Core Events & Key Facts
On September 10, Apple officially unveiled the iPhone 18 series, with the headline attractions being the first-ever foldable iPhone Duo and the significantly upgraded iPhone 18 Pro. Key specs are as follows:
- Release date: September 10, 2026
- New models: iPhone 18, 18 Plus, 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and the first foldable iPhone Duo
- Starting price: iPhone 18 from ¥5,499; iPhone Duo from ¥9,999
- Availability: Official sales begin September 20
- Navigation support: U.S. version supports BeiDou navigation signals; all global versions are open
Note: As Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo features a horizontal inward-folding design, measuring 6.9 inches when unfolded and 5.8 inches in a unified rectangular form factor when folded.
New Product Details & Key Upgrades
The entire iPhone 18 series upgrades to Apple’s self-developed chips, with the standard model for the first time equipped with the same A18 chip as the previous-generation Pro — breaking the long-standing convention that only Pro models get flagship silicon. Satellite messaging is now supported across the entire lineup, no longer exclusive to Pro versions.
Notable surprise: The standard iPhone 18 adopts a 6.1-inch full-screen OLED display with ProMotion high refresh rate support — previously a Pro-exclusive feature, now brought down to the standard model, signaling Apple’s commitment to elevating the mid-range experience.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max focus on a major leap in the imaging system: the Pro Max debuts a 5x optical zoom periscope lens, achieving 120x digital zoom. On the dual-SIM front, the China version supports a physical SIM plus eSIM combination.
The iPhone Duo’s foldable design employs an all-new hinge technology rated for 200,000 fold cycles, enabling split-screen multitasking when unfolded and providing a hardware foundation for multi-task handling.
Version Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | iPhone 18 | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone Duo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 6.1" OLED | 6.3" OLED | 6.9" (unfolded) / 5.8" (folded) |
| Display Technology | ProMotion high refresh | ProMotion high refresh + LTPO | ProMotion high refresh foldable |
| Chip | A18 | A18 Pro | A18 Pro |
| Rear Camera | Dual (main + ultrawide) | Triple (main + ultrawide + telephoto) | Main (foldable-optimized) |
| Satellite Messaging | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| Starting Price | ¥5,499 | ¥9,999 | ¥9,999 |
Buying Advice
Ready to buy: Users seeking high value for money and primarily for everyday use should consider the standard iPhone 18, whose performance gap with the Pro is minimal; business professionals who need flexible multitasking will find the iPhone Duo’s cover form factor closer to that of a traditional phone
Wait and see: If you prefer compact portrait-oriented designs and have concerns about foldable reliability, consider waiting for iPhone 15 series price cuts or observing future Ultra series updates; the current iPhone 18 Pro Max’s high pricing (from ¥12,999) is somewhat excessive for non-photography-intensive users
Closing Thoughts
The iPhone 18 series sends a clear signal: premium technology is no longer monopolized by the Pro line, and the standard model experience is approaching Pro-level across the board. While the foldable’s debut hasn’t disrupted the price hierarchy, it has expanded Apple’s form-factor competitiveness, foreshadowing a future product lineup more focused on covering specific use-case scenarios.