Today Apple unveiled iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, its latest flagship models. Here’s everything new with iPhone 18 Pro vs last year’s iPhone 17 Pro.
Cameras: New 48MP Main camera with variable aperture
Every year Apple makes the iPhone camera system better. But with four different cameras on the iPhone Pro models, sometimes changes are limited to one camera or another. Last year, for example, brought an all-new Center Stage front camera and Telephoto improvements.
With iPhone 18 Pro, the Main camera is the focus of Apple’s upgrades.
Apple says the 48MP Fusion Main camera is all-new, notably adding a variable aperture feature. Here are the details:
Users will be able to switch between ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, and ƒ/4.0 variable aperture options.
Apple also introduced a variety of new Camera app software features, including updated Photographic Styles and pro controls for lens aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and viewing histogram. Those are all exclusive to iPhone 18 Pro too, as are Smart focus tracking, Cinematic mode effects from video, and Apple Reference Image.
Performance: A20 Pro chip and thermal upgrades
The new A20 Pro chip is a big upgrade over last year’s A19 Pro. That’s partly thanks to the new 2nm process it was built on, which improves performance and efficiency.
A20 Pro has a 6-core CPU, with 2 new super cores that Apple says are the fastest in any smartphone, plus 4 new efficiency cores. There’s also a 7-core GPU with 40% faster graphics performance, increased bandwidth, and faster Neural Accelerators than A19 Pro.
iOS 27 is packed with major AI features, and A20 Pro is an especially big leap for AI. That’s thanks to a new Dual 16-core Neural Engine—that’s double the number of cores as A19 Pro.
Finally, A20 Pro has a 50% increase in memory bandwidth, and thermal performance is improved thanks to a second-generation vapor chamber. Ultimately, these changes lead to 40% improved sustained performance over iPhone 17 Pro.
Design: New colors, uniform rear design, redesigned Dynamic Island
iPhone 18 Pro largely retains the same design as iPhone 17 Pro, with a prominent camera plateau on the back.
The most notable design change involves color. iPhone 18 Pro comes in four new colors: Burgundy, Glacier, Black, and Silver. This gives it a fresh look versus the bold iPhone 17 Pro colors.
Apple has also updated the back of iPhone 18 Pro with a more unified blend of colors between the glass cutout and aluminum frame. Last year’s models had a two-tone design, but this year it’s a more uniform look.
Finally, there’s a redesigned Dynamic Island on the front of iPhone 18 Pro. Its smaller footprint enables up to three simultaneous Live Activities.
Battery: Best-ever battery life, faster charging
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max offered the best-ever iPhone battery life. But this year Apple is upping battery life yet again, with big gains especially for iPhone 18 Pro Max.
| Battery Life (video playback) | |
| iPhone 18 Pro | up to 36 hours |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | up to 45 hours |
| iPhone 17 Pro | up to 33 hours |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | up to 39 hours |
Faster wired charging is included with iPhone 18 Pro too, which can get 50% charge in just 15 minutes.
Connectivity: Apple-designed C2 modem with mmWave
Apple has a new in-house C2 modem debuting in iPhone 18 Pro. It replaces the Qualcomm modems available in iPhone 17 Pro, while still including support for mmWave in the US.
Here are the details via Apple’s press release:
iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: wrap-up
iPhone 18 Pro starts at a higher $1,199 price, compared to $1,099 for iPhone 17 Pro. iPhone 18 Pro Max gets a similar $100 increase, starting at $1,299.
Are you planning to upgrade to iPhone 18 Pro from the iPhone 17 Pro? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.
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