Apple's new flagship iPhone models are out, following yesterday's 'Surprise and shine' Apple Event.
Setting the all-new iPhone Duo aside for now, Apple unveiled its latest iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. Here's how they compare to last year's 17 Pro models.
Display
Both models use the same 'Super Retina XDR' display:
- 6.3-inch or 6.9-inch display sizes
- 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate
- Always on display
- Ceramic Shield 2 front
iPhone 18 Pro models feature a smaller Dynamic Island that can support three live activities at once, instead of just two on the iPhone 17 Pro.
Aluminium Unibody
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro use the same aluminium unibody design, with the large camera plateau, Ceramic Shield back, Action Button and Camera Control.
The new 18 Pro series features better colour-matched back glass, so it stands out less compared to the 17 Pro's frame.
Chip & Thermal Performance
Apple debuted the brand new A20 Pro chip in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, with a 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU and two 16-core neural engines.
This chip has one extra GPU core and an additional 16-core neural engine over the A19 Pro chip, that was in iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The new models have 12GB of RAM, the same as the previous generation.
The chip in iPhone 18 Pro has been attached directly to vapour chamber for improved performance. The second-generation vapour chamber covers three times more surface area, over iPhone 17 Pro.
Battery Life
iPhone 18 Pro can reach 36 hours of video playback, according to Apple's tech specs page. This is a two-hour improvement over the iPhone 17 Pro's 34-hour rating.
iPhone 18 Pro Max can reach 45 hours of video playback, a major jump over the 37-hour rating on iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Of course, real usage will vary and we can expect battery tests in the coming weeks, after the product releases.
Cameras
Apple has focused on the camera this year, introducing variable aperture on iPhone for the very first time.
Variable aperture works like the pupil in your eye, adjusting the size of the lens opening to control how much light gets in. A wider opening lets in more light for better low-light photos. A smaller opening lets in less light and keeps the foreground and background in focus.
Other camera improvements include:
- 'Pro Controls' customised photo controls
- Smart focus tracking on videos
- iPhone 18 Pro photos support the standard to identify AI photos
- New Apple Reference Image to prove an iPhone was taken on 18 Pro
Price
iPhone 17 Pro launched at £1,099 and iPhone 17 Pro Max launched at £1,199. This year's iPhone 18 Pro starts at £1,199 and iPhone 18 Pro Max starts from £1,299, both £100 more expensive than their predecessor.
