iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17e camera: 6 real photos side by side
Both iPhones ran iOS 27.0.1, both saved 24 MP files at 1x and 12 MP at 2x, and their colours are very close in daylight. The clearest difference in our set is the 2x roses crop, where the 18 Pro looks crisper.
24 October 2026, Palmengarten, Frankfurt am Main, sunny with clouds, between 14:28 and 15:27. Each scene was shot with all 11 of our test phones within a few minutes, each on the same tripod, each on its default auto camera settings. The main camera at 1x, the roses at 2x. Location data removed, people blurred, no other edits. How we test · Compare these two in the Camera Lab
What the photo files show
| iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 17e | |
|---|---|---|
| Saved file at 1x | 5712 × 4284 (24.5 MP) | 5712 × 4284 (24.5 MP) |
| Main lens (35 mm equivalent) | 24 mm | 26 mm |
| 2x photo | 48 mm equivalent, 4032 × 3024 (12.2 MP) | 52 mm equivalent, 4032 × 3024 (12.2 MP) |
| Software in the files | 27.0.1 | 27.0.1 |
Read from the original photo files. A bigger file is not automatically a better photo: it means more pixels to crop into.
Fountain and pond
Bright sky, moving water and autumn trees in one wide view.
Centre crop
What we see: The 18 Pro frame is a little wider (24 mm against 26 mm). Colours are close; the 18 Pro water is slightly darker.
Taken 14:28:38 (iPhone 18 Pro) and 14:38:26 (iPhone 17e).
Red sculpture
A strong red in sun and shade, against grass.
Centre crop
What we see: Almost the same red and the same grass colour. The crops are hard to tell apart.
Taken 14:45:32 (iPhone 18 Pro) and 14:49:19 (iPhone 17e).
Statue under ivy
White stone in shade with bright sky behind it.
Centre crop
What we see: Very close. The 17e frame is a little tighter.
Taken 14:58:50 (iPhone 18 Pro) and 14:55:58 (iPhone 17e).
Roses at 2x
Every phone set to its 2x zoom.
Centre crop
What we see: In the centre crop the 18 Pro petals and leaves look crisper; the 17e crop is softer.
Taken 15:04:14 (iPhone 18 Pro) and 15:03:42 (iPhone 17e).
Bench and asters
Bright white paint next to purple flowers and deep shade.
Centre crop
What we see: Very close in colour and detail.
Taken 15:14:31 (iPhone 18 Pro) and 15:12:27 (iPhone 17e).
Pansy bed
Hundreds of small flowers: fine detail and many colours.
Centre crop
What we see: Framing differs a little; colours are close.
Taken 15:24:44 (iPhone 18 Pro) and 15:26:20 (iPhone 17e).
What this comparison does not show
- Night, indoor and portrait photos: not shot yet.
- Ultra-wide and telephoto lenses beyond 2x, and video.
- Other light: this is one sunny afternoon. Colours can change in cloud or at dusk.
- Other copies of the same phone: we have one of each.
More from the Camera Lab
- All 11 phones, all 6 scenes
- iPhone 17e vs Samsung Galaxy A57
- iPhone 18 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S26
- iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 17e
- iPhone 17e vs Google Pixel 10a
- Samsung Galaxy A57 vs Google Pixel 10a
- Samsung Galaxy A57 vs Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10a
- Nothing Phone (4a) Pro vs Google Pixel 10a
- How we test
- Our Apple guides