First, the thing most searches get wrong: there is no plain iPhone 18. Apple launched the 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and the folding Duo on 9 September 2026 and kept the iPhone 17 on sale; the standard 18 is expected in spring 2027. So in Pakistan the choice is the iPhone 17 from PKR 359,000, or the discontinued-but-in-stock 17 Pro Max from PKR 478,999, against the 18 Pro at PKR 563,999 and 18 Pro Max at PKR 603,999, all PTA-approved.
Prices
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 18: which to buy in Pakistan
The four phones, priced in Pakistan
| Phone | PTA-approved, 256GB | PTA tax if imported (CNIC) | 10 months | 5 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 (256GB) | PKR 359,000 TechRoid, 6 October 2026 | PKR 103,171 | PKR 43,439/month | PKR 79,339/month |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB) | PKR 478,999 iShopping, 6 October 2026 | PKR 129,989 | PKR 57,959/month | PKR 105,859/month |
| iPhone 18 Pro (256GB) | PKR 563,999 Daraz Apple store, 6 October 2026 | PKR 129,989 | PKR 68,244/month | PKR 124,644/month |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max (256GB) | PKR 603,999 Daraz Apple store, 6 October 2026 | PKR 136,694 | PKR 73,084/month | PKR 133,484/month |
Cheapest PTA-approved listing seen on 6 October 2026; tax figures are the calculator's projections. The seller's page and the DIRBS slip are what count.
What the 18 Pro changes
| iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | A19, 3nm | A19 Pro, 3nm, 6-core GPU | A20 Pro, 2nm, 7-core GPU |
| Display | 6.3-inch, 120Hz | 6.9-inch, 120Hz | 6.3 / 6.9-inch, 120Hz, smaller Dynamic Island |
| Main camera | 48MP ƒ/1.6 | 48MP ƒ/1.78 | 48MP, variable aperture ƒ/1.48–ƒ/4.0 |
| Telephoto | none | 48MP 4x | 48MP 4x |
| Video | 4K60 | Cinematic 4K30 | Cinematic 4K60, manual controls |
| Battery, video | 30 h | 39 h | 36 h / 45 h |
| Wired charge to 50% | about 20 min | about 20 min | about 15 min (60W) |
| Weight | 177 g | 233 g | 211 g / 249 g |
| Storage | 256GB–512GB | 256GB–2TB | 256GB–2TB |
| Apple US price | US$929 | discontinued (was US$1,199) | US$1,199 / 1,299 |
The 18 Pro is a camera and battery update on the same body and display. Apple claims up to 40% faster graphics from the 2nm chip; in use the difference is in the variable-aperture main camera, which lets you choose depth of field, and in the extra three to six hours of video playback. Memory is 12GB on both generations. GSMArena's verdict, shared by 9to5Mac, Macworld and Consumer Reports: not worth the upgrade from a 17 Pro; worth it from a 16 or older.
Which to buy
If you have the budget for the 18 Pro and want the best camera, buy the 18 Pro from the official channel at PKR 563,999, with the two-year warranty. A non-PTA import is not cheaper once registered: the CNIC tax alone is about PKR 129,989.
If you want the big phone and the telephoto, the 17 Pro Max at PKR 478,999 is the value pick. It is PKR 125,000 under the 18 Pro Max and gives up little that most people will notice. It is discontinued, so buy from stock while it lasts; PriceOye showed two left on 6 October 2026.
If the budget is under four lakh, the iPhone 17 at PKR 359,000 is the same chip generation as the 17 Pro with the same main camera resolution, a 6.3-inch 120Hz display and 30 hours of battery. It is still current, still sold by Apple, and PKR 204,999 less than the 18 Pro.
Prices moved in opposite directions
Apple raised the iPhone 17 by US$100 on launch day for the 18, to US$929. In Pakistan the 17 series went the other way: street prices on the Pro Max are Rs 60,000 to 80,000 under the October 2025 Mercantile list, and the Air has dropped about 10% on PriceOye. The September press stories about "Rs 58,000 price cuts" were UK and European retailer discounts converted to rupees, not Pakistani prices. What you see in the table is what Pakistani sellers listed.
On instalments
Oraan's plan adds one fixed service fee and splits the price over 10 or 5 months; the figures in the table are on the cheapest PTA-approved listing. Bank card plans are advertised too: Bank Alfalah's 36-month plan on the iPhone 17 at Rs 18,952 a month repays PKR 682,272 on a Rs 399,000 list price; MCB's 36-month 0% plan on the 17 Pro at Rs 14,314 a month was the best bank offer we found, if your card qualifies. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure. How Oraan's plan works.
Sources: Apple, iPhone compare · Apple newsroom, iPhone 18 Pro · MacRumors, iPhone 17 price rise · Engadget, 18 Pro vs 17 Pro · GSMArena, iPhone 18 Pro review · ProPakistani, Mercantile 18 Pro launch · Mega.pk · PriceOye, iPhone 17 Pro Max · TechRoid, iPhone 17 series · Jazz eStore, iPhone 18 Pro
Common questions
Is there an iPhone 18?
Not a plain one. On 9 September 2026 Apple launched only the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and the folding iPhone Duo. The standard iPhone 18 is expected in spring 2027. Apple kept the iPhone 17, iPhone Air and 17e on sale and raised each by US$100, and discontinued the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, which Pakistani shops still have in stock at a discount.
iPhone 17 or iPhone 18 Pro: what is the price difference in Pakistan?
About PKR 204,999 on 6 October 2026: the iPhone 17 256GB PTA-approved from PKR 359,000 against the 18 Pro 256GB at PKR 563,999 from the official distributors. On a 10-month Oraan plan that is PKR 43,439 a month against PKR 68,244.
What does the iPhone 18 Pro add over the 17 Pro?
The A20 Pro chip on a 2nm process with a seventh GPU core, a main camera with a variable aperture (ƒ/1.48 to ƒ/4.0) in place of the fixed ƒ/1.78, 4K60 Cinematic video, a smaller Dynamic Island, faster wired charging (50% in about 15 minutes with a 60W adapter), and longer battery life: 36 hours of video against 33 on the Pro, 45 against 39 on the Pro Max. The display, ultra wide and telephoto cameras and 12GB of memory are unchanged. It is also 5 to 16 grams heavier.
Should I buy the discounted iPhone 17 Pro Max instead of the 18 Pro Max?
The 17 Pro Max 256GB is PKR 478,999 PTA-approved against PKR 603,999 for the 18 Pro Max, a gap of PKR 125,000. You give up the variable-aperture camera, the 2nm chip and six hours of video battery. Reviewers at GSMArena, 9to5Mac and Macworld all say the 18 Pro is not worth upgrading to from a 17 Pro; by the same logic the 17 Pro Max is the better buy for most people at that gap. The one caveat: it is discontinued, so stock is what shops have.
Which is cheaper on instalments?
On Oraan's 10-month plan: iPhone 17 about PKR 43,439 a month, 17 Pro Max PKR 57,959, 18 Pro PKR 68,244, 18 Pro Max PKR 73,084, each on the cheapest PTA-approved listing. One fixed service fee, fixed at approval, no card needed.
