iPhone Duo matches the iPhone 18 Pro on wireless. Apple’s press release confirms the N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread, the C2 modem with mmWave 5G in the US, and eSIM-only service with more than 500 supported carriers, while the tech specs add second-generation Ultra Wideband, NFC with reader mode and three satellite services included free for two years.
That is the same N1 and C2 pairing Apple introduced with the iPhone 18 Pro, where Apple says the C2 uses 15 percent less energy than the C1X. The Duo is the first iPhone to go eSIM-only in every country it is sold in, rather than in a list of 12.
Cellular: C2 modem, mmWave and eSIM only
The Duo supports 5G sub-6 GHz and mmWave, along with Gigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO. As on the 18 Pro, mmWave is limited to the US.
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The Duo is eSIM only worldwide. It supports dual eSIM with two active lines, can store eight or more, and Apple says more than 500 carriers support it. There is no physical SIM tray in any market.
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread and Ultra Wideband
| Feature | iPhone Duo | iPhone 18 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless chip | N1 | N1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, 2×2 MIMO) | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 6 |
| Thread | Yes | Yes |
| Ultra Wideband | Second generation | Not stated in release |
| Modem | C2 | C2, 15 percent less energy than C1X |
| mmWave 5G | US | US |
| NFC | With reader mode | Not stated in release |
| SIM | eSIM only worldwide, 500-plus carriers | eSIM only in 12 countries |
Thread is the low-power radio used by smart home accessories, so its presence on the Duo, as on the 18 Pro, means the phone can talk to those devices without a hub. Apple has not published any Duo-specific wireless performance figures.
Two free years of satellite
Apple’s specs list three satellite services on the Duo, all included free for two years:
- Messages via satellite
- Emergency SOS via satellite
- Roadside Assistance via satellite
Apple has not published what the services cost after the two years, when the clock starts, or which of the Duo’s launch countries they cover.
Pre-orders open Friday, October 16, at 5 a.m. PT, with availability on October 23 in more than 70 countries and regions, including the US, UK, Canada, India and Australia, and 28 more on October 30. Our event recap covers everything Apple announced today, and our iPhone Duo preview shows what was rumored before the keynote.
