Which iPhone to choose – 18 Pro, Air, 17, 17e and Duo
Updated: · Techbox, Thessaloniki
This year Apple changed the calendar: only the iPhone 18 Pro models arrived in September, the first foldable comes in October, and the standard iPhone 18 waits until spring 2027. Which models exist today, how they differ and which one suits you.
What changed this year
Until last year, the whole new range launched every September. In 2026 Apple split it in two. The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max arrived on 18 September, and the iPhone Duo follows on 23 October. The standard iPhone 18, the 18e and a second-generation Air are expected in spring 2027.
So anyone who wants a non-Pro iPhone today chooses from the previous generation: iPhone 17, 17e or Air. All are recent models with years of support ahead.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
On the outside they look very much like the 17 Pro, with the same dimensions: 6.3" for the Pro and 6.9" for the Pro Max. The changes are inside. The new A20 Pro chip is Apple’s first at 2 nanometres, and the main camera has a larger sensor and a variable aperture, for real control over depth of field.
The Dynamic Island is smaller, battery life is the best any iPhone has delivered, and for the first time there is a 2TB option. The new colour of the generation is burgundy.
iPhone 17, 17e and Air
The iPhone 17 is the balanced choice for most people: a 6.3" ProMotion 120Hz display, a dual 48MP camera and 256GB base storage. The iPhone 17e is the most affordable entry point, with a single camera.
The iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone ever made, with a 6.5" display. Reaching that thinness costs something: it has a single camera and a smaller battery than the 17. It is for people who value how it feels in the hand above all.
iPhone Duo: the first foldable
The iPhone Duo opens like a book: closed it is the size of a regular phone, open it becomes a small tablet with a display of about 7.8". It arrives on 23 October and is the most expensive iPhone yet. It competes directly with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold.
Which one to choose
For most people: iPhone 17. · At the lowest cost: iPhone 17e. · The thinnest and lightest: iPhone Air. · The best camera and battery: iPhone 18 Pro Max, or the 18 Pro in a smaller size. · Phone and tablet in one: iPhone Duo.
Every available model is under mobile phones.
A case and glass for the right model
Even when two iPhones look alike, the cameras and buttons move between generations. A 17 Pro case is not guaranteed to fit the 18 Pro. Always choose for the exact model from the cases and screen protection, plus a USB-C Power Delivery charger.
