# iPhone 18 Pro vs 17 Pro: is it worth it?

> Apple raised prices $100 and kept the screen the same, so the upgrade case rests on a new chip, a variable aperture, and battery life.
- Title: iPhone 18 Pro vs 17 Pro: is it worth it? · PCMAG | Shortify
- Summary: Apple raised prices $100 and kept the screen the same, so the upgrade case rests on a new chip, a variable aperture, and battery life. Unless you want the…
- Keywords: iphone, apple, smartphones, cameras, tech buying, technology, Pro, worth, PCMAG
- Source: PCMAG — https://pcmag.com/comparisons/iphone-18-pro-vs-iphone-17-pro
- Author: Florence Ion
- Published: 2026-09-13T12:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: iphone, apple, smartphones, cameras, tech buying, technology
## Every price went up $100
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 for 256GB and the Pro Max at $1,299. Last year those same tiers were $1,099 and $1,199.

> pricing is up $100 across the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
## 2TB comes to the small one
For the first time the smaller Pro offers 2TB, at $1,999. The Pro Max tops out at $2,499 for the same capacity.
## Blame the supply chain
Apple attributes the increase to component costs across the global supply chain, not to anything new inside the phone.
## Glacier and Burgundy replace orange
Last year's headline colors were Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue. This year it's Glacier, an ice blue, and Burgundy, a wine red, plus Deep Black and Silver.

> this year's iPhone 18 Pro's colorways are simply outstanding compared with last year's offerings
## Same size, more weight
Both generations measure identically. But the 18 Pro gained 0.17 ounces and the 18 Pro Max jumped from 8.22 to 8.78 ounces, likely from the reworked vapor chamber.
## The screen did not change
Same 6.3 and 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panels, same 460ppi, same 3,000 nits peak, same Ceramic Shield 2. The Dynamic Island now holds three live activities.
## A20 Pro goes 2nm
The new chip is the first on a 2nm process, with two performance cores and four efficiency cores tuned for low-latency AI work on device.
## Cooling finally pays off
Apple started reworking the internal vapor chamber with the 17 Pro. The 18 Pro is the model where that work actually shows up in sustained performance.

> the iPhone 18 Pro is the model that showcases what's been achieved
## C2 modem, Pro only
Apple's custom C2 modem brings mmWave 5G with faster uploads and 15% less battery drain. It's in the iPhone 18 Pro but not the Pro Max.

> only the iPhone 18 Pro has it, not the Pro Max
## Variable aperture is the real upgrade
Both generations run a triple 48MP rear array, but only the 18 Pro's main lens shifts between ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8 and ƒ/4.0.
## Manual controls arrive natively
You can now set aperture, shutter speed and white balance in the camera app, with a live exposure histogram. Video tops out at 4K 120fps.
## Selfie camera stands still
Both phones use the same 18MP Center Stage front camera shooting 4K at 60fps. Nothing to gain here by upgrading.
## 36 and 45 hours of video
Apple projects three more hours of video playback on the 18 Pro and six more on the Pro Max compared with last year's figures.
## Charging got quicker
Fifteen minutes gets you to 50% with a 60W adapter, and a full charge takes 50 to 55 minutes. Wireless charging now runs at 35W.

> up to six hours of video playback after a five-minute charge
## Who should actually buy
Want the lightest Pro or the best camera, go 18 Pro. Want the longest endurance, go Pro Max. Preorders opened Sept. 12, with phones in stores Sept. 18.

> you don't always need the brand-new newness
## Key takeaway

Unless you want the variable aperture camera or the longest battery life Apple has shipped, the iPhone 17 Pro does nearly everything the 18 Pro does for $100 less.