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iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
Confirmed
In Short: The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max start at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively, with significant improvements in battery life and performance.
Apple has released the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, with starting prices of $1,199 and $1,299, marking a $100 increase from the previous generation. These devices come with enhanced battery life, better processing power, and an upgraded camera system, but the question remains whether these changes are significant enough to justify an upgrade.
For users of recent models like the iPhone 17 Pro, the improvements may feel incremental. However, those with older devices might find the iPhone 18 Pro a compelling option, particularly due to its enhanced battery life, advanced processing power, and upgraded camera system. The Pro Max, in particular, sees a significant jump in battery life, with 45 hours of video playback and 30 hours of usage per charge, compared to 39 hours for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The iPhone 18 Pro introduces a range of updates aimed at enhancing performance, usability, and aesthetic appeal. Apple's redesigned vapor chamber and the A20 Pro's move to TSMC's 2nm process are among the most important updates under the hood, raising sustained performance and unlocking longer battery life. The variable aperture camera and larger vapor chamber contribute to better performance and speed.
While the iPhone 18 Pro offers improvements, the cost is an important factor to weigh against the new features. If your biggest worry is all-day battery life, last year's iPhone Pro Max still holds up. However, if you just got the iPhone 17 Pro Max, you may be wondering what you’re missing out on with the newly released iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are part of a three-year upgrade cycle, similar to the transition from the iPhone 15 Pro to the iPhone 18 Pro. This means that owners of the iPhone 15 Pro are now seriously considering taking advantage of all the updates by upgrading to a newer device. The iPhone 18 Pro also tips the scales at 7.44 ounces, close to an ounce heavier than the titanium-clad iPhone 15 Pro, but the overall design remains refined, with an aluminum unibody frame introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro.
What's confirmed
- Apple has released the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, with starting prices of $1,199 and $1,299, marking a $100 increase from the previous generation. These devices come with enhanced battery life, better processing power, and an upgraded camera system, but the question remains whether these changes are significant enough to justify an upgrade.
- For users of recent models like the iPhone 17 Pro, the improvements may feel incremental. However, those with older devices might find the iPhone 18 Pro a compelling option, particularly due to its enhanced battery life, advanced processing power, and upgraded camera system. The Pro Max, in particular, sees a significant jump in battery life, with 45 hours of video playback and 30 hours of usage per charge, compared to 39 hours for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
- The iPhone 18 Pro introduces a range of updates aimed at enhancing performance, usability, and aesthetic appeal. Apple's redesigned vapor chamber and the A20 Pro's move to TSMC's 2nm process are among the most important updates under the hood, raising sustained performance and unlocking longer battery life. The variable aperture camera and larger vapor chamber contribute to better performance and speed.
- While the iPhone 18 Pro offers improvements, the cost is an important factor to weigh against the new features. If your biggest worry is all-day battery life, last year's iPhone Pro Max still holds up. However, if you just got the iPhone 17 Pro Max, you may be wondering what you’re missing out on with the newly released iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max.
- Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are part of a three-year upgrade cycle, similar to the transition from the iPhone 15 Pro to the iPhone 18 Pro. This means that owners of the iPhone 15 Pro are now seriously considering taking advantage of all the updates by upgrading to a newer device. The iPhone 18 Pro also tips the scales at 7.44 ounces, close to an ounce heavier than the titanium-clad iPhone 15 Pro, but the overall design remains refined, with an aluminum unibody frame introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro.
What's still developing
- Apple continues its tradition of refining rather than transforming its design with the iPhone 18 Pro.
- Apple yesterday announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, succeeding the iPhone 17 Pro that launched last September.
- That being said, if you can get an iPhone 17 Pro at a substantially lower price, it is probably worth buying last year's model instead.
- Our guide breaks down every difference between the two generations to help you decide whether the upgrade is worth it.
- The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 for 256GB, which is only $100 more than the iPhone 17 Pro Max for the same storage.
- It’s a pretty sweet upgrade for $100 more than its predecessor’s original price.
- We saw a big improvement in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which holds the crown as our current best-tested phone battery.
- Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro at its fall event, the latest in the Pro line.