iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: What has changed — from colour options, iOS, camera, battery, price to chipset
iPhone 18 Pro introduces several advanced features, including a new thermal management system, longer battery life and uses more recycled materials than its predecessor. Check what has changed here.
Apple on Wednesday launched its latest models — iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max— with notable updates and advanced features compared with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Though the display sizes and the headline 48MP/8x camera setup remain broadly similar, several other specifications have been updated to match the latest technology.
Let's have a look at key features that have changed:
Colour options
While previous-generation smartphones offered three colour options — deep blue, cosmic orange, and silver — the new model comes in 4 variants — black, silver, glacier, and an all-new burgundy.
Chipset
When compared with previous-generation models, we find that the new model is equipped with an A20 Pro based on a 2-nanometer chipset, which features “50% more memory bandwidth than A19 Pro.” Promising a significant graphics upgrade, the A20 Pro's 7-core GPU design is up to 40% faster.
“A20 Pro also features a new Dual 16-core Neural Engine, which accelerates on-device AI models and computational photography, and includes 32 total cores for double the AI processing power of A19 Pro, ” the iPhone maker said in a press statement.
Camera
Moving to main camera, the new model comes with the same 48MP Fusion camera, but now with “variable aperture” which allows users to customize their experience in the Camera app.
Battery
Offering the largest increase in battery life on iPhone, iPhone 18 Pro comes with up to 36 hours of video playback. “iPhone 18 Pro can also charge up to 50% in around 15 minutes, or wirelessly charge up to 50% in 30 minutes,” the press release states, suggesting that iPhone 18 Pro Max provides up to 30 hours of usage on a full charge. Meanwhile, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max could charge 50% in 20 minutes.
| Feature | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Colour Options | Deep blue, cosmic orange and silver | Black, silver, glacier, and an all-new burgundy |
| Chipset | A19 Pro | A20 Pro |
| Main camera | 48MP Fusion Main | 48MP Fusion Main with variable aperture |
| Battery | 50% in about 20 minutes | 50% in about 15 minutes |
| iOS | iOS 26 | iOS 27 |
| Storage | 256GB–1TB | 256GB–2TB |
| Materials | 30% recycled content | 40% recycled content |
| Launch price | $1,099 | $1,199 |
Vapor chamber
The iPhone 18 Pro features a new thermal management system, with its redesigned vapour chamber ensuring up to a 40% increase in performance compared with the iPhone 17 Pro.
iOS
New generation of Apple Intelligence and Siri AI — iOS 27 — replaces iOS 26.
Storage
Moving to storage capacity, iPhone 18 Pro will be available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB, while iPhone 17 Pro came in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB variants.
Modem
Introducing AI-powered improvements with C2, Apple’s next-generation cellular modem system. The iPhone 18 Pro features a wireless networking chip, N1, that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Notably, C2 offers faster uploads than C1X and consumes 15% less energy while supporting mmWave in the US.
Material
Made with 40% recycled material, the iPhone 18 Pro's battery uses 100% recycled cobalt and 85% recycled aluminium. “Manufactured with 50% renewable energy, like wind and solar, across the supply chain…. their paper packaging is 100% fibre-based12 and can be easily recycled at home,” the company said.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro was made with 40% renewable electricity and 30% recycled materials, including 100% recycled cobalt in the battery and 100% recycled gold plating on all printed circuit boards.
Launch price in the US
iPhone 17 Pro — $1,099
iPhone 18 Pro — $1,199
About the Author
Fareha Naaz is a Delhi-based journalist and Content Producer at LiveMint, where she has built nearly three years of experience in digital journalism. She covers a diverse range of topics, including national news, education, entertainment, lifestyle trends science, global health and international news.<br><br> With a background in Economics and Education, she focuses on providing insightful, thoroughly researched coverage that bridges the gap between breaking news and in-depth analysis. In addition to breaking copies, legal and political news, her reporting blends editorial rigour with search-driven storytelling. With a keen eye-on-global events, she provides insightful coverage on latest developments. Her reporting combines editorial rigour with in-depth coverage and search-driven storytelling provide valuable insight and context to readers, ensuring accuracy and relevance.<br><br> Her newsroom experience helped her in combining her critical thinking skills with real-time editorial decision-making. Over the years, she has been presenting complex stories with clarity for a digital-first audience amid fast-paced news cycles. Her thoroughly researched stories, with well-structured and engaging content, provide readers with clear understanding of the context and background.<br><br> Fareha holds a Master’s degree in Economics, in addition to a Bachelor of Education degree.<br><br> When not in the newsroom, she enjoys painting and sports, reading books and current developments.
Catch all the Technology News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
Wait for it…
Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.