Apple's 'Surprise and Shine' event is done, and this year Singapore gets two stories for the price of one keynote: the fastest iPhones ever, and the first one that folds.
> Quick view: iPhone 18 Pro from S$1,899, iPhone 18 Pro Max from S$2,099, pre-orders 8pm SGT Friday 12 Sep, in stores 18 Sep. iPhone Duo (foldable) from S$3,099, pre-orders 8pm 16 Oct, available 23 Oct. No standard iPhone 18 this year. Singtel, StarHub and M1 open pre-orders the same evenings.
Singapore prices at a glance
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max (both S$200 up on last year's launch prices):
| Storage | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| 256GB | S$1,899 | S$2,099 |
| 512GB | S$2,199 | S$2,399 |
| 1TB | S$2,799 | S$2,999 |
| 2TB | S$3,699 | S$3,899 |
iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable:
| Storage | iPhone Duo |
|---|---|
| 256GB | S$3,099 |
| 512GB | S$3,399 |
| 1TB | S$3,999 |
| 2TB | S$4,899 |
For comparison, last year's iPhone 17 Pro launched at S$1,698 and the 17 Pro Max at S$1,899, so both Pro models are about S$200 dearer this generation. There is no standard iPhone 18 this round: reports point to the base model arriving in spring 2027, so the cheapest way into this year's lineup is the S$1,899 Pro or a discounted iPhone 17.
The key dates
- Friday 12 September, 8pm SGT: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max pre-orders open on the Apple Store app and apple.com/sg. Purchase limit of two of each model per customer.
- Sunday 14 September: iOS 27 rolls out to existing iPhones
- Friday 18 September: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in stores
- Friday 16 October, 8pm SGT: iPhone Duo pre-orders open
- Friday 23 October: iPhone Duo goes on sale
What is actually new
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: the A20 Pro chip (40% faster graphics and double the AI processing of last year's A19 Pro), a smaller Dynamic Island, and the first variable aperture main camera on an iPhone: six laser-cut blades physically open and close between f/1.48 and f/4, giving real control over depth of field and low light. Battery life is rated up to 34 hours of video on the Pro and 43 hours on the Pro Max, with a 50% charge in about 15 minutes wired. Colours: Burgundy, Glacier, Silver, Black.
iPhone Duo: a book-style foldable with a 7.6-inch inner display (50% larger than the 18 Pro Max screen) that closes to a 5.4-inch outer display, and Apple says it is the thinnest iPhone ever when open. Twin 48MP cameras match the Pro models, a dual-battery design is rated up to 44 hours on the outer screen, and iOS 27 adds proper Split View multitasking for the big screen. Colours: Star White and Night Sky.
Apple vs Singtel vs StarHub vs M1 at a glance
| Apple | Singtel | StarHub | M1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro 256GB | S$1,899 | Plan pricing out 12 Sep 8pm | Plan pricing out 12 Sep 8pm | Plan pricing out 12 Sep 8pm |
| Pre-order opens | Fri 12 Sep, 8pm SGT | Fri 12 Sep, 8pm SGT | Fri 12 Sep, 8pm SGT | Fri 12 Sep, 8pm SGT |
| How you pay | Full price, or 0% instalments up to 24 months on eligible cards | Handset subsidised on a 24-month 5G plan; top plans historically hit $0 upfront | Handset subsidised on a 24-month plan (Star Plan pattern in recent launches) | Handset subsidised on a 24-month plan; currently does $0 upfront on the 17 Pro Max at $67.95/mth |
| Trade-in | S$230 to S$1,615 by bank transfer for iPhone 13 or newer | Own trade-in programme, values out at pre-order | Own trade-in programme, values out at pre-order | Own trade-in programme, values out at pre-order |
| Contract lock-in | None | 24 months | 24 months | 24 months |
| Best for | SIM-only users who want the lowest total cost | Existing Singtel users on big-data 5G+ plans | Existing StarHub users bundling broadband/TV | Existing M1 users chasing the lowest upfront |
We will fill in the three telcos' actual device prices here once their pre-order pages go live at 8pm on Friday 12 September, so bookmark this page.
Apple or telco: how to pay less
Buying direct from Apple. Apple Singapore is offering S$230 to S$1,615 in trade-in credit (paid by bank transfer) when you trade in an iPhone 13 or newer towards an iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone Duo, plus 0% instalments up to 24 months on eligible cards. If you are on a SIM-only plan (about $10 to $20 a month), this route is usually the cheapest total cost of ownership.
Buying from Singtel, StarHub or M1. All three telcos carry the new lineup and, as with every recent launch, open pre-orders at 8pm on launch Friday, the same time as Apple. Their plan pricing goes live when pre-orders open, but the pattern is consistent every year: the handset is discounted by several hundred dollars when you sign a 24-month 5G plan, and the top-tier plans push the upfront price to $0. For scale, M1 is currently selling the outgoing iPhone 17 Pro Max at $0 upfront on a $67.95/month plan, and expect Singtel's 5G+ Priority plans and StarHub's offers to play the same game with the 18 Pro.
The honest math: a $0 upfront phone on a ~$68/month plan costs about S$1,630 over 24 months before you count the phone discount, against roughly S$300 total for two years of a budget SIM-only plan. Telco contracts win only if you genuinely use the priority 5G data, roaming bundles and hotspot allowances. If you just want the phone, trade in with Apple.
One more lobang: Apple's education store discounts remain live for students and teachers, and the iPhone 17 lineup gets its usual quiet price cut now that it is last season, so keep an eye on telco clearance deals for the 17 Pro in the next fortnight.
Should you wait for the iPhone Duo or the iPhone 18?
- Want the best iPhone now: iPhone 18 Pro, pre-order Friday. The variable aperture camera is the biggest camera change in years.
- Want the folding future: iPhone Duo pre-orders are five weeks away, and first-run foldables sell out fast; expect the 16 October 8pm queue to be brutal.
- On a budget: wait for the standard iPhone 18 in spring 2027, or grab an iPhone 17 as prices drop this month.
