Overview
- Apple opened preorders on September 12 and the Pro models go on sale September 18, with the Duo set to begin preorders on October 16 and ship starting October 23.
- The 18 Pro and Pro Max pack the A20 Pro chip built on TSMC’s 2nm process, a 48MP triple camera with a mechanical variable aperture on the main lens, USB‑C, larger batteries and iOS 27 Apple Intelligence features.
- Carriers and retailers are offering steep promotions to offset higher list prices, including trade‑in credits up to $1,200 in the US and bank cashback plus trade‑in values up to Rs 81,500 in India.
- Early reviews praise the camera, sustained performance and battery gains but call the Pro models iterative upgrades that are being overshadowed in attention by the forthcoming foldable Duo.
- Demand is uneven: Chinese preorders reportedly exceeded seven million units while analyst Jeff Pu warns the iPhone Duo may be limited to about six million units in 2026 because hinge production is complex.