iPhone 18 Pro launching in 1 month, should you wait or buy iPhone 17 Pro instead?

Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro as early as next month. But will the new iPhone be worth the wait? Or should you just buy the iPhone 17 Pro right now?

In Short

• iPhone 18 Pro expected to launch next month
• It is expected to come with new chip, bigger battery
• iPhone 18 Pro may be costlier than iPhone 17 Pro

The iPhone 18 Pro is just over a month away. Apple is expected to launch the next-generation of iPhones, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September. While the company has not made any comments on the iPhone 18 Pro series yet, it is likely that the new devices can pack some notable upgrades. However, considering that there are rumours of a price hike, will the iPhone 18 Pro be worth the wait? Or should you just buy the iPhone 17 Pro now?

You see, Apple made some big changes with the iPhone 17 Pro last year. The device came with a new design, dominated by the large camera plateau. The iPhone 17 Pro devices were also the first iPhones to come with vapour cooling.

But what about the iPhone 18 Pro? Does Apple have enough in the pipeline that would make it worthy of an upgrade? Let’s have a look.

iPhone 18 Pro design and display

Apple is not expected to rip up the design playbook with the iPhone 18 Pro, but it may tidy it up. Leaks hint that the iPhone 18 Pro will likely have a cleaner finish with a single-tone back panel instead of the dual-tone on the iPhone 17 Pro.

The iPhone 18 Pro devices are also likely to come in new colours, such as Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Silver and Dark Grey. Some existing shades, including Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue, are expected to be dropped though.

On the front, The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are tipped to continue with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, while introducing more efficient LTPO Plus panels with improved brightness and better power efficiency.

Another notable tweak could be a smaller Dynamic Island, made possible by shifting some Face ID components under the display. If that happens, users would get a cleaner front view and a little more usable screen space without losing Face ID.

iPhone 18 Pro performance and battery

The centrepiece of the iPhone 18 Pro story is expected to be Apple’s new A20 Pro chip. Reports say it will be built on TSMC’s 2nm process, a step up from the 3nm technology used in the iPhone 17 Pro’s A19 Pro chipset.

In simple terms, that should mean better performance with lower power consumption, which is the sort of upgrade any buyer would want to hear.

Battery life could also see major improvements, especially on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Reports suggest the eSIM-only US variant may get a 5,425mAh battery, while versions with a physical SIM slot could carry a slightly smaller 5,235mAh unit.

For comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is said to offer 5,088mAh in the eSIM model and 4,823mAh in physical SIM variants. A larger battery paired with a more efficient chip and LTPO Plus display could make the 18 Pro Max a sturdier all-day phone.

iPhone 18 Pro cameras

The typical iPhone buyer tends to use their iPhone cameras a lot. And there may be some good news if you are one such iPhone user. Apple is expected to bring variable-aperture to the main camera of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

This will likely allow you to control how much light enters the lens, a first for iPhones. That opens the door to better low-light performance, more natural portraits and more control over depth effects.

The rest of the iPhone 18 Pro camera setup will likely be unchanged. That is, you can expect three 48-megapixel sensors – a main, an ultrawide, and a 4x telephoto. The 18-megapixel selfie shooter is also likely to be carried over.

iPhone 18 Pro software and everything else

The iPhone 18 Pro will likely run on iOS 27. Unlike iOS 26, iOS 27 does not bring drastic visual changes, but focuses on refinement and AI. You can expect a lot more Apple Intelligence features, including Siri AI, which is smarter and can do more things for you than before.

Elsewhere, Apple is said to be working on a new C2 modem, which is expected to improve 5G performance and efficiency, with some claims of satellite-based 5G connectivity in areas without regular cellular coverage. Other touches include an N2 chip for wireless connectivity and a revised Camera Control button that may drop touch sensitivity but keep pressure-based controls.

iPhone 18 Pro expected price

Apple is tipped to launch the iPhone 18 Pro in September this year, potentially on September 8 or 9 if leaks are to be believed.

Now, the device does bring in some big upgrades as we discussed, but this may come at a cost. In India, reports suggest that the iPhone 18 Pro may launch anywhere between Rs 1,39,900 to Rs 1,49,900, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at around Rs 1,59,900 to Rs 1,69,900. In comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro was launched in India at Rs 1,34,900, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,49,900.

But should you wait for the iPhone 18 Pro? If you want the latest hardware from Apple, and a potential price hike is not a concern for you, you can wait for the next iPhone. However, if the expected upgrades are unlikely to change how you use your phone, you can consider buying the iPhone 17 Pro now and likely save some money in the process.

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