Skip to content
Phone comparison

Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro

Short answer

The iPhone 18 Pro, if you are coming from the 16 Pro.

The iPhone 18 Pro has a much faster chip, longer battery life and far quicker charging than the iPhone 16 Pro. It also has a variable-aperture main camera and a 4x telephoto. Most reviews say owners of the 16 Pro will notice the jump, though the newer phone is heavier.
Updated Oct 16, 2026
Reviewers' pick for most people
Apple iPhone 18 Pro

Apple iPhone 18 Pro

$1,199 launch price
Compass Score 8.9 from 50 critic reviews
Change phone
Get it if you have an iPhone 16 Pro or older and want longer battery life, faster charging and the new camera controls, especially for video or low light.
What reviewers found

Topic by topic

Each row is something review sites agreed on. Open a row for the details.

Battery life iPhone 18 Pro has the edge

The iPhone 18 Pro lasts clearly longer. In GSMArena's active use test it ran 16 hours 43 minutes, against 14 hours 17 minutes for the 16 Pro. Reviewers found it easily gets through a full day of heavy use.

4 sites agree: Trusted Reviews, Tech Advisor and 2 more
Charging iPhone 18 Pro has the edge

The iPhone 18 Pro charges much faster. It has 60W wired charging against 45W, and it reaches 74% in 30 minutes against 58%. Reviewers saw about 50% in 15 minutes with the right charger.

4 sites agree: CNET, Amateur Photographer and 2 more
Camera iPhone 18 Pro has the edge

The iPhone 18 Pro has a variable aperture on the main camera and a 48MP telephoto with 4x zoom. Reviewers praised low-light shots and the new manual controls. The depth-of-field effect is subtle.

5 sites agree: CNET, XDA Developers and 3 more
Performance iPhone 18 Pro has the edge

The A20 Pro chip is much faster, and reviewers found it stays steady under long heavy use. The 16 Pro has no vapor chamber. Most people will not notice the speed in daily use.

4 sites agree: Trusted Reviews, T3 and 2 more
Build

The iPhone 16 Pro weighs 199g and is 8.25mm thick. The iPhone 18 Pro weighs 211g and is 8.8mm thick. It also moves from titanium to an aluminum body with a tougher front.

2 sites agree: MacRumors and Tom's Guide
Prices

Where to buy

The lowest prices we track today.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro

We don't track a price for the iPhone 18 Pro yet. It launched at $1,199.

Already own one?

Is it worth switching?

iPhone 18 Pro

Own an iPhone 16 Pro or older: the iPhone 18 Pro is a clear step up. Own a 17 Pro: skip it.

Spec data

How they compare

Choosing the cheaper iPhone 16 Pro means giving up most on: Camera zoom, Battery life, Wired charging

iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 18 Pro
Price (MSRP)
$999
Price (MSRP)
$1,199
OS
iOS
OS
iOS
Processor
Apple A18 Pro Hexa-core
Processor
Apple A20 Pro Hexa-core
Camera zoom
—
Camera zoom
4×
Battery life
14h 17m
GSMArena Active Use
Battery life
16h 43m
GSMArena Active Use
Wired charging
45W
Wired charging
60W
Wireless charging
25W
Wireless charging
25W
Display
Color, 120Hz
2000 nits peak
Display
Color, 120Hz
3000 nits peak
Software support
—
Software support
—
Repairability
7/10
iFixit
Repairability
7/10
iFixit
Weight
199g (7 oz)
Weight
211g (7.4 oz)
Fingerprint
No
Fingerprint
No
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.

Specifications are sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases and may contain errors. Suggest a correction →

Third-party data

Testing & benchmarks

iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 18 Pro
DxOMark
157
photo 157 · video 159
DxOMark
172
photo 171 · video 176
AnTuTu v10
1.81M
AnTuTu v10
3.40M
GSMArena endurance
14h 17m
Active Use
GSMArena endurance
16h 43m
Active Use
iFixit repairability
7/10
iFixit repairability
7/10
Physical comparison

Size & weight

Footprint · to scale
iPhone 16 Pro
5.9" × 2.8"
iPhone 18 Pro
5.9" × 2.8"
Thickness · to scale
iPhone 16 Pro
0.3"
iPhone 18 Pro
0.3"
Height
5.9" (149.6 mm)
Height
5.9" (150 mm)
Width
2.8" (71.5 mm)
Width
2.8" (71.9 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.3 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.8 mm)
Weight
199g (7 oz)
Weight
211g (7.4 oz)
Screen
6.3"
Screen
6.3"

Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.

Common questions

iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro: FAQ

Should I upgrade from the iPhone 16 Pro to the iPhone 18 Pro?

Yes, for most owners. Reviewers say the jump from the iPhone 16 Pro to the iPhone 18 Pro is easy to notice. It brings longer battery life, much faster charging, a better telephoto and a brighter screen. The 18 Pro is also a bit heavier.

Does the iPhone 18 Pro have better battery life than the iPhone 16 Pro?

Yes. In GSMArena's active use test, the iPhone 18 Pro ran 16 hours 43 minutes, against 14 hours 17 minutes for the iPhone 16 Pro. Reviewers found it easily lasts a full day of heavy use.

Is the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro better for photos and video?

The iPhone 18 Pro. Its main camera has a variable aperture that helps in low light, and reviewers liked the new manual controls. It also has a 4x telephoto. Reviewers called its video among the best on a phone.

Which is better, the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro?
Based on aggregated critic reviews, the iPhone 18 Pro earns a Compass Score of 8.9 compared to 8.5 for the iPhone 16 Pro. That 0.4-point gap reflects stronger reviews across the board, though individual priorities like camera quality, battery life, or price could tip the scales the other way. Scores aggregate dozens of expert opinions, so they are a useful starting point, not the final word.
Which phone is more affordable, the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro?
The iPhone 16 Pro launches at $999, which is $200 less than the iPhone 18 Pro at $1,199. Street prices shift after launch, so check current deals for both phones before deciding.
Compare with another phone

Not sold on either?

Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated October 2026. Suggest a correction →