The acceptance of preorders for the new generation of Apple flagship smartphones has officially begun in the Chinese market. The lineup includes the foldable iPhone Duo, as well as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in the traditional form factor. According to ixbt.com, the foldable newcomer unexpectedly became one of the most in-demand offerings: on the JD.com online platform alone, the number of placed orders exceeded 1.54 million. Since other major marketplaces and mobile carriers are also accepting orders in parallel, the overall customer interest, according to the editorial team's estimates, is significantly higher than the stated figure.

Record Start and the Status of the Most Expensive Foldable Smartphone

The new foldable iPhone Duo has earned the status of the most expensive device in its category. The starting price in China begins at 16,000 yuan, which is about $2,380. This price positioning underscores that Apple views the foldable segment as a premium niche rather than a mass-market product. The high volume of preorders on the JD.com platform alone indicates that demand for the foldable form factor in China remains one of the most active in the world.

Pricing for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Models

The cost of the classic flagships varies depending on the flash memory capacity. The base version of the iPhone 18 Pro with 256 GB of storage costs 10,000 yuan (about $1,490), the 512 GB configuration — 12,000 yuan ($1,785), the 1 TB variant — 15,500 yuan ($2,305), and the modification with the maximum 2 TB capacity is priced at 20,500 yuan ($3,050). The larger iPhone 18 Pro Max with 256 GB of storage starts at 11,000 yuan ($1,635); the 512 GB version costs 13,000 yuan ($1,935), the 1 TB version — 16,500 yuan ($2,455), and the flagship with 2 TB of memory — 21,500 yuan ($3,200).

Battery Life, Displays, and Screen Protection

Significant progress has been recorded in battery life: the iPhone 18 Pro can play video continuously for up to 34 hours, while the Pro Max version — up to 43 hours. The display diagonals are 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches respectively, and both screens are made using Super Retina XDR technology. To protect the surface, Apple applied a new-generation Ceramic Shield glass, which, according to the company, is three times stronger than previous versions.

Connectivity on Apple's Own Chips

Wireless connectivity capabilities have been fully updated based on Apple's own developments. The H1 module provides support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 technologies, and the new K2 cellular modem replaced the previous K1X generation, which, according to the manufacturer, further improved connection stability. The transition to a fully proprietary set of components continues Apple's strategy of reducing dependence on external suppliers for radio-frequency solutions.

Contradictory Data

When comparing the versions of the sources, a slight discrepancy is observed in the preorder figure. The base text and the zamin.uz materials state that the number of orders on JD.com "exceeded 1.54 million," while the ixbt.com headline uses the phrasing "nearly 1.55 million preorders." The difference, within a tenth of a million, is probably explained by rounding and the moment the metric was recorded; however, both editions agree that this is the same record sales launch of the foldable iPhone Duo in the Chinese market.