Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro vs. 17 Pro: What the Extra $100 Brings to the Newer Pro iPhone
While the iPhone 17 Pro and 18 Pro look similar, there are a lot of changes on the inside.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro, share many similarities in terms of design, features, and specifications. Both devices boast a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR LTPO OLED display and have identical dimensions of 5.91 x 2.83 x 0.34 inches. The only physical distinction is the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro, which is slightly smaller and supports up to three Live Activities simultaneously.
Under the hood, the iPhone 18 Pro houses a redesigned vapor cooling chamber to maintain optimal performance during intensive tasks like gaming or lengthy video capture. The new device also sports a slightly heavier build at 7.44 ounces compared to the iPhone 17 Pro's 7.27 ounces, likely due to the variable aperture mechanism.
Despite the minor differences, the two phones share a triple 48-megapixel rear camera setup, but the iPhone 18 Pro takes the lead with its variable aperture feature. This allows users to manually adjust light exposure at the hardware level, providing greater depth of field in close-up shots and improved low-light photography.
The front-facing camera remains largely unchanged, featuring an 18-megapixel selfie camera with Center Stage technology that automatically frames subjects and switches between horizontal and vertical orientations seamlessly.
Internally, the iPhone 18 Pro is powered by the brand-new A20 Pro chip, an upgrade over the A19 Pro chip found in the iPhone 17 Pro. This chip utilizes a 2-nanometer process, making it denser and potentially allowing for a bigger battery. Initial tests suggest that the A20 chip excels in handling videos and games without any issues.
In terms of battery life, both devices offer similar performance, lasting approximately 24 hours before requiring a recharge. However, the iPhone 18 Pro edges ahead in charging speed, going from 0% to 82% in just 30 minutes, whereas the iPhone 17 Pro takes the same amount of time to reach 69%.
Overall, the choice between the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro comes down to personal preferences and budget constraints. If variable aperture is a top priority, the newer model is the way to go. However, if saving money is the primary concern, the slightly older but still reliable iPhone 17 Pro might be the more sensible option.
Written by urgent.news from CNET's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
