iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max – how much have they improved?
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Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and while the new models look incredibly similar to their predecessors, there are some major upgrades under the hood. The biggest changes are focused on the camera, performance, cooling, and battery life rather than a complete redesign. The new models were unveiled alongside the iPhone Duo (Apple’s first foldable iPhone).
It’s also important to know that Apple hiked its iPhone prices after unveiling the new iPhone 18 series, so you’re paying an additional $100 at launch compared to the last generation – and older models have also had their prices adjusted.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max specs & features
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are still powerful phones, so those who already own one may be wondering whether the new models offer enough improvements to justify upgrading. The answer will ultimately depend on what you use your phone for, but on paper, there are a few areas where the iPhone 18 Pro lineup takes a clear lead.
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| Specification | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz | 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz | 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz | 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz |
| Resolution | 1206 x 2622, ~460 ppi | 1320 x 2868, ~460 ppi | 1206 x 2622, ~460 ppi | 1320 x 2868, ~460 ppi |
| Peak brightness | 3,000 nits | 3,000 nits | 3,000 nits | 3,000 nits |
| Dimensions | 150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm | 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm | 150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm | 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm |
| Weight | 211g | 249g | 206g | 233g |
| Chipset | A20 Pro (2nm) | A20 Pro (2nm) | A19 Pro (3nm) | A19 Pro (3nm) |
| GPU | 7-core Apple GPU | 7-core Apple GPU | 6-core Apple GPU | 6-core Apple GPU |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB | 12GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB |
| Main camera | 48MP, variable aperture f/1.5–f/4.0 | 48MP, variable aperture f/1.5–f/4.0 | 48MP, fixed f/1.8 | 48MP, fixed f/1.8 |
| Battery | 4,056mAh Nano-SIM / 4,288mAh eSIM-only | 5,391mAh Nano-SIM / 5,567mAh eSIM-only | 3,998mAh Nano-SIM / 4,252mAh eSIM-only | 4,823mAh Nano-SIM / 5,088mAh eSIM-only |
| Water & dust resistance | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| Colors | Black, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy | Black, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy | Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue | Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue |
Design & display
Apple hasn’t made any major changes to the overall size of the Pro models. The iPhone 18 Pro measures 150 x 71.9 x 8.8mm, exactly the same as the iPhone 17 Pro. The Pro Max also keeps the same 163.4 x 78 x 8.8mm dimensions as its predecessor.
The displays remain largely unchanged as well. Both generations use 120Hz LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panels, with a 6.3-inch display on the Pro and a 6.9-inch screen on the Pro Max. Resolution and peak brightness also remain the same, with both generations reaching up to 3,000 nits.
However, the new phones are heavier. The iPhone 18 Pro weighs 211g, compared to 206g for the 17 Pro, while the 18 Pro Max jumps to 249g, up from 233g. Apple has also changed the color options. The iPhone 17 Pro lineup came in Silver, Cosmic Orange, and Deep Blue, while the iPhone 18 Pro models are available in Black, Silver, Glacier, and Burgundy.
Another noticeable change is the smaller Dynamic Island. Despite taking up less space, it can now display up to three Live Activities at once.
A20 Pro brings a big performance upgrade
One of the biggest differences is the processor. The iPhone 17 Pro models use the 3nm A19 Pro, while the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max move to Apple’s new 2nm A20 Pro.
The new chip has a 6-core CPU and 7-core GPU, compared to the 6-core GPU found in the A19 Pro. Apple says graphics performance is up to 40% faster, while memory bandwidth has increased by 50%. The new Dual 16-core Neural Engine also provides twice the AI processing power of the previous generation.
Apple has upgraded the cooling system alongside the chip. The new vapor chamber has three times more surface area than the previous generation, helping the A20 Pro maintain its performance for longer. Apple claims the combination can deliver up to 40% better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro.
RAM remains at 12GB, but the regular iPhone 18 Pro can now be configured with up to 2TB of storage. The iPhone 17 Pro topped out at 1TB, while the 17 Pro Max already offered a 2TB option.
The main camera gets variable aperture
At first glance, the camera specifications look very similar. Both generations feature three 48MP rear cameras covering the main, ultrawide, and telephoto lenses, while the telephoto continues to provide 4x optical zoom.
The major difference is the 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture on the iPhone 18 Pro models. Instead of the fixed f/1.8 aperture used by the iPhone 17 Pro, the new camera can adjust between f/1.5 and f/4.0. This allows the camera to control how much light enters the lens and gives users more control over depth of field. Apple has also introduced new Pro controls for manually adjusting aperture, shutter speed, and white balance.
Battery life gets another boost
Battery life is another area where the iPhone 18 Pro models move ahead. The iPhone 18 Pro offers up to 36 hours of video playback, compared to 33 hours on the iPhone 17 Pro. The improvement is even bigger with the Pro Max, which reaches up to 45 hours, compared to 39 hours on the previous model.
Battery capacities have increased as well. The eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro has a 4,288mAh battery, compared to 4,252mAh on the 17 Pro. The difference is much larger on the Pro Max, jumping from 5,088mAh to 5,567mAh.
Wired charging is faster too. The iPhone 18 Pro models can reach 50% in around 15 minutes, while the previous generation takes around 20 minutes. Wireless charging remains at 25W through MagSafe and Qi2.
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