to unveil it in spring 2027 together with a lower-cost iPhone 18e and a second-generation iPhone Air.

Gurman has described this as a deliberate split of Apple’s launch calendar into two seasons: premium models in the fall and mainstream models in the spring. So far, the fall half has played out exactly that way, since only the Pro phones and the Duo arrived in September. MacRumors expects the spring announcement in March or April 2027, but that is an estimate, not an Apple date.

What is rumored for the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e?

Details remain thin. For example, analyst Jeff Pu said in July 2026 that the iPhone 18e will get 9GB of RAM, up from 8GB in the iPhone 17e, and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had made a similar claim earlier. Beyond that, reports on chips, cameras and pricing for the base model conflict, so we have left them out until Apple confirms anything.

Which Model Should You Buy?

For most people who want the newest iPhone today, the iPhone 18 Pro is the best balance of price and features, while the Pro Max is the pick for battery life. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 at $899 remains the value choice if you do not need a telephoto camera.

iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17

The iPhone 17 has the same 6.3-inch screen size but uses the A19 chip and has two rear cameras with no telephoto. Therefore, the $300 gap mainly buys you the 4x telephoto, variable aperture, the A20 Pro and the 2TB option. If you mostly shoot photos of people and scenery at 1x, the iPhone 17 is still a strong phone.

iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone Duo

Both use the A20 Pro chip. However, the Pro has a third camera with 4x and 8x zoom plus Face ID, and it costs $800 less. The Duo instead gives you a 7.6-inch workspace for split-screen apps, reading and video. In short, choose the Duo only if a bigger screen in your pocket matters more to you than zoom and price.

Is the iPhone 18 Pro Max worth it?

For heavy users, yes. For $100 more than the Pro, you get a 6.9-inch display and Apple’s longest-lasting battery, rated at up to 45 hours of video. That said, it weighs 249 g, so if you prefer a lighter phone, the 211 g Pro gives you the same cameras and chip.

If you want…	Buy	Starting price
The best all-around new iPhone	iPhone 18 Pro	$1,199
Maximum battery and screen	iPhone 18 Pro Max	$1,299
A foldable, tablet-size screen	iPhone Duo	$1,999
A slim, single-camera design	iPhone Air	$1,099
Best value with two cameras	iPhone 17	$899
The cheapest current model	iPhone 17e	$699

Should You Buy Now or Wait?

Buy now if you want a Pro or a foldable, because those are this year’s models and Apple’s fall cycle will not refresh them until 2027. On the other hand, wait until spring if you specifically want the standard iPhone 18 or iPhone 18e, as those are reported but not yet announced.

Black Friday and carrier deals

Apple rarely cuts its own prices on new iPhones. Instead, savings usually come from carrier trade-in credits and gift-card promotions around Black Friday, which falls on November 27, 2026. Before you commit, compare the total cost over the contract term, not only the monthly figure. Our Black Friday sale dates by store guide shows when each retailer’s deals start.

Who should wait

• Budget buyers: the reported spring 2027 iPhone 18 and 18e may cost less than the Pro, although prices are unknown.
• Foldable skeptics: waiting a few weeks for real-world reviews of the Duo’s hinge and crease costs you nothing.
• Recent iPhone owners: if your phone already handles your apps well, the upgrade is mostly about cameras and battery, so there is no rush.

Frequently Asked Questions