Phone vs phone
iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max
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 18 Pro — its best deal costs £1,245.80 including April rises, £96 less than the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: iPhone 18 Pro 6.3″, iPhone 18 Pro Max 6.9″. Battery: iPhone 18 Pro 4,056 mAh, iPhone 18 Pro Max 5,391 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
iPhone 18 Pro: £1,343 SIM-free plus SIM only. iPhone 18 Pro Max: £1,443. Compare with the contract totals above.
iPhone 18 Pro£1,245.80
iPhone 18 Pro Max£1,341.80True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The iPhone 18 Pro is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £1,245.80 over 24 months with April rises, against £1,341.80 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max — a gap of £96, or about £4 a month.
Prices checked 28 October 2026 · How we compare
iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max, side by side
| iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £1,245.80 | £1,341.80 |
| Cheapest network | Talkmobile | Talkmobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £959 | £1,055 |
| Monthly on that deal | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| SIM-free price from | £1,199 | £1,299 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £1,343 | £1,443 |
| Contract deals tracked | 9,062 | 7,973 |
| Screen | 6.3 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Battery | 4,056 mAh | 5,391 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| Weight | 211 g | 249 g |
| Released | September 2026 | September 2026 |
| Colours on sale | 4 | 4 |
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 18 Pro Max | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talkmobile | £1,245.80 | £1,341.80 | £96 |
| iD Mobile | £1,291.96 | £1,401.96 | £110 |
| Three | £1,322.20 | £1,530.20 | £208 |
| Vodafone | £1,359 | £1,457 | £98 |
| O2 | £1,363 | £1,463 | £100 |
Our verdict
On price, the iPhone 18 Pro wins: £96 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is £4 a month — enough to matter unless the iPhone 18 Pro Max does something you need.
On the spec sheet, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the bigger screen (6.9 vs 6.3 inches), the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the larger battery (5,391 mAh).
Buying outright: iPhone 18 Pro SIM-free plus SIM only costs £1,343, more than its cheapest contract; the iPhone 18 Pro Max costs £1,443, more than its contract.
Pick the iPhone 18 Pro if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £705 upfront vs £799
- You want the lower total — £96 less over 24 months
- You prefer a lighter phone
Pick the iPhone 18 Pro Max if…
- You want the bigger screen
- Battery size matters most to you
FAQ
iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max questions
Which is cheaper, the iPhone 18 Pro or the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
The iPhone 18 Pro. Its cheapest contract costs £1,245.80 over 24 months including April rises, £96 less than the iPhone 18 Pro Max (£1,341.80).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the iPhone 18 Pro it is Talkmobile (£959 upfront, £11.95 a month); for the iPhone 18 Pro Max it is Talkmobile (£1,055 upfront, £11.95 a month).
Is the iPhone 18 Pro bigger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
The iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch screen and the iPhone 18 Pro Max a 6.9-inch screen; they weigh 211 g and 249 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at £1,199 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at £1,299, from retailers we track.