iPhone 18 vs iPhone 17: wait or choose now?

iPhone 18 vs iPhone 17 at a glance

For comparison, the iPhone 18 Pro is included, as that phone has already been announced.

What is the difference between the iPhone 18 and the iPhone 17?

The main difference is timing. The iPhone 17 is available now, the iPhone 18 only in about half a year. Nothing is known yet about the specifications of the iPhone 18.

This is because Apple is splitting its line-up in 2 from this year. The Pro models come out in the autumn and the more affordable models the following spring. That is why the iPhone 18 is expected in spring 2027, together with the iPhone 18e and a second iPhone Air.

iPhone 17: what you get now

The iPhone 17 is a complete phone that got the most important Pro feature last year: a 120 Hz display with ProMotion.

You get a 6,3-inch display with Always-On, which reaches up to 3.000 nits outdoors. Inside is the A19 chip. On the back, there are 2 cameras of 48 megapixels: a main camera and an Ultra Wide. For selfies, there is an 18-megapixel Center Stage camera that automatically keeps you in frame.

The battery lasts up to 30 hours of video playback. The phone weighs 177 grams, is water-resistant to IP68 up to 6 metres and comes in 5 colours. Want to know more? Read everything about the iPhone 17 .

iPhone 18: what do we expect?

Apple has not confirmed anything. Everything below comes from rumours and can still change.

According to those rumours, the iPhone 18 gets the A20 chip, the standard version of the A20 Pro that is now in the Pro models. It also gets a 6,3-inch display with ProMotion, an improved dual camera and more RAM than the iPhone 17.

One concrete point: Camera Control on the side stays, but according to sources it will no longer be touch-sensitive. That means swiping to zoom disappears. The design will probably stay almost the same, with new colours. Sources disagree on whether Dynamic Island will also get smaller on the standard model.

What the iPhone 18 Pro shows about the direction

This year’s Pro models give a hint. The A20 Pro has a 32-core Neural Engine, twice as many as the A19 Pro. That extra computing power is meant for AI features that run on the phone itself, without the internet.

If the pattern of previous years holds, the iPhone 18 gets a version of that same chip. Features that set the Pro apart, such as the variable aperture, will probably stay exclusive to the Pro models.

Cameras of the iPhone 18 and iPhone 17

The iPhone 17 has 2 cameras of 48 megapixels. About the iPhone 18, the only thing known is that the camera would be “improved”, without any figures.

What the iPhone 17 delivers in practice: sharp photos in daylight, an Ultra Wide for landscapes and group photos, and optical zoom up to 2x. It has macro photography, and you record in 4K Dolby Vision at up to 60 frames per second.

The variable aperture that the iPhone 18 Pro got this year is a Pro feature. Don’t count on the standard model getting it.

Performance and software

The A19 in the iPhone 17 is fast enough for everything you do every day. The A20 will be faster, but nobody knows by how much.

For messaging, social media, photos and streaming, you’ll notice little difference between chip generations in practice. Where it does matter: heavy games, video editing and AI features on the phone itself. That is exactly where Apple is focusing with the A20 generation.

The iPhone 17 will get iOS updates for years to come. iOS 27 came out on 14 September.

Price and availability

On 9 September, Apple raised the recommended price of the iPhone 17 from € 969 to € 1.119. The iPhone Air went from € 1.229 to € 1.329. Apple also removed the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max from its line-up.

In shops, those Pro models are often still available, while stocks last.

Nothing can be said yet about the price of the iPhone 18. Before the event, analysts expected an increase of 10 to 20 percent, but that was before Apple made the existing models more expensive.

Pros and cons of the iPhone 17

For:

• you get it straight away, without months of waiting
• a 120 Hz display, which was still a Pro feature last year
• 2 cameras of 48 megapixels and a strong selfie camera
• up to 30 hours of video on one charge

Against:

• you pay the new, higher price of € 1.119
• its successor comes out in about half a year
• no telephoto lens, so optical zoom stops at 2x

Pros and cons of waiting for the iPhone 18

For:

• you get the newest chip and the new features
• in spring, you have more models to choose from
• the price of older models usually drops, although Apple actually raised the recommended price this year

Against:

• you wait at least another half year without knowing what you’ll get
• there is not a single confirmed specification
• the price could just as well turn out higher

Which iPhone should you choose?

Choose the iPhone 17 if you want a reliable new phone now and value certainty over the very latest features. You know exactly what you get, and the phone lasts for years. Coming from an iPhone 12 or older? The step up is big enough not to wait anyway.

Wait for the iPhone 18 if you are in no hurry. Does your current phone still work well, and can it last another half year? Waiting costs you nothing, and in spring 2027 you can choose between the iPhone 18, the iPhone 18e and a new iPhone Air.

Mainly looking at the price? Consider an older model. Because of the higher prices, comparing is extra worthwhile right now. Read which iPhone best fits your budget , or see our comparison of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 .

How to do it at Simyo

At Simyo, you combine an iPhone with a plan. See which models are available on our page with iPhone models .

Already have a phone you’re happy with? Choose a Sim Only plan and put together your own bundles. You can change them every month, including to a smaller one.

Switching to a new phone? First make a backup of your iPhone .

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