Both the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the iPhone Duo record 4K Dolby Vision video at up to 120 fps, according to Apple’s tech specs. Beyond that headline figure the two spec sheets diverge: the Pro Max lists ProRes at up to 4K 120 fps with external recording and spatial video at 1080p 30 fps, while the Duo’s specs list neither and instead add Dual Capture, Center Stage on the rear camera and a second front camera.
The Pro Max is the sensible Pro model to put against the Duo for video because it has the largest conventional display, the 6.9-inch panel at 2868 x 1320, and the longest battery rating in the lineup. The Duo answers with a 7.6-inch inner display for review and playback. Our iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro Max comparison covers the rest of the spec sheet.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone Duo video specs
| Video spec | iPhone 18 Pro Max | iPhone Duo |
|---|---|---|
| 4K Dolby Vision | 24, 25, 30, 60, 100 or 120 fps | 24 to 120 fps |
| Cinematic mode | Up to 4K Dolby Vision at 60 fps | Yes; Cinematic effects can be applied at 60 fps after capture |
| ProRes | Up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording | Not published |
| Spatial video | 1080p at 30 fps | Not published |
| Time-lapse | 4K Dolby Vision HDR | 4K |
| Rear Center Stage | Not listed | Yes |
| Dual Capture | Not listed | Yes |
| Stabilization | OIS on main, 3D sensor-shift OIS on telephoto | Sensor-shift OIS on main, ultra-stabilized video |
| Front camera video | 18MP Center Stage, f/1.9; frame rates not specified | 12MP outer camera, 4K Dolby Vision 24 to 60 fps; inner camera 1080p 30 to 60 fps |
| USB-C | USB 3, up to 10 Gb/s | Speed not published |
| Display for playback | 6.9-inch, 2868 x 1320, 460 ppi | 7.6-inch inner, 1878 x 2670, 430 ppi |
| Video playback battery | Up to 45 hours | Up to 44 hours outer, 31 hours inner |
All figures are from Apple’s tech specs pages for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo, plus Apple’s press releases. Where a cell says not published, Apple’s Duo specs do not list the feature.
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4K120: identical on paper
Apple lists 4K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30, 60, 100 or 120 fps on the Pro Max, and 4K Dolby Vision at 24 to 120 fps on the Duo. Both phones therefore reach the same 120 fps ceiling at 4K, in HDR, from the rear camera. Neither spec sheet gives a higher resolution than 4K.
The lenses feeding that video differ. The Pro Max shoots from a 24 mm main camera with a variable aperture from f/1.48 to f/4.0, a 13 mm Ultra Wide and a 100 mm telephoto. The Duo shoots from a 26 mm f/1.6 main camera and the same 13 mm Ultra Wide, with no telephoto, so any 4x or 8x video on the Duo is digital.
ProRes and spatial video: Pro Max only, so far
The Pro Max’s specs list ProRes recording up to 4K at 120 fps when recording to an external drive over USB-C, which on the Pro runs at USB 3 speeds of up to 10 Gb/s. They also list spatial video at 1080p 30 fps for Apple Vision Pro.
Apple’s Duo tech specs list neither ProRes nor spatial video, and they do not state the USB-C data speed. Apple has not published whether either feature is coming to the Duo, so for now anyone who edits ProRes footage or shoots for Vision Pro should read the Pro Max as the only option of the two.
Cinematic mode, Dual Capture and Center Stage
Both phones have Cinematic mode. The Pro Max lists it at up to 4K Dolby Vision 60 fps, and Apple’s press release says Cinematic effects can be applied at 60 fps after capture on the Duo as well. Both also list 4K time-lapse, with the Pro Max specifying Dolby Vision HDR for it.
The Duo’s video extras come from its form factor. Apple lists Center Stage on the rear camera, Dual Capture and ultra-stabilized video, and its outer display can show a live preview to the subject. The 12MP outer Center Stage camera records 4K Dolby Vision at 24 to 60 fps, while the under-display inner camera records 1080p at 30 to 60 fps. The Pro Max’s 18MP front camera is brighter at f/1.9, but Apple’s specs summary does not give its video frame rates.
Which one for video
- Pick the iPhone 18 Pro Max for ProRes, external recording over USB 3, spatial video, the 100 mm telephoto and 45 hours of video playback.
- Pick the iPhone Duo for a 7.6-inch review screen, Dual Capture, rear Center Stage, a second front camera and 44 hours of playback on the outer display.
- Either phone for 4K Dolby Vision at 120 fps, Cinematic mode with 60 fps effects and 4K time-lapse.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 and ships September 18. The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, with pre-orders October 16 and availability October 23. For the Pro Max’s camera in full, see our iPhone 18 Pro camera explainer, and for the foldable see our iPhone Duo cameras guide.
