Which iPhone 18 Model Should You Buy?

# Which iPhone 18 Model Should You Buy? Source: [https://www.wired.com/story/which-apple-iphone-18-models-to-buy/](https://www.wired.com/story/which-apple-iphone-18-models-to-buy/) With a freshfolding form factor, the new[iPhone Duo](https://www.wired.com/story/apple-debuts-the-iphone-duo-its-first-folding-iphone/)is Apple’s most radical redesign in years\. It lands alongside the more familiar\-looking iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max\. There’s[no regular iPhone 18](https://www.wired.com/story/there-may-not-be-an-iphone-18-this-year/), or at least, not yet\. Rumors suggest we may see a more affordable base model, perhaps flanked by an iPhone 18e and a second\-generation iPhone Air, in spring 2027\. The two new Pro iPhones are available to preorder on September 12 and ship on September 18\. You can preorder the iPhone Duo from October 16, ahead of a full release on October 23\. But which iPhone 18 model is right for you? I’ll break down the differences and what these phones have in common, so you can choose with confidence\. For options beyond the iPhone 18 lineup, read our[Best iPhones guide](https://www.wired.com/gallery/iphone-buying-guide/)\. - [Why You Might Not Need to Upgrade](https://www.wired.com/story/which-apple-iphone-18-models-to-buy/#you-dont-need-to-upgrade) - [Which iPhone 18 is Right for You?](https://www.wired.com/story/which-apple-iphone-18-models-to-buy/#which-iphone-18-is-right-for-you) - [The Similarities](https://www.wired.com/story/which-apple-iphone-18-models-to-buy/#the-similarities) - [The Processor](https://www.wired.com/story/which-apple-iphone-18-models-to-buy/#the-processor) - [The Display](https://www.wired.com/story/which-apple-iphone-18-models-to-buy/#the-display) - [The Usual Specs](https://www.wired.com/story/which-apple-iphone-18-models-to-buy/#the-usual-specs) - [The Differences](https://www.wired.com/story/which-apple-iphone-18-models-to-buy/#the-differences) - [How to Get the iPhone 18 Unlocked](https://www.wired.com/story/which-apple-iphone-18-models-to-buy/#how-to-get-the-iphone-18-unlocked) ## Why You Might Not Need to Upgrade Before you drop all those hard\-earned dollars, remember that you probably don’t*need*the latest iPhone\. If you have an older iPhone, Apple does a good job of updating the software \(the[iPhone 11 Pro](https://www.wired.com/review/apple-iphone-11-pro/)is still supported\), and for hardware issues,[your iPhone might be repairable](https://www.wired.com/story/the-iphone-gets-a-d-minus-for-repairability/); maybe it needs a[battery replacement](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-get-smartphone-battery-replacement/)or these[troubleshooting tips](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-fix-your-iphone/)\. Don’t feel like you have to spring for Apple’s shiny new thing\. Sadly, Apple raised iPhone Pro prices this year, so both models are $100 more expensive than the iPhone 17 Pro series\. If you’re set on upgrading, consider raising funds by[selling your old iPhone](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-trade-in-or-sell-your-iphone/)\. Just be sure to[back up your iPhone,](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-backup-your-iphone/)and[factory reset](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-reset-your-phone-before-you-sell-it/)it before you sell or give it away\. Once the new device arrives, we have tips on[how to set up your new iPhone](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-set-up-a-new-iphone/)and what[settings to change](https://www.wired.com/story/key-iphone-settings-to-change/)to get the most out of it\. ## Which iPhone 18 Is Right for You? [](https://cna.st/p/LXEWYg9a66eEcaDDvCniaVyEPW1MdxgT9aa22drdtzQP1zXUaWorErp5aZqfSjhyBGm4xpbj6GrEx5v2MB6rjt1XB42KoZ9eDALaDUaHEgZHihPuxMFTBKp2J1tcTaZZyjV46QfaDFXbcvogTMCv4Zk7TZNT6TUVitDajjspRQvfFVQFuny2Uo6zyAZngcTFhS8fuUM1t1yDFQE92Nz2RvtddGKZhfTCjS5EDusidin7h9e6YYXGowputVK3UrNZE1Jy55aPxkKzHpaYq2dzorPHTbD1ktYukymkGFzEd6jXQJcDbcN7UDZc2ADtffdSsztwVKcBjaBDKYLiyDeAmDmyjE8LzAbXoSpRPmCEhHnXPkKjMjPE32b9zLePa5HYA5Hc3ZiZo7EnjsUS) Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Apple ### iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max We’ll start by looking at what’s the same across the iPhone 18 models this year\. All three new iPhones have Apple’s A20 Pro chip inside, and, you guessed it, this is Apple’s most powerful chip ever\. Now, iPhones are already the most capable phones for raw compute power, but the A20 Pro promises a significant jump in performance \(around 20 percent faster and 30 percent more efficient than the last generation\)\. It also packs a new neural engine to power on\-device AI and a new thermal design with a larger vapor chamber to keep things cool\. For the iPhone Duo, the A20 Pro has a display engine to ensure smooth transitions between two screens\. While Apple doesn’t list the RAM, every model is rumored to have 12 GB\. While they come in different sizes and the Duo has two, every iPhone features an OLED screen that Apple calls a Super Retina XDR display\. They also have ProMotion technology, otherwise known as a[120\-Hz refresh rate](https://www.wired.com/story/high-refresh-rate-explained/)\. These adaptive refresh rates can drop as low as 1 Hz when there's little activity on the screen, enabling features like the always\-on display without draining the battery too much\. The displays are protected by the scratch\-resistant and antireflective Ceramic Shield 2, the same as last year’s[iPhone 17 range](https://www.wired.com/story/which-apple-iphone-17-models-to-buy/)\. And they can go from 1 nit up to 3,000 nits of brightness\. Only the iPhone Duo has a custom nano\-texture finish on the interior screen, giving it a matte look that’s designed to reduce glare and crease visibility\. All the phones have an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, meaning they can survive a short dunk in fresh water\. They all come in four storage options \(256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB\), support[Qi2 magnetic wireless charging](https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-qi2-wireless-charging/)\(MagSafe\), USB\-C 3\.2, Dual SIM,[Wi\-Fi 7](https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-wi-fi-7/),[Bluetooth 6](https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-bluetooth/),[Thread](https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-thread/), and Ultra\-Wideband \(UWB\)\. It also has[Siri AI](https://www.wired.com/story/my-brief-summer-fling-with-siri-ai/), Apple Intelligence, Emergency SOS via Satellite, and Crash Detection\. To help you better understand which model to buy, here's precisely where they diverge\. [](https://cna.st/p/LXEWYg9a66eEcaDDvCniaVyEPW1MdxgT9aa22drdtzQP1zXUaWorErp5aZqfSjhyBGm4xpbj6GrEx5v2MB6rjt1XB42KoZ9eDALaDUaHEgZHihPuxMFTBKp2J1tcTaWUBGXXrGHz3f3ycesucK65P6oYdCQ7MH5wGEWta27izjWKMKEpsfeyfWh3tV1foNDHpwesWmYemyLoP8BenfouMSPtcZ37tWiYEtVUrEFz1WPU1SR6mFfV8SwGuWYmnNtdb6aLAJuUSVhPP9ZHWgcABw8LMq8LYDUZZ9nTWMZfSE9ZvvLDjKZxrw8jyK24tmkLJaSXTJv5uoJ33ZDLdAdZQYEW5UbkxoczVX3kxAJBV6ZDREReo91D186fyEAughxW9urBwHuJM6yySL54) Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Apple has taken its time with its first foldable, enabling it to learn from the[best folding phones](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-folding-phones/)already on the market\. Eschewing the more prevalent book\- and flip\-style foldables, Apple has gone with a passport\-sized form factor for the iPhone Duo, similar to Samsung's recent[Galaxy Z Fold8](https://www.wired.com/review/samsung-galaxy-z-fold8-and-z-fold8-ultra/)\(our current favorite\)\. The Duo has a 5\.4\-inch screen on the outside, but unfolds to reveal a 7\.6\-inch display inside that feels like an iPad Mini\. The iPhone Duo has a tough titanium frame, a precision hinge with magnets for that satisfying snap\-shut, and an IP68 rating for solid dust and water resistance\. But at 254 grams and 11\.3 mm thick when folded, and 5\.2 mm unfolded, the Duo is not the slimmest or lightest foldable around \(the Fold8 is 201 grams, 9\.7 mm thick folded, and 4\.5 mm unfolded\)\. Foldables don’t have as much space for cameras, so the Duo drops Face ID \(Touch ID is in the side power button instead\) and makes do without a telephoto lens \(you get a 48\-megapixel primary camera and a 48\-megapixel ultrawide\)\. But it has room for the biggest\-ever iPhone battery, promising 24 hours of mixed use\. Where Apple will likely add a lot of value to the foldable phone category is with its software design\. Controls have been pushed to the side and stacked vertically to free up more screen real estate\. Apps offer plenty of split\-screen support, and transitions between displays look slick\. Apple has also included features that take advantage of the fact that you can prop the Duo open on a table or nightstand, so there’s[StandBy support](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-use-phone-as-bedside-clock/)to use the outer screen as an alarm clock, while the inside display gently pulses with light to wake you\. **Who it’s for:**You want something different\. You’re curious about folding phones or already convinced they’re great and can’t wait to experience Apple’s take\. [](https://cna.st/p/Vwb1ecJxdrMvrjE4NVLiTdcTRdhrMYjrCMSmB6HmarWk1LR4aTjhyuMkVrcRoFGNFHpH1HuSC5zi2VAYSDHYPpdsb7p6A7Wawrt3gYamQhNZru8EKJUN6fmxKVzCRy95bCpRTS4En3k2Q1fr28j7cBg2CSjZMdCHnuNRbCSdJJe95jZWC3onJQfstvj3hMY33NMrwzM2zwNdHPZEhCRyh2pwNG2Fm1LsWqAqVuNNYgHJLvYqoDSiRicpeMVVQA2EbTyQheEJppr8jTZAPbJBjaqSWkRiGgbanX1igE1hw8WWSGECDb16NDP6P3rGi7EsUCXmUeNeeqr4EuYo8PAPmL8LRmmhkGUyYKgWdxJdjTUfxFpeT1yZ723g51aAnCYh1WqapLpgBPMGzuedzRmY) Photograph: Julian Chokkattu The iPhone 18 Pro is similar to last year’s 17 Pro, with a 6\.3\-inch display, though the Dynamic Island has been slightly slimmed and can now show three Live Activities notifications at once\. It keeps the same aluminum unibody, with Ceramic Shield on the back glass, Ceramic Shield 2 on the front, and an IP68 rating\. Black is back, and there’s also a new Burgundy color, alongside Glacier and Silver\. Those colors look more uniform than the 17 Pro’s two\-tone finish\. Two standout upgrades stand out: The new A20 Pro chipset is faster and more power\-efficient, and the main camera now has a variable aperture\. The A20 Pro also enables better on\-device AI and is aided by a redesigned vapor chamber to keep it cool while it works\. Apple reckons you can expect 34 hours of video playback; that’s three hours more than the[17 Pro](https://www.wired.com/review/apple-iphone-17-pro-and-iphone-17-pro-max/)\. The camera introduces a physical lens aperture\. Like the pupil of your eye, the aperture is the lens opening that lets light in\. A bigger aperture can let in more light for better photos when it’s darker, and a smaller aperture can help you avoid overly bright photos when the sun is shining\. But the aperture also impacts depth of field, so a bigger aperture can help you achieve that bokeh blurred background effect for a portrait photo, while a smaller aperture can help retain detail across a wider landscape shot\. The camera app has new features and controls to help you take advantage of it\. **Who it’s for:**You don't want a big phone, but you want full\-strength Apple silicon, a top camera, and all the latest features\. [](https://cna.st/p/Vwb1ecJxdrMvrjE4NVLiTdcTRdhrMYjrCMSmB6HmarWk1LR4aTjhyuMkVrcRoFGNFHpH1HuSC5zi2VAYSDHYPpdsb7p6A7Wawrt3gYamQhNZru8EKJUN6fmxKVzCRy95bCpSdDvrEH6sRSXLeyKdCPZoyKXWC9kvWqFcxntN6JF7SpkXJrn9upvxDRVXUR95zEcByTd1Md7G2RV1WJDKQs6YhG9p8RcRqzLgw8BeojB2hNsch23asXv5FWYaoZFZ6yyMwqTBFdrqHkWusN9Jv62HbhiGBmp36nGiGDu5W7kvDYM1HKEYRaHRuMhouZ4GuCs8MUB9V1BADuna1E2h5KkmRcekzDi4N5CBF3xUB4Fx8e5RdEtbJgZUB4zQ8gKWwc9KrqAXucZnooKXtfZG) Photograph: Julian Chokkattu If foldables aren’t for you, the iPhone 18 Pro Max offers the biggest screen you can get at 6\.9 inches, and it is a battery\-life beast\. Apple says you can get up to 43 hours of video playback out of a full charge; that’s a six\-hour increase on last year’s already impressive[17 Pro Max](https://www.wired.com/review/apple-iphone-17-pro-and-iphone-17-pro-max/)\. It has the same design and colors as the regular Pro, just bigger\. You also get the new chip and variable aperture camera\. Both Pro models now boast a versatile triple 48\-megapixel camera system with pro controls for lens aperture, shutter speed, and white balance\. The class\-leading video capture goes up to 4K at 120 fps\. The iPhone 18 Pro phones are the right pick for photographers and videographers\. **Who it’s for**: You want the best Apple has to offer, including a big screen and long battery life, in a familiar form factor\. ## How to Get the iPhone 18 Unlocked It makes sense to buy your iPhone unlocked, since it's much easier to switch carriers or use an international eSIM when you travel\. The iPhones sold through Apple's storefront are unlocked, so[Apple\.com](https://cna.st/affiliate-link/5K8RQcJwUJf9wsE6eFj8HYBgqYJrG16BMBZihsx41HZhXyMVjEYt668E6zX4yN6Wt7jxRLP5KaW92TDGzwr9a3uH5wXJsL12uzgr625oi3SWW2ndcWZ7eXP6wNCdB2yHgTB2ZZXpBKycunhA9vQDidtkraT2SxtixSVdEx1EZWutr8UP7mMtViHdhRWCv5G1ZDj6VPCrLBhiS8gJz5hjBxkAMysZg6f1hBbwERhNNpYoBhptAGo5tQbyWjZE1syvm95itnm1rgEtUYAJ)is the best place to buy them\. During a preorder period, you can only purchase a newly announced iPhone from Apple\. Don't forget to take advantage of Apple's promotions: You get three free months of[Apple One](https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-apple-one/), which includes Apple Music,[Apple TV\+](https://www.wired.com/story/best-apple-tv-plus-shows/), Apple Arcade, News\+,[Apple Fitness\+](https://www.wired.com/review/apple-fitness-plus/), and extra iCloud storage\. Just watch out, because it will auto\-bill you after the trial\. Set a reminder to cancel if you don't want to continue subscribing to these services\. - [The**iPhone Duo**starts at $1,999 for 256 GB](https://cna.st/affiliate-link/2HJc3Q4E4T5tpv1ZdAX3NzkpS9wdL23WrqA1VjdeJpMqZfHA7wpnJJJTWgyP7gHnJYd5GCzrLhH4mNXUorGDGuQxfn2aiyUFk7L8eA1uYYp9BK9bF5vtE95nUirKkKpBRn5F34uAmqoToiP7PEuzjPSzbUfE2BVg4VkaGij1BCLBnUiqtmS3z6p9BnYADuJ91k9GB6mRwu4hJtqiKZ8T7j4eMpBK4Lzsd8CmSCC9yjEhTRWUYu9GRhVfB3V13dGtMFqr5E5rT2LhUxGgiXzfNkzUs5p3KQePkQp8Kr6cMoRNYHJq7Y8xmU3NVSY6) - [The**iPhone 18 Pro**starts at $1,199 for 256 GB](https://cna.st/affiliate-link/2uABbRt8VjLG9Vm1WVgc79Gs6V294j5V5Rea3gxhMaqrrfn44oFxrxKykM6F5rgg2QsQUL9EiSwaD3jMwpRDgZ5F5DiTmcreSf7EcRS5CESAy7XzFTu18r36vE6RGPF2tjSoDUZAvskdtUJyBZwx3MPmtiyRSXSnouUAkn3ENiDio9kWdTjfz4PryAhisyc4KP1rabt6EEGu3gJ6BqyU8QRgvGsUSzPVXqWHBo1ebE4VfmcW81ckRCuGmGMj1Q3BueJF7YJEDpK5yKCo2XX5PGyF3hPfb7gjswzpfCSC249BjPsXRrqcQzCkW8bVjjee) - [The**iPhone 18 Pro Max**starts at $1,299 for 256 GB](https://cna.st/affiliate-link/2uABbRt8VjLG9Vm1WVgc79Gs6V294j5V5Rea3gxhMaqrrfn44oFxrxKykM6F5rgg2QsQUL9EiSwaD3jMwpRDgZ5F5DiTmcreSf7EcRS5CESAy7XzFTu18r36vE6RGPF2tjSoDUZAvskdtUJyBZwx3MPmtiyRSXSnouUAkn3ENiDio9kWdTjfz4PryAhisyc4KP1rabt6EEGu3gJ6BqyU8QRgvGsUSzPVXqWHBo1ebE4VfmcW81ckRCuGmGMj1Q3BueJF7YJEDpK5yKCo2XX5PGyF3hPfb7gjswzpfCSC249BjPsXRrqcQzCkW8bVjjee) Apple has some financing options\. If you have an Apple Card, you can pay for your iPhone over 24 months at 0\-percent APR, and most carriers offer financing deals, too\. Apple also offers Apple Upgrade, enabling you to lease your new iPhone from $35 a month for 24 months for the entry\-model iPhone 18 Pro \(12 months starts at $50 a month\)\. We don’t think it’s a good deal, but if you’re tempted, remember you must return it in good condition \(AppleCare\+ with Theft and Loss costs an extra $15 a month\)\.