Kerry Wan/ZDNETOnly a week in the past, I used to be caught in a frenzy. Because the doorways opened to the iPhone demo room after Apple’s Surprise and Shine keynote, I couldn’t assist however pause as dozens of journalists and media members rushed to get the very first hands-on pictures of the iPhone Duo. A tool of such aura, as my little cousin would say, calls for consideration.
Additionally: iPhone 18 Pro hands-on: I came for the Burgundy and stayed for the dual-aperture cameras
So, I went the opposite approach and obtained my arms on the also-new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max as a substitute. In a market dominated by headlines about worth hikes and reminiscence shortages, it’s these acquainted fashions, just like the Professional collection, that will have extra sticking energy with individuals. However will the lots chunk?
After an excellent hour admiring the brand new design, toying with the improved Siri options, and dialing between completely different apertures, a digital camera functionality Apple has absolutely put an excellent chunk of its advertising and marketing spend towards, I left with a takeaway I wasn’t anticipating.
For the primary time in a very long time, I’ll be recommending the smaller Professional variant over the Professional Max, and it’s not simply due to the scale distinction.
Absolute characteristic parity
Kerry Wan/ZDNETShortly after final week’s keynote, I visited Apple’s Customer Heart simply exterior the Park. It’s principally the fanciest Apple retailer you’ll ever see, with merchandise and merchandise obtainable on one aspect, and a sit-down cafe on the opposite.
Whereas there, I had a number of conversations with guests concerning the newly introduced iPhones. One factor that basically struck me was the idea that the Professional Max mannequin at all times has the higher digital camera and efficiency. That’s true, if it have been two years in the past.
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Immediately, except for variations in display screen and battery sizes, each the Professional and Professional Max variants are practically equivalent in options and capabilities. The triple-camera methods — with variable aperture functionality — are the identical, the telephones’ sturdiness is similar, and the iOS 27 software they run on is similar.
This 12 months can also be the primary time Apple is providing a 2TB configuration for the smaller Professional mannequin, making it as massive because the Professional Max for content material creators, photographers, and individuals who need extra inner storage.
Ergonomics that make extra sense
Kerry Wan/ZDNETI typically hear about individuals who discover it onerous or awkward to work together with the iPhone’s Digicam Management and Motion button; guess what iPhone mannequin they’re usually utilizing?
With the variety of buttons and keys Apple has added to the iPhone through the years, good ergonomics is extra necessary than ever. The iPhone 18 Professional, with its 6.3-inch show, looks like the appropriate dimension to make use of these {hardware} options.
Additionally: iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone Duo: How to decide between the foldable and the flagship
When held one-handed, you possibly can nonetheless press and swipe the Digicam Management to regulate settings on the fly, whereas the iPhone 18 Professional Max may be top-heavy, making one-handed seize a balancing act.
You must also know that the iPhone 18 Professional Max weighs 249 grams this 12 months, up from final 12 months’s 233 grams, making it one of many heaviest iPhones up to now. That weight’s earlier than you throw on a protecting case.
Let’s not ignore the battery numbers
One specification through the Apple keynote stunned me: the iPhone 18 Professional’s rated battery life. Based on Apple, the smaller iPhone mannequin can last as long as 34 hours of video playback (or as much as 36 hours on eSIM-only variants).
Additionally: Considering a new iPhone? The 17 still ranks the best in the US for battery life in our lab test
Whereas that’s lower than the iPhone 18 Professional Max’s 43 to 45-hour ranking, it places the iPhone 18 Professional forward of most older Professional Max fashions, together with the 16 and 15. I’ll repeat: this 12 months’s Professional is a smaller iPhone with the battery lifetime of a Professional Max.
Right here’s an outline of the iPhone’s battery scores during the last 4 generations, in response to Apple.
| Mannequin | Video Playback | Streamed Video | Typical Use Score |
| iPhone 18 Professional Max | As much as 43 hrs (45 hrs eSIM) | As much as 38 hrs | As much as 29 hrs |
| iPhone 18 Professional | As much as 34 hrs (36 hrs eSIM) | As much as 31 hrs | As much as 23 hrs |
| iPhone 17 Professional Max | As much as 39 hrs | As much as 35 hrs | ~26 hrs |
| iPhone 17 Professional | As much as 33 hrs | As much as 30 hrs | ~22 hrs |
| iPhone 16 Professional Max | As much as 33 hrs | As much as 29 hrs | ~22 hrs |
| iPhone 16 Professional | As much as 27 hrs | As much as 22 hrs | ~18 hrs |
| iPhone 15 Professional Max | As much as 29 hrs | As much as 25 hrs | ~19 hrs |
| iPhone 15 Professional | As much as 23 hrs | As much as 20 hrs | ~16 hrs |
Backside line
Whereas additional testing is required to see precisely the place the iPhone 18 Professional and Professional Max stand this 12 months, I’ve already determined to place my cash down for the smaller mannequin — not solely as a result of it’s higher designed to reap the benefits of the options Apple has to supply, however as a result of it’s not a tool that feels such as you’re settling.
Primarily based on what I’m seeing with native stock and supply home windows, you may actually have a higher likelihood of scoring your required colour and storage tier for the iPhone 18 Professional within the early weeks than the iPhone 18 Professional Max.
