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The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are already on sale in the UK. The one still coming is Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo: pre-orders open at 1pm BST on 16 October, with release on 23 October 2026.
What are the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo?
They're Apple's three newest iPhones. The 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch screen and the 18 Pro Max a 6.9-inch one, and both share the A20 Pro chip and 48MP cameras. The Duo is Apple's first foldable: a phone with a 5.4-inch outer screen that opens into a 7.6-inch inner one, like a small tablet. The two Pro phones went on sale on 18 September; the Duo follows on 23 October.
Why is everyone searching for the iPhone 18?
Because it's a new iPhone generation, and this one adds a fold. In the UK, "iphone 18" is searched about 201,000 times a month, "iphone 18 pro max" about 74,000, "iphone 18 pro" about 33,100 and "iphone fold" about 33,100 (Google Keyword Planner, October 2026). The biggest of those numbers is for a phone Apple hasn't announced. There's no standard iPhone 18 yet: Apple's current UK range lists the 18 Pro family, the upcoming Duo and older non-Pro models, so a supposedly available base 18 on a third-party listing isn't one to order.
Why should you care what you pay?
Because these are expensive phones and the price is easy to misread. The 256GB models start at £1,199 for the Pro, £1,299 for the Max and £1,999 for the Duo, and a 2TB Duo is £3,199 (Apple's UK prices on 23 September). A monthly plan can make that look smaller: Currys' own 36-month finance example for the £1,199 Pro totals £1,749.24. Apple's trade-in credit, advertised at £130 to £855, depends on the phone you hand in. And if the prices have you wondering about leaving iOS altogether, I've weighed up the best Android phones to switch to.
The short answer: if you want a new iPhone now, I'd start with the £1,199 iPhone 18 Pro, bought outright after comparing a personal trade-in quote at Apple with John Lewis's two-year guarantee, and paired with a separate SIM-only plan. I'd pay £100 more for the Pro Max only for the bigger screen and longer rated battery life, and £800 more for the Duo only if opening a phone into a small tablet is the point of the purchase. If you'd rather pay monthly, our phone finder adds up every Pro contract over its full length.
Three new iPhones, three different jobs
| Model, 256GB | Apple UK price | The reason to choose it | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | £1,199 | 6.3-inch screen and the full Pro camera in the smaller body | Shorter rated battery life than Max |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | £1,299 | 6.9-inch screen and longer rated battery life than the smaller Pro | 249g and a larger pocket footprint |
| iPhone Duo | £1,999 | 7.6-inch inner display for side-by-side apps and hands-free viewing | £700 above Max; no Pro telephoto or variable aperture |
Apple's UK starting prices for the Pro phones and Duo are for 256GB models before trade-in. A monthly plan can make the number look smaller; what you'll pay over the full contract is the figure to compare.
I'd buy the Pro unless I knew I needed the Max
Both Pro phones have the A20 Pro chip and 48MP main, ultra-wide and telephoto cameras. The variable aperture and manual controls are the upgrade that matters if you actually shoot photos or video. The Max keeps the same camera but gives you a 6.9-inch display and Apple’s quoted 43 hours of video playback, against 34 hours for the 6.3-inch Pro. It also weighs 249g rather than 211g. I’d hold both sizes in a shop before paying extra for the larger screen. Apple’s full specifications lay out the differences.
If you care about the camera more than benchmarks, The Verge's Allison Johnson focuses on the new aperture and manual controls in this September 2026 review. Marques Brownlee's review has separate camera, chip and battery chapters. They show different parts of the decision; neither turns Apple's battery estimate into your personal runtime.
The extra £100 for the Max is reasonable if you read, edit, navigate or watch on your phone a lot and like a larger screen. Otherwise I'd keep the lighter Pro. Its 256GB starting capacity is a sensible first stop; 512GB makes sense if your current phone is already close to full with offline video or camera files.
Compare the two Pro sizes
Compare side by side. Scroll across to see every option.
| What matters |  iPhone 18 Pro 256GB, Black |  iPhone 18 Pro Max 256GB, Black |
|---|---|---|
| Who it suits | The smaller 6.3-inch Pro has the same camera system as Max, with less weight. | The larger screen and longer rated battery life are the reasons to pay £100 more. |
| Display | 6.3-inch OLED | 6.9-inch OLED |
| Weight | 211g | 249g |
| Video playback | Up to 34 hours | Up to 43 hours |
| Cameras | 48MP main, ultra-wide, telephoto | 48MP main, ultra-wide, telephoto |
| Price & retailer | Check current priceAppleView product | Check current priceAppleView product |
Check the exact model, availability and delivery at the retailer. Prices are shown for seven days after a check.
The Duo is the interesting wait, with a real compromise
The Duo folds from a 5.4-inch outer screen into a 7.6-inch inner screen. Apple's launch video shows side-by-side apps, tabletop video calls and the different ways its hinge can hold the display. That's a meaningful reason to wait if you repeatedly wish your phone were also a small tablet. Apple lists a 48MP main and ultra-wide camera, but no telephoto and none of the Pro's variable-aperture options; the folding screen is what the extra money buys. The Duo is also eSIM-only worldwide, so it's worth confirming that your current network and travel SIM arrangements can move before ordering. Apple's Duo specifications set out the displays and cameras, and its announcement confirms the SIM change.
Marques Brownlee's September hands-on is a closer look at the physical phone; Apple's own video explains the intended software uses. These are launch demonstrations, not a long-term durability or battery review. For £1,999, I would see the Duo in a shop and read full reviews after 23 October if the hinge, crease, camera or repair costs matter more to you than being first.
See the iPhone Duo before pre-orders open
- Pre-order 16 October
iPhone Duo 256GB, Night Sky
The folding 7.6-inch inner screen is the attraction; pre-orders open 16 October.
- Display
- 7.6-inch inner; 5.4-inch outer
- Weight
- See Apple specifications
- Video playback
- Up to 31 hours on inner display
AppleCheck price
What the storage upgrades actually cost
| Storage | 18 Pro | 18 Pro Max | 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 |
These are the Apple Pro and Duo UK prices on 23 September. The first step to 512GB costs £200 on each model; from there, the jumps are steeper. Your current phone's used storage, under Settings, shows whether you'd use the extra capacity at all.
Where I'd actually buy in the UK
Apple is my default for a SIM-free phone and trade-in. A phone bought unlocked from Apple leaves you free to choose a separate SIM deal. Apple lists the Pro from £1,199, Max from £1,299 and Duo from £1,999; it also advertises £130–£855 trade-in credit towards a Duo or 18 Pro family purchase when trading an eligible iPhone 13 or newer. The amount depends on the device and condition, so your own quote is the figure to use, not the maximum. Apple's UK store also offers collection and free online Personal Setup. The Pro is on Apple's store now, and the Duo's page is where to set a reminder for its 16 October pre-order.
John Lewis is the strongest same-price Pro extra I found. Its black 256GB Pro is £1,199 with a two-year guarantee. Its offers page also lists £15 off a TechWoven case bought with the phone, subject to the product-page code and terms. That is a case saving, not £15 off the handset. The black Pro Max page shows £1,299, and on 11 October it was taking pre-orders for delivery from 28 October, so I wouldn't plan around that exact listing for a phone needed sooner. John Lewis's current Pro offer has the details.
Currys is useful if you want collection or its service trials. Its 256GB Pro is £1,199 and its 256GB Max is £1,299. It lists up to two months of Apple Music, Fitness+ and Arcade for eligible new or returning customers who have not redeemed the Currys group trials before; the subscriptions renew at their normal prices unless cancelled. Currys also offers a conditional price match. Its advertised 36-month representative finance example for the £1,199 Pro totals £1,749.24, so I wouldn't mistake the smaller monthly number for a cheaper handset. The Pro at Currys shows the current price and trials.
Argos is a practical stock check, not a cheaper launch price. Its 256GB Pro listings show £1,199 and free delivery, but postcode-level availability can decide whether it gets the phone to you sooner. The colour and storage in the basket are worth a second look.
A network contract needs arithmetic. O2O2 MobilesO2 sells phones, SIM-only plans, tablets, smartwatches and accessories directly from its own shop, so you can compare handsets and tariffs in one place. Delivery and collection optBuying guide · View store → lists both new Pro phones with plans, Priority and optional extras. Vodafone and EE also list the new family. The fair comparison sets the upfront charge, every device payment, every airtime payment and any scheduled annual increases against buying SIM-free plus a separate SIM-only plan. A trade-in bonus can help, but one provider's headline monthly cost set against Apple's phone-only price isn't a like-for-like comparison. Our phone finder does that sum for every iPhone 18 Pro plan from the retailers it compares, showing each plan's total over its full length with price rises included, which makes the SIM-free comparison quick. O2's tariff choices show the extras that change that comparison.
Both Pro sizes are below as the finder lists them, with live prices and every plan costed over its full length.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in our phone finder
iPhone 18 Profrom£29.99/moRises to £31.79 a month from April 2027, then £33.59 from April 2028£549 upfront · 24 months · £1,311.96 in totaliD Mobile, at Carphone Warehouseor £1,199 outright, at Carphone Warehouse
iPhone 18 Pro Maxfrom£29.99/moRises to £31.79 a month from April 2027, then £33.59 from April 2028£639 upfront · 24 months · £1,401.96 in totaliD Mobile, at Carphone Warehouseor £1,299 outright, at Carphone Warehouse
Live prices from the retailers’ feeds, with every price rise they’ve announced. Compare every phone and plan
The freebies and catches worth checking
Apple says eligible new and qualified returning buyers of the Pro phones or Duo can unlock three months of Apple One in selected regions. The UK offer shown during setup is the one that counts, and three months' retail value only belongs in the phone discount if your account qualifies and you'd use the services. Apple's Pro announcement and Duo announcement state the eligibility. Currys' separate two-month trials have their own redemption rules, so stacking them isn't a safe assumption.
The UK Pro models accept a physical nano-SIM and eSIM, while the Duo uses eSIM only. The phone box includes a USB-C cable, not a power adapter. The Pro models can reach Apple's advertised fast-charge time only with a suitable adapter, sold separately. If a new case is on your list, the £15 John Lewis case saving only means something against the actual price of the case you'd otherwise choose. Apple specifications and John Lewis product details spell out the hardware and box contents.
If you'll keep the phone for years, repair costs matter too. iFixit liked the screwed-in battery tray, but struggled with the new aperture and damaged the display frame on three of four phones it opened. I'd look at screen-repair costs and cover before choosing a Pro for the long haul.
So what would I do?
For most buyers who want the latest iPhone now, I'd buy the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro outright after comparing my personal trade-in quote at Apple with the two-year guarantee at John Lewis. I'd choose the Pro Max if I wanted the screen and rated battery life enough to carry a 249g phone. I'd wait for the Duo only for the folding display and side-by-side app experience; its £1,999 entry price and missing telephoto make it a different kind of purchase, not a straight Pro upgrade. If neither reason is compelling, keeping your current phone is still a perfectly good deal, and if you can wait until late November, my Black Friday 2026 guide explains how to keep a price record so a "deal" can be checked against it.
FAQs
When can I buy iPhone Duo in the UK?
Apple opens UK pre-orders at 1pm BST on 16 October 2026 and says the Duo will be available from 23 October. The 18 Pro and Pro Max went on sale on 18 September. Apple's Duo dates and Pro dates are official.
Is there a standard iPhone 18 yet?
No standard iPhone 18 has been announced. Apple's current UK buying page lists the 18 Pro family and upcoming Duo alongside older models. Apple's current range has the full list.
Is the Pro Max camera better than the Pro camera?
Apple lists the same 48MP Pro Fusion camera system on both. The Max's practical advantages are the larger display and longer quoted battery life. Apple's specifications set the two side by side.
Do I need a new SIM for iPhone Duo?
You need an eSIM because the Duo has no physical SIM tray. Your network can explain how to transfer your number, and that's worth asking before ordering, especially if you use a travel SIM. Apple confirms the eSIM-only design.
Is the iPhone 18 Pro cheaper anywhere than at Apple?
Not at the four shops I checked: Apple, John Lewis, Currys and Argos each list the 256GB Pro at £1,199 on 23 September. Trade-in quotes, extras and stock are what separate them, and a lower monthly payment can still mean a higher total cost. Apple, John Lewis, Currys and Argos show the current listings.
