GSMArena Team, 25 September 2026

Apple iPhone 18 Pro review

6. Alternatives, pros and cons, verdict

Competition

The new iPhone 18 Pro comes out a bit more expensive than last year's model, mainly due to rising RAM prices. Sure, you get a few subtle upgrades here and there, but the starting price of $1,200 in the US and €1,450 in Europe is a bit steep. So, is it worth upgrading from an older iPhone?

Well, it depends. If you are rocking an iPhone 16 Pro or newer, probably not. In fact, some will find even the iPhone 15 Pro still good enough, and we tend to agree. But if you are in the market for a brand-new premium phone or are long overdue for an upgrade, paying a little extra to get the latest iPhone 18 Pro might be worth it. After all, the iPhone 18 Pro's battery life is the best we've seen from a regular Pro model, charging is a tad faster, the speakers are louder, and some will appreciate the variable aperture and the other minor camera improvements. On the other hand, the iPhone 17 Pro gets you much of the way there at a considerably lower price.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro • Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max

Even though not many users are choosing between iOS and Android, we must at least mention some of the premium compact alternatives you might want to consider if you are feeling adventurous. The Galaxy S26 and Pixel 11 Pro are the iPhone 18 Pro's biggest competitors, especially in the US. While the Pixel 11 Pro can challenge the iPhone's camera prowess, the Galaxy S26 feels a bit behind the curve in this regard. The iPhone remains your best bet when it comes to video recording, though.

Samsung Galaxy S26 • Google Pixel 11 Pro • Xiaomi 17

This year's iPhone also has an edge in a couple of areas where Apple has traditionally lagged - it charges faster than both the Galaxy and the Pixel and delivers longer battery life. Notably, though, both Android alternatives are much cheaper.

And if you are lucky enough to have a wider choice, consider the Xiaomi 17 as well. It successfully challenges the iPhone's camera experience, except for video, while offering longer battery life and faster charging.

What about the iPhone 18 Pro Max? Well, that's an easy one. For the extra $100/€150, you get longer battery life and faster charging, aside from the larger screen real estate, of course.

Verdict

The regular iPhone Pro remains one of the few premium compact offerings on the market as a whole. While the 18 Pro Max swims in a sea of Android competitors, the 18 Pro has only a handful to contend with.

And within Apple's own roster, this one may seem like quite an incremental update over the iPhone 17 Pro. And yes, it kinda looks like last year's model, but isn't that how Apple has long approached product design? If you look past that, you may see that while it's not a huge jump forward, it's a meaningful step toward refining the formula.

With the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple has created an incredibly balanced compact smartphone with hardly any shortcomings (except perhaps its rather substantial weight). It has a great display, long battery life, improved charging speed, awesome speakers and an overall very good camera experience. The new chipset's performance is perhaps the biggest surprise this year, delivering a true generational upgrade.

It does come with a hefty price tag, though, so it's certainly not the best deal out there. But if the budget allows and you are looking for a premium compact phone, the iPhone 18 Pro is definitely one of the best you can get right now.