iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Which one is right for you?

Apple just announced a couple of new iPhones, but this year's lineup is a bit different. While there's a new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, there isn't a new "standard" iPhone 18 yet. 

As such, if you're in the market for a new iPhone, the iPhone 17 is still the de facto cheaper option. Even if it did just get more expensive. In this guide, we'll compare the iPhone 17 with the newly announced iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max to help you decide whether you should opt for the cheaper older phone or splash out for Apple's new top-tier devices. 

To start, let’s compare the specifications of the iPhone 17 and the new iPhone 18 Pro models:

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Price

Apple doesn't make a "cheap" iPhone, but the iPhone 17 is certainly cheaper than the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Now starting at $1,549, there's a $550 difference between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro Max. 

Since Apple only recently put up the iPhone 17's price, there's a chance you may be able to find it for $1,399. 

Here's how iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro pricing compare:  

Picking up an iPhone on a mobile plan can occasionally save you money, with providers offering discounts across the length of your repayment term or bonus trade-in value. If you'd prefer to pay off your new iPhone on a plan, compare plans for the iPhone 17, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max below:

• iPhone 17
• iPhone 18 Pro
• iPhone 18 Pro Max

iPhone 17 256GB Plans

#1	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $77.86/mth Min. cost $1,437.96 Go to Site	$77.86/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,437.96	Go to Site
#2	Vodafone	Vodafone $58 Small Plan 65GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices 36 mths device payments Deal: Includes $13/mth off plan fees for first 12 months when you stay connected to this plan. Ends 29.10.26. T&Cs apply. $88.02/mth Min. cost $1,593.72 Go to Site	$88.02/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,593.72	Go to Site
#3	Telstra	Telstra $74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan 50GB data Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices 36 mths device payments $117.02/mth Min. cost $1,622.72 Link not supplied	$117.02/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,622.72	Link not supplied

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iPhone 18 Pro 256GB Plans

#1	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $97.30/mth Min. cost $2,137.80 Go to Site	$97.30/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $2,137.80	Go to Site
#2	Vodafone	Vodafone $58 Small Plan 65GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices 36 mths device payments Deal: Incl. $13/mth off plan fees for first 12 months + Get $200 Bonus Trade-in Credit. T&Cs apply $103.30/mth Min. cost $2,143.80 Go to Site	$103.30/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $2,143.80	Go to Site
#3	Telstra	Telstra $74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan 50GB data Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices 36 mths device payments Deal: Order the new iPhone 18 Pro and get $300 bonus trade-in credit. Ends 09.10.26. T&Cs apply. $132.30/mth Min. cost $2,172.80 Link not supplied	$132.30/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $2,172.80	Link not supplied

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iPhone 18 Pro Max 256GB Plans

#1	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $102.86/mth Min. cost $2,337.96 Go to Site	$102.86/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $2,337.96	Go to Site
#2	Vodafone	Vodafone $58 Small Plan 65GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices 36 mths device payments Deal: Incl. $13/mth off plan fees for first 12 months + Get $200 Bonus Trade-in Credit. T&Cs apply $108.86/mth Min. cost $2,343.96 Go to Site	$108.86/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $2,343.96	Go to Site
#3	Telstra	Telstra $74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan 50GB data Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices 36 mths device payments Deal: Order the new iPhone 18 Pro Max and get $300 bonus trade-in credit. Ends 09.10.26. T&Cs apply. $137.86/mth Min. cost $2,372.96 Link not supplied	$137.86/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $2,372.96	Link not supplied

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iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Camera

Camera is perhaps the biggest difference you'll need to consider if you're tossing up between an iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 17. While we haven't tested the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max, on paper, the camera configuration is both better and more versatile. 

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max feature a new primary lens said to be Apple's best yet. This is paired with an ultra-wide lens and a 4x zoom lens capable of also doing 8x optical zoom. 

Conversely, the iPhone 17 has just two cameras: a 48MP primary lens (capable of 2x optical zoom) and a 48MP ultra-wide lens. You'll still get great photos from these, but they might be a step down from the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in some situations. 

No matter which device you go with, you'll get the same 18MP selfie camera. 

On top of better hardware, the iPhone 18 Pro models also have a few nifty software changes. These include cinematic effects that can be added to videos after they've been shot, smart focus tracking for video, and pro controls that let you manually adjust settings like aperture, shutter speed, and white balance. 

For photography, an iPhone 18 Pro looks to be the clear winner. 

We've got some iPhone 17 camera samples below, and we'll add in iPhone 18 Pro camera samples when we have a chance to test out the new phones. 

iPhone 17 camera samples

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Check out these camera samples taken on the iPhone 17. Click or tap on any photo to see a larger version.

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Connectivity

When it comes to physical connectivity, there aren't too many differences between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro. Both charge via a USB-C port; you get the cable in the box, but no charger. The Pro models do have faster USB-C, speeds, however. 

Similarly, the iPhone 17, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro all have 5G connectivity, WiFi 7, and support a single physical nano SIM as well as eSIM. 

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Design

The iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro all look pretty similar from the front, but vary on the back. While the iPhone 17 uses glass for the front and back with an aluminium frame, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max have an aluminium unibody. Most of the phone's back is glass, except for a glass cutout for wireless charging. 

The iPhone 17 wins when it comes to weight, however. It weighs in at 177g, compared to 211g for the iPhone 18 Pro and 249g for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. 

Editor's Pick: The best NBN 500 plan

Dodo's NBN 500 Unlimited plan is our pick for the best NBN 500 plan for September.

Dodo Editor's Pick

Dodo FTTP, HFC Editor's Pick nbn500 Unlimited Plan FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/48 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $92.99/mth*. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply. $62.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.99/mth Min. cost $62.99 Go to Site

$62.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.99/mth Min. cost $62.99

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iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Display

There are almost no display differences between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro models. All three phones have a Super Retina XDR "ProMotion" display with a 120Hz refresh rate. ProMotion allows for smoother on-screen motion and facilitates the always-on display. Each of these displays uses Ceramic Shield 2 for protection, so they should be equally durable too. 

Both the iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro have a 6.3-inch display, but the iPhone 18 Pro Max has a larger 6.9-inch screen. If you're after a big-screen iPhone, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is your only option here. 

The only difference worth calling out is the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max is smaller than the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 17. While this is mostly aesthetic, it does mean the iPhone 18 Pro devices can show three Live Activities in the Dynamic Island at one time, compared to two on the iPhone 17. 

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Performance

When it comes to performance, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are the faster phones. How much this matters is debatable, however. 

The pair are powered by Apple's new A20 Pro chipset. Apple says this offers 20% faster CPU performance and 40% faster GPU performance when compared to the iPhone 17 Pro, which itself was faster than the iPhone 17's A19 chipset. 

At the same time, this shouldn't make a difference in most cases. While its likely the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have an edge when it comes to demanding games like Destiny: Rising, the iPhone 17 can run these at very high settings without any issues.

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Battery

Apple never releases battery capacity figures for its devices; instead, it prefers to talk about use cases. With iPhones, Apple talks about how many hours of video playback you'll get, and the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max clock up some of the company's best figures yet.

Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro can get 34 hours of video playback, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max can get as much as 43 hours. For comparison, that figure sits at 30 hours for the iPhone 17. 

We've not had a chance to test out the iPhone 18 devices yet, but when we tested the iPhone 17, we found it was able to get at least seven hours of screen time per charge. That's enough for a full day of moderate usage with a comfortable buffer. 

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max also have slightly faster charging speeds. A 15-minute charge is able to take the phones from flat to 50%, while the iPhone 17 can do the same in 20 minutes.  

Should you get the iPhone 17 or iPhone 18 Pro?

When it comes to pure value, the iPhone 17 is a better buy than the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro. You're getting 90% of the experience at around 75% of the price. It just depends on how important that last 10% is. For some, the better cameras alone will make the iPhone 18 Pro worth the premium, while others may simply want a bigger iPhone and go for the Pro Max. 

Looking to ditch your internet service provider?

These are the most popular NBN plans with speeds of 50Mbps or higher:

Dodo Editor's Pick	Dodo FTTP, HFC Editor's Pick nbn500 Unlimited Plan FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/48 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $92.99/mth*. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply. $62.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.99/mth Min. cost $62.99 Go to Site	$62.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.99/mth Min. cost $62.99	Go to Site
Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom FTTP, HFC Speedy Max NBN 500/50 FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/42.5 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $33/mth off for the first 6 mths, $59.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.90/mth. Ends 30.10.26 $59.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.90/mth Min. cost $59.90 Go to Site	$59.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $92.90/mth Min. cost $59.90	Go to Site
amaysim	amaysim FTTP, HFC NBN500 FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/43 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $40/mth off for the first 6 months ($30 NBN Sale + $10 Standard Intro Offer), then $90/mth. Ends 20.10.26 $50/mth for first 6 months, then $90/mth Min. cost $50 Go to Site	$50/mth for first 6 months, then $90/mth Min. cost $50	Go to Site
Belong	Belong FTTP, HFC NBN Fast – Unlimited FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/40 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $36 off for 6 months - $59/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth (Offer ends 04.11.26) + Free $80 Mobile SIM $59/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth Min. cost $59 Go to Site	$59/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth Min. cost $59	Go to Site
Superloop	Superloop FTTP, HFC Family Max nbn500/50 FTTP, HFC nbn® 500/45 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $21/mth off for 6 mths! $74/mth for 6 mths, then $95/mth + Bundle & Save $74/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth Min. cost $74 Go to Site	$74/mth for first 6 mths, then $95/mth Min. cost $74	Go to Site

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_{Note: Plans with speeds over 100Mbps are only available to premises with FTTP and HFC connection types.}

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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