On September 9, Apple introduced the latest generation of its smartphones. Paradoxically, the most “budget” device at the moment is the iPhone 18 Pro — we still have to wait for the release of the real “base” model. We managed to get our hands on the new device and test it on all fronts: we tell you how successful this gadget turned out to be and whether it makes sense to upgrade to it from the iPhone 17 Pro.

Smudge-prone, but charming

This iPhone was introduced in four colors: silver, black, light blue, and a burgundy shade. It was the latter option, which seems the most interesting in this release, that we got.

As with the iPhone 17 Pro, aluminum is the main body material. It’s complemented by a glass insert on the rear panel. This body element eagerly collects fingerprints, so we advise aesthetes to get at least a microfiber cloth, if not a case.

The display boasts Ceramic Shield 2 coating: according to Apple, scratch resistance here is three times higher than on the iPhone 16 Pro. Judging by the findings of blogger JerryRigEverything, the screen stoically withstands scratches, but the device’s body copes with them worse, and the painted aluminum can quickly become covered in scuffs.

In terms of controls, there are no differences compared to last year’s model. On the left is the now-familiar Action Button and volume keys; on the right are the screen lock and Camera Control. We got a version without a physical SIM card slot, so on top there is an additional antenna insert needed for proper eSIM operation.

The gadget weighs 211 grams, the body thickness is 8.75 millimeters, and the screen diagonal is 6.3 inches. The iPhone 18 Pro is protected to the IP68 standard and feels great in the hand because there are no balance issues here.

And good news for those who didn’t want to spend money on new cases: cases from the iPhone 17 Pro should fit the new device, because the physical dimensions in terms of height, thickness, and width of the smartphone have remained the same. Why Cupertino decided to be so generous is a mystery.

Great screen with a slimmer Dynamic Island

Owners of the new Pro get the familiar OLED with ProMotion support, a dynamic screen refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, peak brightness of 3000 nits, and oleophobic and anti-reflective coatings. Symmetrical thin bezels, vibrant colors, no distortion when rotating — the iPhone 18 Pro display can easily be called exemplary. It would be more surprising if Apple had done something wrong here and the new screen were inferior to last year's release.

In terms of the display, the key update is the Dynamic Island, which has shrunk by 25%. This was achieved by moving the infrared camera under the display: now it sits in the upper-left corner and can only be spotted against a white background, and even then with a bit of effort.

Apple suggests filling the freed-up space with three Live Activity dynamic notifications at once: for example, it can show playing music, a workout metric, and a timer. Purely subjectively, this update can't be called groundbreaking, but it's another step toward an iPhone with a pristine screen. Perhaps that's exactly what will happen with the anniversary version of the smartphone.

Decent battery life and improved performance

The iPhone 18 Pro boasts a 4056 mAh battery: an increase of +1.7% over the previous generation. Meanwhile, the 18 Pro Max is in a better position, with battery capacity up 11.7%.

Apple assures that you can charge the device to 50% in about 15 minutes. And that's true — with such performance, it's really hard to end up with a completely dead smartphone. We should note that in mixed usage, which included gaming, music listening, video watching, and web surfing, the gadget can last just over 16 hours.

At the same time, battery life is not the key advantage of the iPhone 18 Pro: instead, Apple puts performance at the forefront. It's all about the A20 Pro chip, which the company calls "the most powerful and efficient chip for iPhone." They used a dual-block 16-core neural processor, supposedly guaranteeing a 50% increase in memory bandwidth, and equipped the whole thing with a next-generation vapor chamber whose area has tripled. It is claimed that together these updates make the iPhone 18 Pro 40% faster in terms of graphics performance than the iPhone 17 Pro.

What does all this mean for a user who isn't going to lift the back cover of their smartphone to examine the processor from all angles, and doesn't plan to run the device through a series of AnTuTu benchmarks? At the very least, you can count on snappy, smooth performance without overheating, even if you like to jump from Genshin Impact sessions to 4K video recording and back.

By the way, what about the camera side of things?

The cameras are another highlight of the iPhone 18 Pro. The key hardware change is the variable aperture in the main camera, which lets users manually switch between f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4.0 and control how much light hits the sensor.

The main camera, the ultrawide camera, and the telephoto lens are all 48 MP. The main lens has a focal length of 24mm, the ultrawide with a 120-degree field of view and hybrid focus sensors is 13mm, and the telephoto with 4x optical zoom is 100mm. The front camera gets 18 MP and allows you to take horizontal shots even if you hold the device vertically.

Managing all of this has become easier thanks to full manual shooting controls placed in the standard camera app. In addition to adjusting focus, white balance, and shutter speed, you get a histogram and focus tracking—the latter makes life easier when shooting moving subjects.

Photo on iPhone 17 Pro Max

Photo on iPhone 18 Pro

Overall, first and foremost, the iPhone 18 Pro deserves praise for the aforementioned manual controls, exemplary zoom, and night shooting — even in low light, shots remain clean, without excess noise. The variable aperture, however, is by and large perceived as a highly specialized tool that the lion's share of users simply won't use.

So — should we upgrade or not?

If you already have an iPhone 17 Pro, there seems to be no pressing need to buy Cupertino's new device — unless, of course, you're a fan of burgundy.

This time, Apple focused on work "under the hood," and for many, the improved processor, expanded camera controls, and slightly slimmer Dynamic Island may seem like trifles. Largely because last year's Pro model still shoots, runs video, and plays content just as well. Here, form often prevails over substance, and the updates inside the 18 Pro seem minor compared to what the same iPhone Duo will offer users.

At the same time, if you're using an iPhone 15 Pro or older, the iPhone 18 Pro could be your potential match. Simply because it will be an upgrade across the board — from improved battery life and increased performance to updates in body design, cameras, and AI capabilities.

To summarize, in a vacuum, the iPhone 18 Pro is a great phone. But the answer to the question "to buy or not" will depend directly on what's already in your pocket.

We thank the i-Store store for providing the smartphone for this review.

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