# iPhone 18 Pro vs 17 Pro: Upgrade Guide

> iPhone 18 Pro offers 24% faster performance and variable aperture but costs $100 more than 17 Pro
- Title: iPhone 18 Pro vs 17 Pro: Upgrade Guide · PCMAG | Shortify
- Summary: iPhone 18 Pro offers 24% faster performance and variable aperture but costs $100 more than 17 Pro The iPhone 18 Pro delivers significant performance gains…
- Keywords: iphone 18 pro, iphone 17 pro, a20 pro, variable aperture, ceramic shield 2, apple event, battery life, camera controls, ip68 rating, usb-c port, magsafe, 5g bands
- Source: PCMAG — https://pcmag.com/comparisons/iphone-18-pro-vs-iphone-17-pro-to-upgrade-or-not
- Author: Florence Ion
- Published: 2026-09-19T13:20:41+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: iphone 18 pro, iphone 17 pro, a20 pro, variable aperture, ceramic shield 2, apple event, battery life, camera controls, ip68 rating, usb-c port, magsafe, 5g bands
## Pricing Increases
iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 with 2TB storage option, $100 more than 17 Pro
## New Colorways
Glacier blue and Burgundy red replace Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue from last year
## Display Changes
Same size screens with improved anti-reflective glass and Ceramic Shield 2 coating
## Hardware Upgrade
First 2nm A20 Pro chip delivers 24% faster performance and 32% better multi-core scores
## Camera Improvements
Variable aperture and manual camera controls available on 18 Pro series
## Battery Life
18 Pro Max lasts 23 hours 25 minutes on video playback, 34 hours 31 minutes with full use
## Weight Changes
18 Pro weighs 7.44 ounces vs 17 Pro's 7.27 ounces, 18 Pro Max is 8.78 ounces
## Charging Speeds
18 Pro charges to 49% in 15 minutes with 45W charger, 18 Pro Max to 50% in 15 minutes with 60W charger
## Which Model?
Choose 18 Pro for lightest weight, 18 Pro Max for best battery life and camera
## Key Differences
18 Pro has variable aperture, manual controls, and Apple's Reference Image for AI photo verification
## Price Comparison
18 Pro starts at $1,199 (256GB) vs 17 Pro's $1,099 (256GB), $100 difference
## Battery Performance
18 Pro Max lasts 23h 25m on video, 34h 31m with full use, 10% better than 17 Pro Max
## Camera Features
18 Pro has manual aperture controls and 120fps 4K video capabilities
## Connectivity
18 Pro supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G bands with custom C2 modem in US
## Key takeaway

The iPhone 18 Pro delivers significant performance gains and camera upgrades but costs $100 more than the 17 Pro