iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro: 5 biggest things you don't get on Apple's foldable

The iPhone Duo went on sale as Apple's first foldable smartphone, offering users a compact 5.4-inch phone and a 7.6-inch tablet in one device. While the Duo boasts some intriguing features and modes, it falls short of the standard iPhone 18 Pro in several key areas, particularly when it comes to its camera system.

One of the most glaring differences is the lack of Face ID on the Duo. Instead, Apple has reinstated Touch ID, which is accessible via a side button. The absence of Apple's Face ID technology is puzzling, especially since the rival Galaxy Z Fold 8 still includes face unlock capabilities. The iPhone 18 Pro lineup, however, continues to feature Face ID, a standard since the launch of the iPhone X in 2017.

Another significant omission is the absence of a telephoto lens on the Duo. Instead, it is equipped with just two cameras: a 48MP main sensor and a 48MP ultrawide. The iPhone 18 Pro, on the other hand, offers a more versatile camera setup, featuring a 48MP telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom, which can be further enhanced up to 8x (at a reduced 12MP resolution). This telephoto lens with optical zoom gives the Pro models an edge in capturing distant subjects and providing greater flexibility in framing shots.

The Duo's variable aperture system is another feature absent from the iPhone 18 Pro. While the Pro models boast a new variable aperture system for the main 48MP camera, allowing for greater control over depth of field through aperture settings ranging from f/1.48 to f/4.0, the Duo does not have this capability. This feature provides additional creative control for photographers, enabling them to freeze motion or maintain focus across entire frames.

Apple's Pro Controls, which were introduced with the iPhone 18 Pro models, offer manual adjustments such as aperture, white balance, and shutter speed. The Duo lacks these advanced controls, as well as advanced photography features like ProRAW, ProRes RAW, and spatial photo and video capabilities. The Action Button, first introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which can be customized for various functions, is also absent on the Duo, its place taken by the Touch ID module.