Apple iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro compared: What sets these phones apart
Apple has released the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, featuring a new A20 Pro chip and a mechanical variable aperture camera system. The new models come with a $100 price increase compared to the previous generation.
Why it matters
The introduction of mechanical aperture control in a smartphone represents a significant shift in mobile photography hardware, potentially setting a new industry standard.
Apple has launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, bringing significant upgrades, including in camera, silicon, battery life and higher entry-level prices when stacked against the outgoing iPhone 17 Pro generation. Both new flagship handsets carry a $100 price increase across the board. The baseline iPhone 18 Pro now begins at $1,199 (Rs 1,64,900), compared to the $1,099 launch price of the iPhone 17 Pro. The larger iPhone 18 Pro Max enters the market at $1,299 (Rs 1,79,900), up from last year's $1,199 threshold. Here are the key differences between the flagship phones of 2026 and 2025.Camera System: Introducing mechanical variable apertureThe biggest change is probably the camera. While the iPhone 17 Pro emphasised telephoto enhancements and an updated Center Stage front-facing sensor, the iPhone 18 Pro shifts primary engineering attention back to the primary rear shooter.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in