iPhone Duo: 7 features you’re giving up by not buying the iPhone 18 Pro Max

tomsguide.com Sep 28, 2026

iPhone Duo: 7 features you’re giving up by not buying the iPhone 18 Pro Max

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 28, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Apple’s new iPhone Duo, its first foldable model, launches at $1,999, a steep premium over the $1,299 iPhone 18 Pro Max. The Duo offers a 7.6‑inch flexible display and the A20 Pro chip, but users forgo several key features. It lacks a telephoto zoom lens, Face ID, and a full‑size MagSafe attachment area, limiting accessory compatibility. The device also omits the mechanical aperture blades found on the Pro models, reducing optical control for photography. These trade‑offs shape the decision for buyers weighing novelty against functionality.

💡 Why It Matters

· The Duo’s high price and feature gaps illustrate how Apple’s push into foldables may alienate core users who rely on established hardware conveniences.

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MacBook Pro redesign is coming, with three features we’ve waited years for

Apple is preparing a new MacBook Pro redesign, likely titled MacBook Ultra, slated for an October launch. Rumors indicate three major updates: an OLED display replacing the current LCD, a touch‑screen capability integrated with macOS 27, and a shift from the existing notch to a hole‑punch camera cutout that will support Dynamic Island. The OLED panel promises deeper blacks and better battery efficiency, while touch input will complement traditional trackpad and keyboard use. The design changes aim to align the MacBook with Apple’s recent iPhone and iPad innovations.

💡 The move to OLED and touch marks a significant convergence of Apple’s product lines, potentially redefining the Mac’s user experience and competitive stance in the laptop market.

appleinsider.com · Sep 28

iPhone Duo StandBy night mode is going to get some unannounced features

Apple’s upcoming iPhone Duo will ship with an expanded StandBy mode that includes a suite of new customizable faces, according to developer pdfu’s analysis of iOS 27 beta code. Although the Rushmore app that renders these faces is absent from the Xcode 27.1 simulator, localization strings reveal five additional face types—Home Camera, Home Module, Flow, Fade and Snoopy—beyond the familiar clock and calendar designs. The Flow face appears to incorporate “ResponsiveArt,” suggesting animation. A revamped face editor, resembling the Apple Watch editor, will let users swipe through analog styles, numeral types, light/dark modes and color schemes, with some analog faces supporting dual widgets. Code also references five layout configurations (StandBy, Stacked, Top, Middle, Bottom), hinting at different presentations when the Duo is opened like a book. Pre‑orders begin October 16, but the full feature set remains unconfirmed until launch.

💡 The richer StandBy customization turns the iPhone Duo into a dynamic ambient display, blurring the line between phone and smart‑home hub and offering users a new canvas for personal expression.

appleinsider.com · Sep 28

iPhone 18 Pro Max review: The best iPhone for about a month

The iPhone 18 Pro Max launches as Apple’s flagship, featuring a 6.9‑inch Super Retina XDR display, A20 Pro processor, and upgraded vapor‑chamber cooling. Its aluminum unibody incorporates 40 % recycled metal and a unified matte finish, while new color options include Burgundy and Glacier Blue. Weighing 8.78 oz, the device retains the familiar dimensions of its predecessor but adds USB‑C with 10 Gbps transfer and 45 W fast‑charging. The camera module remains large, and the phone maintains IP68 water resistance. Despite these enhancements, the model’s reign is brief; Apple’s upcoming iPhone Duo foldable, slated for release weeks after the review, eclipses it as the most exciting product in the lineup. Nonetheless, reviewers deem the 18 Pro Max the best Pro Max iteration to date.

💡 Apple’s first foldable iPhone pushes the 18 Pro Max into a transitional role, forcing premium buyers to weigh novelty against incremental upgrades.

9to5mac.com · Sep 28

Here’s what I’d like to see Apple do right in a screenless…

Bloomberg reported that Apple is developing a screenless fitness tracker, a thin fabric band with a sensor‑filled module, slated for a possible 2028 launch. The concept mirrors devices like WHOOP and Fitbit Air, aiming for comfort, extended battery life, and the ability to be worn alongside a traditional watch. A 9to5Mac columnist, who has used WHOOP for six months, highlights current shortcomings such as imperfect automatic workout detection and the need to pull out a phone to log activities. He suggests Apple add a physical button and LED indicator for starting and stopping workouts, while still allowing post‑session categorisation on a phone. He also notes that Apple could leverage its health ecosystem to improve activity classification, making a truly hands‑free tracker more appealing.

💡 A seamless, low‑distraction tracker could capture users who find smartwatches too intrusive yet still want accurate health data, expanding Apple’s wearables market beyond its current watch‑centric base.

9to5mac.com · Sep 28

iOS 27 makes a great change to Apple Pay on iPhone

Apple unveiled a redesigned Apple Pay checkout flow in iOS 27, aimed at simplifying card selection and providing richer order details for users on apps and websites. The update lets users swipe between payment cards directly on the main Apple Pay screen and tap a card to open a grid view displaying all stored cards. The new interface also surfaces key data such as rewards, balances, debit account amounts, and pay‑later options, enabling more informed payment choices. Merchants and developers retain control over the information displayed on the payment sheet, tailoring it to transaction requirements. The redesign addresses criticism of iOS 26, where users often tapped the wrong element when trying to change cards, forcing them into the address‑editing screen and requiring an extra button to switch cards. The iOS 27 changes streamline the process and clarify navigation.

💡 By reducing mis‑taps and exposing card incentives, the overhaul can boost conversion rates and user confidence in mobile payments.

9to5mac.com · Sep 27

This is my top feature request for the upcoming A20 Pro iPad…

Apple is poised to refresh the iPad mini after a year of anticipation, with a leak from Aaron Perris revealing an A20 Pro processor, thinner bezels, OLED display, and water‑resistant construction. The reporter notes that while these hardware upgrades are significant, the device’s software multitasking remains lacking compared to the iPhone Duo’s split‑screen and picture‑in‑picture (PiP) implementation. The author argues that the current iPad mini cannot expand a PiP window to full portrait width without obscuring the underlying app, forcing manual resizing. He proposes that Apple adopt the iPhone Duo’s seamless split‑screen with PiP, leveraging the mini’s similar aspect ratio to improve portrait‑mode usability. The suggestion targets power users who frequently consume video while interacting with apps on the small tablet.

💡 Enabling iPhone Duo‑style split‑screen on the iPad mini would turn its portable size into a genuine productivity tool, letting users watch video and work without juggling separate devices.