Comparison · Phones · Desk research
Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Quick Answer
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro are both 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR phones at 2622×1206 and 460 ppi with Dynamic Island, Always-On, ProMotion, USB-C, Action Button, and Camera Control. 18 Pro (Apple specs, accessed 2026-09-19) is the aluminum unibody with Ceramic Shield 2 front and Ceramic Shield back, A20 Pro (6-core CPU, 7-core GPU, Dual 16-core Neural Engine), Fusion Main variable aperture, Typical use up to 24 hours, video 36 hours, streamed 33 hours, 211g, 71.9 × 150.0 ×.
The verdict
Apple iPhone 18 Pro or Apple iPhone 16 Pro — quote the two manufacturer sheets.
Why: Two-year 6.3-inch Pro hop. Both list 2622×1206 at 460 ppi, Dynamic Island, Always-On, ProMotion, USB-C, Action Button, and Camera Control. 18 Pro’s paid fork is A20 Pro (7-core GPU, Dual 16-core Neural Engine), aluminum unibody + Ceramic Shield 2, 3,000-nit outdoor, variable-aperture Fusion Main, Typical use 24h / video 36h / streamed 33h, 2TB, iOS 27. 16 Pro (Support 121031, year 2024) is A18 Pro (6-core GPU), titanium, 2,000-nit outdoor, 128GB–1TB, video 27h / streamed 22h / audio 85h, 199g, 71.5 × 149.6 × 8.25mm.
Buy Apple iPhone 18 Pro if
You want the current 6.3-inch Pro: A20 Pro, variable-aperture Fusion Main, 3,000-nit outdoor, Typical use 24h, 2TB, Ceramic Shield 2, iOS 27.
Buy Apple iPhone 16 Pro if
Your 16 Pro still works — USB-C, Camera Control, and 6.3-inch ProMotion are already there — and a dated ticket beats current-Pro money.
Spec comparison
18 Pro from apple.com/iphone-18-pro/specs/. 16 Pro from Support 121031. Caption lock: Pro vs Pro, not Pro Max.
| Spec | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Year introduced | 2026 (Newsroom) | 2024 (Support) |
| Display | 6.3-inch 2622×1206 at 460 ppi; ProMotion; Island; Always-On; 1000 / 1600 / 3000 nits | 6.3-inch 2622×1206 at 460 ppi; ProMotion; Island; Always-On; 1000 / 1600 / 2000 outdoor nits |
| Body | Aluminum unibody; Ceramic Shield 2 front; Ceramic Shield back; 71.9 × 150.0 × 8.75mm; 211g | Titanium; Ceramic Shield front; matte glass back; 71.5 × 149.6 × 8.25mm; 199g |
| Chip | A20 Pro; 7-core GPU; Dual 16-core Neural Engine | A18 Pro; 6-core GPU; 16-core Neural Engine |
| Storage | Includes 2TB on the 18 Pro spec sheet | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
| Battery (OEM) | Typical use up to 24h; video 36h; streamed 33h | Video 27h; streamed 22h; audio 85h (no Typical use row) |
| Port / buttons | USB-C; Action Button; Camera Control | USB-C; Action Button; Camera Control |
| RAM | Not published | Not published |
| OS | iOS 27 | As printed on Support 121031 |
Frequently asked questions
Did the 6.3-inch panel start on 18 Pro?
No. Support 121031 already lists a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR at 2622-by-1206 and 460 ppi on 16 Pro. 18 Pro keeps that grid and changes nits, chassis, and chip.
Does 16 Pro have Camera Control?
Yes. Support 121031 lists Camera Control with the Action Button and USB-C. That control is not an 18-Pro-only invention.
Does 16 Pro go to 2TB?
Not on Support 121031. Capacities are 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. 18 Pro’s spec sheet adds 2TB.