Apple’s September 2026 launch was different from the usual pattern. There is no standard iPhone 18 this autumn. Instead Apple released two Pro models and, for the first time, a folding iPhone. Here is what changed, what it means if you drop one, and how we handle repairs on them at our Golders Green shop.

Which new iPhones did Apple release?

• iPhone 18 Pro: 6.3-inch display, from £1,199. On sale since 18 September 2026. iPhone 18 Pro repair
• iPhone 18 Pro Max: 6.9-inch display, from £1,299. On sale since 18 September 2026. iPhone 18 Pro Max repair
• iPhone Duo: Apple’s first foldable, from £1,999. Pre-orders open 16 October, in shops from 23 October 2026. iPhone Duo repair

Apple has not announced a base iPhone 18, an 18e or a second iPhone Air. Reports suggest those could arrive in spring 2027, but Apple hasn’t confirmed anything, so for now the iPhone 17 remains the standard model.

iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: what’s new

A camera with a real aperture

The biggest change is the 48MP main camera, which now has a variable aperture with six blades, adjustable from f/1.48 to f/4. It is the first iPhone that can physically change how much light reaches the sensor, which gives more control over depth of field. The 48MP ultra wide and the 4x telephoto carry on, and the front camera is 18MP.

A20 Pro chip and better cooling

Both phones run the new A20 Pro chip. Apple redesigned the vapour chamber with three times the surface area of the 17 Pro’s and says sustained performance is up to 40% higher. The Dynamic Island is also smaller, and storage now goes up to 2TB.

Build and battery

The 18 Pro keeps the aluminium unibody, with Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and Ceramic Shield on the back. Both models are rated IP68. Apple quotes up to 34 hours of video playback on the UK 18 Pro and 43 hours on the 18 Pro Max, and up to 50% charge in about 15 minutes with a 60W or higher adapter.

iPhone Duo: Apple’s first folding phone

The iPhone Duo opens like a small book. Inside is a 7.6-inch folding display; outside is a 5.4-inch screen you can use when it’s closed. Apple says the inner screen has a finish designed to make the crease less visible.

• Grade 5 titanium frame, 254g, 11.3mm thick when closed
• Rated IP68, unusual for a foldable
• Touch ID in the side button instead of Face ID
• A camera hidden under the inner display for FaceTime
• eSIM only, with no physical SIM tray
• Two batteries, with up to 24 hours of typical use quoted by Apple

At £1,999 to start, the Duo is the most expensive iPhone Apple has made, which makes protecting it, and knowing where to get it fixed, more important than usual.

What these changes mean for repairs

Screens are still the most common repair

On the 18 Pro, the display is glued in and most repairs go in through the front. Early teardowns found the display’s plastic frame can crack or come away when the screen is removed, so this is a job for a technician with the right tools, not a DIY kit.

Batteries are easier

The 18 Pro’s battery sits in a metal tray and uses adhesive that releases with a small electric current. That makes a battery swap cleaner than on older iPhones, where the battery was stuck down with pull tabs that often snapped.

Back glass and cameras

The back glass is separate and comes away more easily than the screen. The new variable-aperture camera is a different story: it is a sealed module, so a damaged main camera means fitting a whole new camera unit.

The iPhone Duo

Nobody has had the Duo on a repair bench yet because it isn’t on sale until 23 October. Foldables in general need careful work on the inner screen and hinge. We’ll be repairing it from launch, and you can book your iPhone Duo repair now.

Book a repair on a new iPhone

Because these phones are so new, parts pricing is still settling. Every repair on them is priced from £100. The £100 you pay when booking online is a deposit: we check the phone in store, confirm the final price before any work starts, and take the deposit off your bill. If we can’t fix it, you don’t pay for the repair.

Book online: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max or iPhone Duo. Each page lists screen replacement, battery replacement, charging port repair and back glass repair. For older models, see our iPhone screen repair price guide.

Our workshop is at 91 Golders Green Road, London NW11 8EN, open seven days a week with no appointment needed. Call 020 8209 1225, message us on WhatsApp, or book online from the product page for your model.