Phone vs phone
iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17
Same question, two phones: which costs less over a 24-month contract, which is cheaper to buy outright, and what you actually get for the difference.
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Which is cheaper over 24 months?
iPhone 17 — its best deal costs £801.96 including April rises, £443.84 less than the iPhone 18 Pro.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: iPhone 18 Pro 6.3″, iPhone 17 6.3″. Battery: iPhone 18 Pro 4,056 mAh, iPhone 17 3,692 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
iPhone 18 Pro: £1,343 SIM-free plus SIM only. iPhone 17: £1,043. Compare with the contract totals above.
iPhone 18 Pro£1,245.80
iPhone 17£801.96True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The iPhone 17 is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £801.96 over 24 months with April rises, against £1,245.80 for the iPhone 18 Pro — a gap of £443.84, or about £18.49 a month.
Prices checked 28 October 2026 · How we compare
iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17, side by side
| iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 17 | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £1,245.80 | £801.96 |
| Cheapest network | Talkmobile | iD Mobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £959 | £39 |
| Monthly on that deal | £11.95 | £29.99 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| SIM-free price from | £1,199 | £899 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £1,343 | £1,043 |
| Contract deals tracked | 8,706 | 4,193 |
| Screen | 6.3 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Battery | 4,056 mAh | 3,692 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| Weight | 211 g | 177 g |
| Released | September 2026 | September 2025 |
| Colours on sale | 4 | 5 |
Highlighted = better on that line. Prices live from retailers; specifications from our data partner’s catalogue.
Network by network
If you already know which network you want, here is the cheapest deal for each phone on it, April rises included.
| Network | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 17 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talkmobile | £1,245.80 | £889.80 | £356 |
| iD Mobile | £1,291.96 | £801.96 | £490 |
| Three | £1,322.20 | £982.20 | £340 |
| Vodafone | £1,359 | £923 | £436 |
| O2 | £1,363 | £1,035 | £328 |
Our verdict
On price, the iPhone 17 wins: £443.84 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is £18.49 a month — enough to matter unless the iPhone 18 Pro does something you need.
On the spec sheet, the iPhone 18 Pro has the larger battery (4,056 mAh), the iPhone 18 Pro is the newer phone (September 2026).
Buying outright: iPhone 18 Pro SIM-free plus SIM only costs £1,343, more than its cheapest contract; the iPhone 17 costs £1,043, more than its contract.
Pick the iPhone 18 Pro if…
- Battery size matters most to you
- You want the newer model with longer support ahead
Pick the iPhone 17 if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £0 upfront vs £705
- You want the lower total — £443.84 less over 24 months
- You prefer a lighter phone
FAQ
iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 questions
Which is cheaper, the iPhone 18 Pro or the iPhone 17?
The iPhone 17. Its cheapest contract costs £801.96 over 24 months including April rises, £443.84 less than the iPhone 18 Pro (£1,245.80).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the iPhone 18 Pro it is Talkmobile (£959 upfront, £11.95 a month); for the iPhone 17 it is iD Mobile (£39 upfront, £29.99 a month).
Is the iPhone 18 Pro bigger than the iPhone 17?
The iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch screen and the iPhone 17 a 6.3-inch screen; they weigh 211 g and 177 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at £1,199 and the iPhone 17 at £899, from retailers we track.