Apple’s September 2026 hardware event broke from the company’s usual iPhone launch pattern. Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max alongside its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, but did not launch a standard iPhone 18.
No base iPhone 18 this fall
The absence of the standard iPhone 18 is the most unusual part of this year’s lineup. The Verge reports that Apple is expected to move the lower-priced model into a later release window rather than launching it alongside the Pro phones. For buyers who normally upgrade to the standard model each September, that changes the usual comparison.
The Pro models are more expensive
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299, according to Reuters. Both models use Apple’s A20 Pro chip and emphasize camera and AI features. Apple also raised pricing on parts of the existing iPhone lineup, making the decision between buying new, keeping an older phone or shopping used more important than it was a year ago.
The iPhone Duo becomes Apple’s new top-end phone
Apple also introduced the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone. Reuters reports a starting price of $1,999. The device uses an A20 Pro chip and a foldable design with an inner display intended for larger-screen multitasking.
The Duo gives Apple a new premium tier above the conventional Pro lineup. That may matter to the secondary market because expensive flagship devices tend to create a wider range of trade-in and resale decisions: some buyers upgrade immediately, while others hold onto existing hardware longer as replacement costs rise.
What higher new-phone prices can mean for used devices
Higher retail prices do not automatically guarantee stronger used prices, but they change the comparison shoppers make. A one- or two-generation-old iPhone can look more attractive when the new equivalent moves farther upmarket. Condition, storage, battery health, carrier status and demand still determine the actual resale value.
How the Pro starting prices compare
Apple’s 2025 launch announcement and 2026 launch announcement show the following changes for equivalent 256GB starting configurations.
| 2026 model | US price | 2025 model | US launch price | Increase |
| iPhone 18 Pro | $1,199 | iPhone 17 Pro | $1,099 | $100 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | $1,299 | iPhone 17 Pro Max | $1,199 | $100 |
All figures are U.S. starting prices for 256GB models, before sales tax or trade-in discounts. Previous prices refer to the 2025 launch, not current retailer offers.
Anyone trading a device toward an upgrade should also compare the final payout rather than only the opening estimate. Techable News recently explained why trade-in quotes can change after inspection and which details are worth comparing before shipping a device.
Sources
Reuters: Foldable iPhone, pricier 18 Pro unveiled in Apple’s September event. The Verge: Apple skips the base iPhone 18 at its fall launch event.