Why I Bought the iPhone 18 Pro Instead of the iPhone Duo

Apple's first folding iPhone, the iPhone Duo, is finally here, and so many people want one that it's hard to get. So why didn't I buy one?

That's a strange question coming from me. I've bought a new iPhone every year since the iPhone 3G, the second iPhone Apple ever made. (I also bought Apple stock along the way, which has worked out very well.)

Why I upgrade every year

Some people think buying a new iPhone every year is crazy. For my family, it makes sense. My wife and I have two kids, both now in college, and when I upgrade, everyone upgrades. My phone from last year goes to my wife or my daughter, and the older phones move down the line. My son doesn't care much about phones, so he's happy with one that's about four years old. One new iPhone a year keeps the whole family current.

So here I am, the guy who always buys the new iPhone. This year I skipped the iPhone Duo and bought the iPhone 18 Pro. Here's why.

1. The camera

The camera is one of the main reasons I love the iPhone, for photos and for video. The iPhone 18 Pro's cameras are much better than the Duo's. The Duo has two 48-megapixel cameras and no telephoto lens, and reviewers agree the cameras don't justify the price. The 18 Pro also takes noticeably better photos in low light, which is great. For me, the camera matters most.

2. No Face ID

The iPhone Duo doesn't have Face ID. You unlock it with your fingerprint, using a Touch ID sensor in the side button. Reviewers say it works well, but it isn't as seamless as Face ID.

I've unlocked my iPhone just by looking at it for years, and I don't want to go back to pressing a finger on a button. Yes, an Apple Watch can unlock it too, but I'm used to my face doing the work.

3. It's a first-generation folding phone

The Duo is a completely new kind of iPhone. It folds, and I'm not ready to bet on how a brand-new hinge and folding screen will hold up. People online are already worrying about cracks at the fold, and I don't want to take that chance.

I'm also not going to buy two iPhones. I suppose I could, but the Duo starts at $1,999, so buying both would cost thousands of dollars.

Maybe next time

I'll definitely try the iPhone Duo at the Apple Store. But in the end, it came down to two things: the camera, and being able to unlock my phone with just my face. The iPhone 18 Pro has both, so that's the one I bought.