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:
The new 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture is the most advanced camera Apple has ever made, bringing aperture control to iPhone for the first time along with even more creative control. Six laser-cut blades smoothly transition between different apertures, making it incredibly easy to capture the best shot by automatically adjusting for depth of field and lighting. Combined with a new sensor that improves image quality, the result is better low-light photography, crisper detail in the back of group photos, and more unique shots. Variable aperture also provides more control for creative pros by giving them the ability to manually adjust any of the four aperture settings in the Camera app, and an API is available to developers for even more control across the aperture range in their apps.
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 on at least 18 Pro
Apple has a new in-house C2 modem debuting in iPhone 18 Pro. It replaces the Qualcomm modem found 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 introduces C2, Apple’s next-generation cellular modem system, which brings AI-powered improvements to cellular quality and reliability. C2 delivers meaningfully faster uploads when compared to C1X while consuming 15 percent less energy, and now supports mmWave in the U.S.
Interestingly, Apple’s tech specs page suggests that C2 might be exclusive to iPhone 18 Pro, with the Pro Max model sticking with Qualcomm.
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.
For more Apple event coverage, here’s our dedicated news hub.
*Buy iPhone with 15% discount from Apple refurbished
Best iPhone accessories
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
