Dh5,099 Entry Point as Apple Debuts iPhone 18 Pro and Foldable Duo
Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, during its hardware launch on September 9, 2026, while withholding the standard entry-level model. The staggered rollout alters purchasing timelines for technology consumers across the UAE, as supply chain adjustments push the base device into 2027 alongside an anticipated $100 price increase across the flagship lineup.
Delayed Base Model Pushes UAE Entry Pricing Above Dh5,000
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at Dh5,099 in the UAE, while the flagship iPhone 18 Pro Max opens at Dh5,549 under standard regional retail conversions. Primary camera upgrades for the Pro series center on a 48-megapixel main sensor equipped with a variable aperture mechanism, alongside an upgraded 24-megapixel front camera, up from the previous 18-megapixel specification. Supply-chain disclosures from an August 12 manufacturing earnings call confirmed altered shipping schedules, removing the standard base iPhone 18 from the late 2026 release schedule entirely.
Alongside the Pro line and the new foldable iPhone Duo, the product lineup introduced the Apple Watch Series 12 in a ceramic option and updated AirPods 5 audio hardware. Variable aperture lens systems remain rare in consumer mobile devices, having previously appeared on select Samsung Galaxy models, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and Huawei handsets.
The higher introductory pricing across the hardware lineup follows similar price adjustments made to Apple’s Mac and iPad models earlier this year, which were driven by rising memory component expenses worldwide.
