The Ultimate Guide to Apple’s Compact Powerhouse

The latest iteration of the iPhone, the iPhone 18 Pro, boasts a more compact and efficient Dynamic Island display. It is powered by the new A20 Pro chip, a larger battery, faster charging capabilities, and an expanded vapour chamber, ensuring smooth performance even during intensive tasks like gaming, AI usage, and 4K video recording.

However, similar to many other phones in the market, the price of the iPhone 18 Pro has increased by £100/$100 this year. With only minor improvements across the board, 2026 may not be the best year to upgrade and could be a time to save your money instead.

But after testing the iPhone 18 Pro for two weeks, did my opinion change? Here are my thoughts after using it.

Design & Build

• IP68 rating
• Very similar build to last year, with a slight increase in weight
• Closer color-matching for glass back panels

Apple has maintained the same dimensions for the iPhone Pro for three generations. If you’ve held a recent model or a compact flagship like the Pixel 11 Pro, you’ll be familiar with its design. Most users will find it comfortable to use with one hand.

Weighing in at 211g, the iPhone 18 Pro is only slightly heavier than its predecessors due to the improved vapour chamber. Users transitioning from the 177g iPhone 17 may notice the difference initially, but it doesn’t take long to adapt to the increased weight.

When the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max were released last year, the new design featuring a prominent camera plateau and tonal back panel divided opinions. However, after a year, it has become more familiar. While it may not be Apple’s most celebrated design, it still looks appealing.