Which iPhone 18 Is Right For You? Here’s How Apple’s New Phones Compare
Apple fans might already have September 9th in the diary – that’s when the tech giant officially launches the new range of iPhones in a livestreamed event from its HQ in Cupertino, California. But its announcements won’t be a surprise, as we’ve heard enough leaks to know what’s coming – and we’re excited for this year’s series.
This time around, the standard iPhone 18 and the budget iPhone 18e won’t be released until spring next year. Instead, the September launch will focus on its more lucrative premium models of the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max, plus Apple’s first foray into the foldable market, the iPhone Ultra.
To understand the improvements and upgrades – and whether these status symbol phones are actually worth the investment – here’s the lowdown on the new iPhones.
iPhone 18 Pro
This year’s launch is the first under the stewardship of new Apple CEO John Ternus. With his background in hardware and last year’s design refresh, it’s somewhat expected that the big changes in this year’s phone models are largely under the hood. So while they won’t be unveiling a new look, we can expect them to run faster and more slickly.
The Pro model will keep roughly the same dimensions as the iPhone 17 Pro, and you’ll notice better battery efficiency thanks to a number of upgrades, the most impactful of which is the new A20 Pro chip.
However, you’ll notice some changes straight away, like a smaller Dynamic Island – it’s shrunk by about a third – and a simplified Camera Control button. It might be superficial to get excited about the colour, but alongside elevated light blue, dark grey and silver options, we also have a stunning dark cherry that replaces last year’s bolder cosmic orange – it seems like the annual hero colour is becoming a big attraction.
How much will it cost? Like all smart electronics, iPhones are at the mercy of memory and chip shortages that have inflated prices. Reports suggest that in the States, it could cost $200-300 more than the previous version, which would translate to a starting price north of £1,300. Pricey compared to Samsung’s equivalent of the Galaxy S26+ (at £999), but worth it for arguably the best premium phone on the market.
If release patterns follow previous years, expect the phones to be available to pre-order around September 12th, and in store in mid-September.
iPhone 18 Pro Max
From the premium version of the premium phone, we can expect everything in the iPhone 18 Pros plus some important extras.
The most noteworthy addition – and the headline news from the whole 18 range, in fact – is that it boasts Apple’s first mechanical variable aperture. This lets the lens physically open and close to change how much light hits the sensor, which allows more control over the depth of field and background blurs. So while portrait mode previously relied on tech wizardry to make the background look out of focus, it will be created optically, allowing a more natural feel to these images. Given this feature is usually found in bulky professional cameras, it’s impressive we can now find it in a phone that fits in our pocket. We’ll find out on September 9th whether this will also be included in the iPhone 18 Pro, but it’s reported to appear in the iPhone 18 Pro Max at least.
You’ll also notice the battery will last longer. The capacity is around 10% more than the previous version, which, when combined with efficiencies from the A20 Pro chip, is likely to make it the longest-lasting iPhone yet.
The price is expected to increase more significantly than the iPhone 18 Pro, so expect it to start around £1,500, compared to last year’s iPhone 17 Pro Max that cost £1,199.
iPhone Ultra (aka the iPhone Fold)
This is the biggie of the launch: Apple’s first foldable phone. Its entry into the foldable market is big news because it suggests that foldables are becoming mainstream seven years after Samsung launched its first foldable, and that Apple is confident that it will deliver a premium folding experience (bugbears in early foldable phones include a crease on the screen and delicate hinges).
The rumoured design is a book-style fold with a 5.5” outer screen and a 7.8” inner display when opened flat, making it feel like a small iPad. It’s set to have a titanium and aluminium shell, a liquid metal hinge, and will be 4.5mm thin when unfolded – exactly the same as Samsung’s equivalent, the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
With a slim design come some trade-offs: it’s likely that it won’t have space for Face ID so Touch ID could make a comeback. While it will house a 48-megapixel main camera and front-facing 18MP camera, don’t expect a telephoto lens: just like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the iPhone Ultra favours a slim design over this functionality. As a first step into this market, the colours are limited to a light silver and indigo, and it’s expected to be extremely limited – don’t be surprised if it goes on sale in the US before the UK.
Foldables are known for being far pricier than usual phones, and the iPhone Ultra is no exception. Expect it to cost anywhere between £2,000 and £2,500, compared to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 at £1,699 and Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold at £1,749.
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