Editorials · Reviewer Insight
iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: Sample Photos Comparison
The iPhone Duo lacks a telephoto camera. Is that a dealbreaker?
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How do these camera compare in real life? | Image by PhoneArena
Apple has just released its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, but while I like the new foldable design, I am a bit worried about the camera quality. After all, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has a dedicated telephoto camera, while the iPhone Duo only features a main and ultrawide cameras.
So I took both phones outside and captured dozens of photos with each of the cameras in varying conditions. Can the iPhone Duo match the 18 Pro Max in main camera and ultra-wide? And is the zoom quality much worse?
You can judge yourself in the photos below, but first, let's take a look at the...
iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro Max Camera Specs:
|
|
| Apple iPhone Duo | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max |
| Main camera | |
|---|---|
| 48 MP (OIS, PDAF) Sensor name: Sony IMX905 Aperture size: F1.6 Focal length: 24 mm Sensor size: 1/1.28" Pixel size: 1.22 μm | 48 MP (PDAF, ToF 3D depth sensing, Sensor-shift OIS) Sensor name: Sony IMX905 Aperture size: F1.5/F4.0 Focal length: 24 mm Sensor size: 1/1.28" Pixel size: 1.22 μm |
| Second camera | |
| 48 MP (Ultra-wide) Sensor name: Sony IMX972 Aperture size: F2.2 Focal Length: 13 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm | 48 MP (Ultra-wide, Sensor-shift OIS) Sensor name: Sony IMX972 Aperture size: F2.2 Focal Length: 13 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
| Third camera | |
| 48 MP (Telephoto, Periscope, OIS, PDAF) Sensor name: Sony IMX973 Optical zoom: 4.0x Aperture size: F2.8 Focal Length: 100 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
|
| Front | |
| 12 MP (Under-screen) | 18 MP (Time-of-Flight (ToF), Autofocus, HDR) |
See the full
Apple iPhone Duo vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
First, you might be surprised to learn that the iPhone Duo actually uses the same 1/1.3-inch main camera sensor as the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and even the ultra-wide camera is the same size. The Duo, however, lacks the fancy variable aperture technology. Still, if you are just wondering about the lens, it's f/1.6 on the Duo vs f/1.48 at its widest on the 18 Pro Max, so both can let a lot of light to the sensor.
Basically, the one advantage you get with the 18 Pro Max is the 4X telephoto camera.
So, let's see what that actually means for your pictures:
4X Zoom Quality
10X Zoom Quality
2X Portraits
Main Camera
Ultra-wide Camera
Selfie
Now that you've seen the sample photos, what do you think about the differences between the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro Max? Is the lack of a telephoto camera on the Duo a deal-breaker?
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