Tech

iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone Ultra: Three features to win your upgrade

Leaker says there's no back to black for the iPhone 18 Pro | Image shows a render of the new machine against a colorful Liquid Glass background

Apple’s fall iPhone lineup this year is rumored to revolve around iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra. Here are the three biggest feature differences—not counting price—that may influence your upgrade decision.

Form factor: Traditional vs foldable

Trendforce says hi-tech glue could be key to an invisible crease in the iPhone Ultra (render shown)

This difference is the most obvious, but it’s worth stating because it’s also the most significant.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will offer the same basic form factor the iPhone has had for years. They’re rumored to have the exact same screen size and overall design as their predecessors. If you want a traditional iPhone feel, iPhone 18 Pro will be the way to go.

iPhone Ultra, meanwhile, will be Apple’s first ever foldable model. It’s a radically different form factor, with an outer display that’s shorter and wider than a traditional iPhone, and an inner display that resembles an iPad mini.

Cameras: Pro will remain the best

Apple has always packed its best, most innovative camera technology into its Pro models. And that will continue being true this year.

iPhone Ultra is expected to offer many of the same camera features as iPhone 18 Pro, with one big exception: it won’t have a Telephoto camera.

Rumors indicate you’ll still get the same Main, Ultra Wide, and front cameras on iPhone Ultra as the Pro line offers. But the Telephoto lens will remain Pro-exclusive, and is expected to get even better this year.

Performance: A20 Pro chip in both, but materials matter

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra are expected to have the same A20 Pro chip at their core. However, the level of performance may differ some due to design and material differences.

iPhone 18 Pro will use the same aluminum unibody design as iPhone 17 Pro, and feature a vapor chamber for cooling too. Both of these changes gave iPhone 17 Pro better overall performance than its predecessor, since the iPhone is able to stay cooler for demanding tasks.

iPhone Ultra, meanwhile, will have a sleek, titanium-based design like the iPhone Air, and isn’t expected to have a vapor chamber. So even though it will have the same chip, it could lag in performance when out in the sun, or during intensive tasks.

Are you debating between an iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra? What differences will influence your decision? Let us know in the comments.