iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo: What the Launch Means for Used iPhone Shoppers

Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, and its first foldable, the iPhone Duo, starts at $1,999. If you're shopping for an unlocked iPhone in Philadelphia, the more useful question is what that launch does to the phones you're actually considering.

The launch, briefly

• iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: $1,199 and $1,299 for 256GB. They went on sale September 18 (Apple Newsroom).
• iPhone Duo: $1,999 for 256GB. Preorders opened today, October 16, and it reaches stores on October 23 (Apple Newsroom). Cult of Mac reported that delivery estimates were already slipping to mid-November within minutes (Cult of Mac).
• No standard iPhone 18 this fall. Apple launched only the Pro models and the Duo. Reports before the event pointed to the standard iPhone 18 arriving in spring 2027, which hasn't been confirmed by Apple.

Will used iPhones get cheaper?

Not automatically. Used prices follow supply, condition and demand. A launch can put more used phones on the market as people upgrade, and Gadget GoGo, a refurbished-phone reseller, told TechRadar that resale values can fall within weeks of a new launch (TechRadar). That's a reseller's view, and it was aimed at sellers, not buyers. This year is unusual: Apple skipped the standard iPhone 18, and TechRadar's analysis suggested that higher memory costs and the missing mainstream model could keep prices on current phones steadier than in a typical year (TechRadar).

So don't wait for a drop that may not come. Buy when you find a phone in good condition at a price that makes sense for you.

What this means by budget

Budget. Launch news doesn't change much here. The iPhone SE 3, iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 are priced by how old they are and what shape they're in. Look at the iPhone 13 first.

Midrange. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 may see more supply as owners upgrade, so it's worth watching listings over the next few weeks. Compare condition and battery health, not just price.

Premium. If you want a recent Pro model without paying $1,199, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro are the ones to look at. The iPhone 15 Pro is the oldest iPhone that can run Apple Intelligence, along with the 15 Pro Max (Tom's Guide).

Our best used iPhones guide covers each model in detail, and our cost comparison puts numbers on new versus used.

Software support

iOS 27 runs on every iPhone that runs iOS 26, so the iPhone 11 and newer (AppleInsider). Some of its Apple Intelligence features need newer hardware, and being on the support list doesn't promise years more of major updates. If you plan to keep a phone a long time, the newer end of your budget is the safer place to be.

Shopping with us

Every phone we sell is unlocked. Ask us about a specific model, or tell us your budget and carrier, and we'll check what's available and confirm it works with your carrier before you pay. Browse our unlocked iPhones, or send us a message. Before you buy any used iPhone, run through our checklist.