iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro: All expected differences
Three generations make the iPhone 18 Pro the almost perfect upgrade, but there is one problem.
iPhone 18 Pro as expected on the left vs iPhone 15 Pro on the right
While I do not think iPhone 16 Pro users should rush to buy the upcoming new iPhone 18 Pro when it arrives in late September, I think that iPhone 15 Pro users now have a good reason to upgrade.
The iPhone 18 Pro has a slightly larger screen, but it is also rumored to deliver bigger gains in battery life, a big change to every single individual camera compared to the 15 Pro, as well as better sustained performance and faster charging.
And while all of that sounds like good reasons to get the newer phones, there is some troubling news too. With RAM prices increasing multiple fold over the last year, Apple is expected to set a much higher price for the iPhone 18 Pro, allegedly starting from $1,300 for the base model ($300 higher than the base model 15 Pro).
iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro expected differences:
| iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|
| Bigger 6.3-inch size, with more efficient LTPO+ tech, anti-reflective coating. Higher 3,000-nit outdoor brightness and better at night dropping under 1 nit | 6.1-inch display size with 2,000-nit peak brightness, worse at night as it can only go as low as 2 nits |
| Bigger, slightly thicker and heavier, expected to weigh around 206 grams | Smaller, slightly slimmer and weighs less at 187 grams |
| Possibly around 35% narrower Face ID/Dynamic Island | Face ID in its standard form |
| A20 Pro, expected to be Apple’s first 2nm iPhone chip | A17 Pro chip with first-gen 3nm tech |
| 12GB RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Vapor chamber inherited from the 17 Pro | No vapor chamber, titanium body with worse thermal performance |
| New Apple-made C2 modem (in the US) | Qualcomm modem |
| Variable aperture main lens, going from f/1.4 to f/4.0 | Fixed aperture (f/1.78) main camera |
| Bigger-sensor 48MP ultra-wide camera | 12MP ultra-wide camera |
| Better 4X telephoto camera | 3X telephoto camera with smaller sensor |
| Simpler Camera Control (no gesture support) | First-gen Camera Control with gestures |
| 18MP Center Stage square sensor with Dual Capture support | Older 12MP sensor |
| Estimated much higher $1,300 starting price | $1,000 starting price for 128GB model |
Table of Contents:
Design and Size
The iPhone 18 Pro is coming in four new colors | Image by Color renders by MacRumors
The big upgrade in recent Pro iPhones has been the jump from a 6.1-inch screen size to 6.3 inches, which gives users just a bit more space to read and watch.
On the flip side, that results in phones that are a tiny bit less compact, but since Apple managed to minimize the borders around the screen recently, the difference in physical size is indeed tiny.
The iPhone 18 Pro will also inherit the camera plateau design style from the previous model, which will be a noticeable change from the 15 Pro.
The iPhone 15 Pro was also Apple's first one with a titanium frame, a material known for its durability and lightweight, while the iPhone 18 Pro is made of aluminum which dents and scratches a bit easily, but has the advantage of better heat dissipation.
Most other things have not changed, such as the IP68 water and dust protection, which is equal on both.
The one change you will notice is that the iPhone 18 Pro is rumored to get a nearly 35% smaller Dynamic Island, so less distractions when you watch full-screen videos.
|
|
| Apple iPhone 18 Pro | Apple iPhone 15 Pro |
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.25 mm (~12.28 mm with camera bump) | |
| Weight | |
| 187.0 g | |
See the full
Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
If you upgrade from a 15 Pro to an 18 Pro, you are also getting one new button - the Camera Control. This first appeared with the iPhone 16 series, but in the iPhone 18 Pro the Camera Control is simplified to being just a button and NOT supporting gesture controls anymore. Those are not very popular with users, and I personally think that they were just getting in the way.
Display Differences
Let's once again mention the screen size difference: the 18 Pro should have a 6.3-inch display vs a 6.1-inch on the 15 Pro.
The newer iPhone will also likely have 3,000-nit peak brightness (same as on 17 Pro), and noticeably better than the 2,000-nit peak brightness of the 15 Pro. Put simply, the newer model will be a bit easier to use outdoors on a sunny day.
The 18 Pro is also expected to have the cool anti-reflective screen from the 17 Pro, as well as the new Ceramic Shield up front which protects the glass from scratching.
|
|
|
| Apple iPhone 18 Pro | Apple iPhone 15 Pro |
| Size | |
|---|---|
| 6.3-inch | 6.1-inch |
| Type | |
| OLED, Variable 1-120Hz | OLED, Variable 1-120Hz |
See the full
Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
A few leaks also mention a new LTPO+ display panel for the iPhone 18 Pro, which will be more energy-efficient.
Performance and Software
The iPhone 18 Pro is projected to get the A20 Pro chip, Apple's first 2nm chip, and it will be paired with 12GB of RAM. That's better than the 8GB of RAM on the iPhone 15 Pro, especially now with the growing importance of AI.
This new A20 Pro chip is exciting not just because of faster performance. This next-gen manufacturing technology could deliver up to 30% better power efficiency at the same performance. Impressive!
|
|
|
| Apple iPhone 18 Pro | Apple iPhone 15 Pro |
| System chip | |
|---|---|
| Apple A20 Pro (2 nm) | A17 Pro (3 nm) |
| Memory | |
| 12GB (LPDDR5)/256GB 12GB/512GB 12GB/1TB |
8GB (LPDDR5)/128GB 8GB/256GB 8GB/512GB 8GB/1024GB |
| OS | |
| iOS (27.x) | iOS (18.x, 17.x) |
See the full
Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
The iPhone 18 Pro will also launch with iOS 27 software on board, but of course, that same software is also coming to all iPhones released in the past few years, including the iPhone 15 Pro.
We have a deep dive into all the new iOS 27 features here, so check that out to get the full software picture.
On the connectivity side, we are still not entirely sure about the modem on the iPhone 18 Pro. Latest rumors suggest Apple will use different modems in different regions. The US version of the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to use a Qualcomm modem, largerly for its mmWave support (a type of short-range, fast-speed 5G that is only used in the United States), while other markets are said to get Apple's in-house C2 modem.
Camera
Variable aperture
Camera is another area where the age difference will be felt the most.
The iPhone 18 Pro improves upon practically all of the cameras of the 15 Pro.
The biggest jump will probably be for the telephoto and ultra-wide cameras, both using larger 48MP sensors now, compared to smaller 12MP sensors on the 15 Pro. The 18 Pro telephoto camera also has a bit more reach at 4X native zoom, compared to 3X zoom on the 15 Pro.
As for the main camera, the 18 Pro is expected to be the first iPhone with variable aperture on that lens, with a range that could go from f/1.6 to f/4.0. A variable aperture allows you control over how much light hits the lens. A wider aperture gets you more light and gives you a wider bokeh. This sounds cool on paper, as it is a technology that comes from the world of professional cameras, but we are yet to see how much of a difference it will make when paired with a relatively small smartphone sensor.
Plus, the iPhone 18 Pro is also expected to inherit the 18MP selfie camera with that new square sensor and Dual Capture mode support from the 17 Pro. This is also a big upgrade over the traditional 12MP selfie camera on the 15 Pro.
|
|
|
| Apple iPhone 18 Pro | Apple iPhone 15 Pro |
| Main camera | |
|---|---|
| 48 MP (Sensor-shift OIS, PDAF) Aperture size: F1.4/F4.0 Focal length: 24 mm Sensor size: 1/1.28" Pixel size: 1.22 μm |
48 MP (Sensor-shift OIS, PDAF) Sensor name: Sony IMX803 Aperture size: F1.8 Focal length: 24 mm Sensor size: 1/2.8" Pixel size: 2.44 μm |
| Second camera | |
| 48 MP (Ultra-wide, Sensor-shift OIS) Aperture size: F2.2 Focal Length: 13 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
12 MP (Ultra-wide) Sensor name: Sony IMX633 Aperture size: F2.2 Focal Length: 13 mm Pixel size: 1.4 μm |
| Third camera | |
| 48 MP (Telephoto, OIS, PDAF) Optical zoom: 4.0x Aperture size: F2.8 Focal Length: 100 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
12 MP (Telephoto, OIS, PDAF) Sensor name: Sony IMX713 Optical zoom: 3.0x Aperture size: F2.8 Focal Length: 77 mm Sensor size: 1/3.5" Pixel size: 1.0 μm |
| Front | |
| 18 MP (Time-of-Flight (ToF), Autofocus, HDR) | 12 MP (Time-of-Flight (ToF), Autofocus, HDR) |
See the full
Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
Battery Life and Charging
iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max leaked battery sizes | Image by Screenshot from 3G certification database
The most anticipated change for iPhone 15 Pro owners might be the improved battery life on the 18 Pro. The 15 Pro is officially rated for 23 hours of video playback, while the current 17 Pro gets 33 hours, and the 18 Pro might reach 35 hours. That is thanks to a combination of factors, and not merely a big increase in battery size.
Apple is expected to use its first 2nm chip, LTPO+ display and these should help a lot.
This will be particulalry noticeable for those 15 Pro users with an already degraded battery (but keep in mind that you can always also only replace the battery).
As for battery size, iPhone 18 Pro was certified with Chinese agency 3C and the listing revealed it is getting a 4,056mAh cell in the global model with physical SIM and a 4,288mAh battery in the US model with eSIM.
|
|
|
| Apple iPhone 18 Pro | Apple iPhone 15 Pro |
| Type | |
|---|---|
| 4288 mAh | 3274 mAh |
| Charge speed | |
| Wired: 40.0W Wireless: 25.0W |
Wired: 25.0W Wireless: 15.0W |
See the full
Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
The iPhone 18 Pro also inherits the faster 40W wired charging speeds from the 17 Pro, while the 15 Pro only tops up at 25W at most.
Both phones are expected to support MagSafe for wireless charging.
Specs Comparison
And here is an early look at the iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro specs:
|
|
|
| Apple iPhone 18 Pro | Apple iPhone 15 Pro |
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.25 mm (~12.28 mm with camera bump) | |
| Weight | |
| 187.0 g | |
| Size | |
|---|---|
| 6.3-inch | 6.1-inch |
| Type | |
| OLED, Variable 1-120Hz | OLED, Variable 1-120Hz |
| System chip | |
|---|---|
| Apple A20 Pro (2 nm) | A17 Pro (3 nm) |
| Memory | |
| 12GB (LPDDR5)/256GB 12GB/512GB 12GB/1TB |
8GB (LPDDR5)/128GB 8GB/256GB 8GB/512GB 8GB/1024GB |
| OS | |
| iOS (27.x) | iOS (18.x, 17.x) |
| Type | |
|---|---|
| 4288 mAh | 3274 mAh |
| Charge speed | |
| Wired: 40.0W Wireless: 25.0W |
Wired: 25.0W Wireless: 15.0W |
| Main camera | |
|---|---|
| 48 MP (Sensor-shift OIS, PDAF) Aperture size: F1.4/F4.0 Focal length: 24 mm Sensor size: 1/1.28" Pixel size: 1.22 μm |
48 MP (Sensor-shift OIS, PDAF) Sensor name: Sony IMX803 Aperture size: F1.8 Focal length: 24 mm Sensor size: 1/2.8" Pixel size: 2.44 μm |
| Second camera | |
| 48 MP (Ultra-wide, Sensor-shift OIS) Aperture size: F2.2 Focal Length: 13 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
12 MP (Ultra-wide) Sensor name: Sony IMX633 Aperture size: F2.2 Focal Length: 13 mm Pixel size: 1.4 μm |
| Third camera | |
| 48 MP (Telephoto, OIS, PDAF) Optical zoom: 4.0x Aperture size: F2.8 Focal Length: 100 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
12 MP (Telephoto, OIS, PDAF) Sensor name: Sony IMX713 Optical zoom: 3.0x Aperture size: F2.8 Focal Length: 77 mm Sensor size: 1/3.5" Pixel size: 1.0 μm |
| Front | |
| 18 MP (Time-of-Flight (ToF), Autofocus, HDR) | 12 MP (Time-of-Flight (ToF), Autofocus, HDR) |
See the full
Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
Summary
The iPhone 18 Pro would have been the perfect moment for iPhone 15 Pro users to upgrade.
The list of expected changes is substantial: longer battery life, more efficient processor, big improvements to display scratch resistance and quality, improved cameras.
But will users be willing to stomach the price increase? The iPhone 18 Pro is rumored to start from $1,300, which is $200 more than the previous version. If that price seems prohibitive, I can see how many iPhone 15 Pro users may just decide to swap their battery with a new one and stick to their trusty device for a couple more years.
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