What are the battery life benefits of the iPhone 18 Pro?

The iPhone 18 Pro offers up to 33 hours of streamed video playback, which is an increase of three hours compared to the iPhone 17 Pro.

How does the performance compare to previous models?

Creators have called the chip in the iPhone 18 Pro 'highly underrated', suggesting it delivers strong performance.

What are the criticisms surrounding the price?

Many reviewers express that at $1,200, the iPhone 18 Pro is difficult to justify given the lack of groundbreaking new features.

Are there any notable features introduced?

Reviewers note the absence of groundbreaking features, stating that the flagship Pro model hasn’t innovated significantly in over a decade.

Is the camera improved from previous models?

While the stock camera app has been praised, some reviewers feel there haven’t been substantial improvements in camera quality over the iPhone 17 Pro.

How does the design hold up?

Opinions on design are mixed, highlighting that the device attracts fingerprints and reveals scratches more easily on darker finishes.

iPhone 18 Pro: A Device With Real Battery Power, but Pricing Just Too High?

In our recent review synthesis, we explored the iPhone 18 Pro’s performance, battery life, and much more across three insightful YouTube videos. While many praised its longevity and chip capabilities, the high price tag and lack of groundbreaking features left us pondering its overall value.

3
YouTube reviews analyzed
~48 min
of creator footage watched
2
reviewers published a score

We dove into numerous YouTube reviews of the iPhone 18 Pro, filtering through opinions to uncover strengths and weaknesses. The central tension revolves around its impressive battery life and user-friendly camera controls versus its hefty price and minimal new features, leading to a mixed reception from creators.

What reviewers actually said

“I actually think it's underrated.”

Marques Brownlee·0:35

“I've been using the iPhone 18 Pro for a full month, and my opinion of it has changed quite a bit.”

Andrew Ethan Zeng·0:00

“this chip is highly underrated.”

Marques Brownlee·7:12

“the iPhone 18 Pro has the same battery life expectation as the 17 Pro Max.”

Marques Brownlee·11:03

“the flagship Pro iPhone has not had a groundbreaking new feature in over a decade now.”

Marques Brownlee·1:06

“what do you mean a $1,200 iPhone is underrated? I said underrated, not underpriced.”

Marques Brownlee·0:39

Battery Life: A Major Win

Without exception, reviewers marveled at the battery performance of the iPhone 18 Pro. Marques Brownlee noted that it matches the battery expectations of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, while Joshua Chang celebrated its new rating of 33 hours of streamed video playback, a three-hour increase from its predecessor.

Andrew Ethan Zeng chimed in with personal experience, reporting he ended his day with 50% battery remaining. Overall, it seems the iPhone 18 Pro is a top contender for anyone who prioritizes battery longevity.

Performance & Features: Highs and Lows

The iPhone 18 Pro's chip has received high praise, especially from Marques Brownlee, who labeled it "highly underrated". However, amidst the positive performance remarks, many critics expressed disappointment over the lack of innovation in features, with Brownlee also commenting that the flagship has not introduced a groundbreaking feature in over a decade.

Additionally, there were mixed feelings about certain features, as some users felt that while the camera app offers more manual controls, it still didn’t provide significant leaps in image quality over the 17 Pro.

The Price Dilemma: Worth It?

At a starting cost of $1,200, there's an evident divide among creators regarding the iPhone 18 Pro's price. Brownlee's remark on the device being "underrated" does not sit well with many who believe the price tag is simply too steep for what is offered, especially considering other alternatives in the market.

This has led to discussions on whether existing iPhone 17 Pro users should stick with their devices instead of upgrading, particularly given that the differences may not justify the investment.

Bottom line

If you're a heavy user who values battery life and performance, the iPhone 18 Pro is a solid choice. However, those on a budget or users of the iPhone 17 Pro might find little incentive to upgrade.

By the numbers

Overall sentiment

Positive2
Mixed1
Negative0

Numeric scores (normalized /10)

8-102

Upgrade advice from reviewers

buy new1
upgrade from prior1
wait1

Most praised themes

Battery Life3
Camera Improvement1
Performance1
User Control In Camera App1
Cooling System1

Most criticized themes

No Groundbreaking New Features1
Price1
Limited Improvements In Camera1
Confusion With Chip Naming1
Lack Of Certain Video Features1

How it compares

vs iPhone 17 Pro

3 mentions

Many reviewers described the iPhone 18 Pro as fundamentally an upgrade over the iPhone 17 Pro, with minor improvements and a new chip but not enough to convince all users to upgrade.

“the iPhone 18 Pro is basically an iPhone 17 Pro with a chip update.”

Marques Brownlee·0:21

“if you have the 17 Pro, well, it's not really that big of a change.”

Joshua Chang·4:42

“...the actual images aren't dramatically better than the 17 Pro.”

Andrew Ethan Zeng·9:11

vs Galaxy S9

1 mentions

In a rare mention, the Galaxy S9 was highlighted as a comparable option, suggesting it still holds its ground against newer models.

“shout out to the Galaxy S9.”

Marques Brownlee·5:28

vs iPhone 15 Pro

1 mentions

Compared to the iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro offers an impressive 65% more battery life, making it a better choice for heavy users.

“compared to the iPhone 15 Pro, 65% more battery.”

Joshua Chang·4:06

Should you upgrade?

The most common upgrade advice was “buy new” (1 of 3 reviewers).

buy new: 1
upgrade from prior: 1
wait: 1

Most praised

Battery Life
Mentioned by 3 of 3 reviewers
“the iPhone 18 Pro has the same battery life expectation as the 17 Pro Max.”
Marques Brownlee·11:03
Camera Improvement
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
Performance
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
“this chip is highly underrated.”
Marques Brownlee·7:12
User Control In Camera App
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
“the stock camera app is great.”
Marques Brownlee·5:50
Cooling System
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
Charging
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
“the upgraded charging speed of 60 W. It is a pretty substantial jump from some of the older phones.”
Joshua Chang·5:21
Design Quality
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
Camera
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers

Most criticized

No Groundbreaking New Features
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
“the flagship Pro iPhone has not had a groundbreaking new feature in over a decade now.”
Marques Brownlee·1:06
Price
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
“what do you mean a $1,200 iPhone is underrated? I said underrated, not underpriced.”
Marques Brownlee·0:39
Limited Improvements In Camera
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
“it actually doesn't really make a huge difference.”
Marques Brownlee·2:53
Confusion With Chip Naming
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
“are they going to sync up the chip name and the phone name ever?”
Marques Brownlee·6:51
Lack Of Certain Video Features
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
“can you finally let us record 8K video? Please.”
Marques Brownlee·6:24
Limited Pro Controls
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
Back Glass Durability
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
“the back of the phone is another story. So, this portion right here is actually glass.”
Joshua Chang·1:49
Variable Aperture Usefulness
Mentioned by 1 of 3 reviewers
“with each of those items there are some head-scratching decisions that Apple have made.”
Joshua Chang·9:51

Specs vs what reviewers talked about

Battery
All-day battery (manufacturer claim)
Mentioned by 3 of 3 reviewers
Camera
48 MP main, periscope telephoto
Mentioned by 3 of 3 reviewers
Chip
A20 Pro
Mentioned by 3 of 3 reviewers
Display
6.3" ProMotion OLED
Mentioned by 2 of 3 reviewers

Who reviewers say it's for

Photography enthusiasts
Tech enthusiasts
Apple fans
Apple enthusiasts
current iPhone users
photographers

Who should skip it

Casual smartphone users
Budget-conscious buyers
Android users
budget-conscious consumers

Every video we analyzed

1.
iPhone 18 Pro Review: All About that Chip
Marques Brownlee
2.
iPhone 18 Pro: 30 Day HONEST Review.
Joshua Chang
3.
iPhone 18 Pro - 1 Month Later: An HONEST Review
Andrew Ethan Zeng

FAQ

What are the battery life benefits of the iPhone 18 Pro?: The iPhone 18 Pro offers up to 33 hours of streamed video playback, which is an increase of three hours compared to the iPhone 17 Pro.
How does the performance compare to previous models?: Creators have called the chip in the iPhone 18 Pro 'highly underrated', suggesting it delivers strong performance.
What are the criticisms surrounding the price?: Many reviewers express that at $1,200, the iPhone 18 Pro is difficult to justify given the lack of groundbreaking new features.
Are there any notable features introduced?: Reviewers note the absence of groundbreaking features, stating that the flagship Pro model hasn’t innovated significantly in over a decade.
Is the camera improved from previous models?: While the stock camera app has been praised, some reviewers feel there haven’t been substantial improvements in camera quality over the iPhone 17 Pro.
How does the design hold up?: Opinions on design are mixed, highlighting that the device attracts fingerprints and reveals scratches more easily on darker finishes.

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