iPhone 18 Pro Max Review: A Modest Upgrade Overshadowed by the Anticipated iPhone Duo

The Tom’s Guide author notes that the iPhone 18 Pro Max arrived after roughly a month of waiting, with delivery estimates of two to three weeks for the base model—longer than the one-to-two-week window for the iPhone 18 Pro. The device ships with Apple’s new A20 Pro processor, a half-hour longer battery life than the previous year’s flagship, and 60 W wired charging that noticeably reduces charge time. While these specifications are technically superior, the writer describes the improvements as “incremental” and not immediately perceptible in everyday use.

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Compared with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the 18 Pro Max is lighter (8.22 oz vs. 8.78 oz) and adds a variable-aperture camera system whose moving blades the author found initially entertaining. However, the reviewer admits that after experimenting with the aperture, the novelty fades quickly and the overall experience feels akin to an “iPhone 17S,” offering little beyond marginal performance gains.

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The article emphasizes that excitement for Apple’s upcoming foldable, the iPhone Duo, is eclipsing interest in the current flagship. Pre-order windows for the Duo were open for only an hour before delivery estimates were pushed into the following year, suggesting demand outstripping Apple’s expectations. The author argues that the Duo’s tablet-sized, foldable display, titanium chassis, and under-display camera present a genuinely new user experience, contrasting sharply with the “boring” iteration of the 18 Pro Max.

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While the iPhone Duo is praised for its novelty, the author cautions that foldable excitement may wane quickly, as seen with earlier Android foldables that settled into routine release cycles. The long-term impact on Apple’s product strategy remains uncertain, but the current sentiment suggests that future excitement will hinge on how Apple differentiates subsequent foldable models from the mainstream flagship line.

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