The iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone just got so much more interesting

The iPhone 18 Pro could cost less than expected, while the "iPhone Ultra" might have two surprises in store.

iphone 18 pro price iphone duo foldable apple pencil
Call it the iPhone Duo. | Image by AppleTrack
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It's D-Day. Apple will announce its new products tomorrow, and if you think you know what to expect, you might want to rethink that. As the event inches closer, both the iPhone 18 Pro and the foldable iPhone are shaping up to be much more interesting than expected.

Lower-than-expected iPhone 18 Pro price


On the eve of Apple's Surprise and shine event, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman dropped some new details.

The iPhone 18 Pro's price will likely jump by only $100, matching recent price hikes from Google and Samsung. While earlier reports hinted at a $300 increase, Apple is reportedly taking the hit and absorbing most of the rising memory costs itself.

While the megapixel count will remain the same, the camera system will feature new lenses and pro-grade features. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is also likely to add a variable aperture system for better depth-of-field control and low-light performance.

The devices will also feature a longer battery life and a redesigned vapor chamber to keep the new A20 Pro chip running cool.

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Apple Pencil for the "iPhone Duo"



The foldable iPhone, which Apple internally refers to as the iPhone Ultra, will officially be branded as the "iPhone Duo." The device will start at $2,000, coming in noticeably under the previously floated mid-$2,500 figures.

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The device will be equipped with the home-brewed C2 modem and a 48MP and 12MP camera setup. It now looks more likely to support the Apple Pencil stylus.

While the device will be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, it won't go on sale until early October. It will be available in white and dark blue.
Here's the buzz around the Apple event:

A collective sigh of relief


A $300 hike would have pushed the iPhone 18 Pro Max to $1,499, well above the Galaxy S26 Ultra's $1,299.99 starting price. By sacrificing its margins, Apple avoids scaring off buyers.

As for the iPhone Duo, while its barely visible crease and Apple's software ecosystem may give it a slight edge over competing products, the Apple Pencil could be the real differentiator.

Save for the Motorola Razr Fold, no foldable comes with stylus support.

Galaxy S26 Ultra, who?


The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the only mainstream flagship with stylus functionality. Armed with the Apple Pencil, the iPhone Duo could easily challenge it as the daily driver for power users, assuming it's durable enough.
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