Apple publishes three separate ways to move data onto a new iPhone, and iPhone 18 Pro buyers get to pick whichever fits the morning they actually have. Quick Start is wireless and immediate, an iCloud backup works even when the two phones are not together, and a cable transfer skips the network entirely. Here is what Apple says about each, compared directly.
| Method | How it moves data | Needs your two phones together |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Start | Wirelessly, over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, choosing iCloud download or a direct copy | Yes, side by side |
| iCloud backup | Restores from your previous device’s most recent iCloud backup | No |
| Wired connection | Copies data through a cable between the two devices | Yes, cabled together |
Quick Start, the wireless default
For most people replacing an old iPhone with iPhone 18 Pro, Quick Start is what actually runs. Apple’s guide requires the old device to have iOS 11 or iPadOS 13 or later, both devices connected with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and instructs keeping them near power until the process finishes. It is the only one of the three methods that lets you choose between an immediate iCloud download in the background or a slower, more complete direct transfer.
iCloud backup, when the phones are not together
Apple’s separate transfer guide describes restoring from your previous device’s iCloud backup as one of the two alternatives to Quick Start, alongside restoring from a computer backup made with the Apple Devices app, iTunes or the Finder. This is the practical option if the old iPhone has already been boxed for a trade-in or handed off before the new one arrives, since it does not require both devices to be present at once. Apple’s guide lists having a backup ready, your Apple Account password, and your SIM already transferred or an eSIM already configured as groundwork before starting any restore.
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A wired connection, and which cable it takes
Apple’s wired transfer guide is specific about cables, and the one iPhone 18 Pro buyers need depends on the phone being replaced.
| Old iPhone | Cable Apple specifies |
|---|---|
| iPhone 15 or later | A USB-C Charge Cable connecting both devices’ charging ports |
| iPhone 14 or earlier | A USB-C to Lightning Cable connecting the two charging ports |
The general steps match Quick Start in outline: turn on both devices, connect the new one to Wi-Fi or cellular, activate service and set up Face ID if prompted, then wait for the transfer to finish on both phones before using either. Apple’s own note on the page is that transfer duration varies with network conditions and the amount of data involved, and it does not commit to a figure, so we will not invent one either.
What to have ready before you start, whichever method you pick
- A recent backup of the old iPhone, whether that is an iCloud backup or one made through the Apple Devices app, iTunes or the Finder
- Your Apple Account password on hand, since every method eventually asks for it
- Your SIM situation settled first: either the physical SIM ready to move, or an eSIM already configured on the new phone
- Both devices charged and near power if you are choosing Quick Start or a cable rather than a standalone iCloud restore
iPhone 18 Pro’s own battery ratings and the iPhone 17 Pro it replaces do not change which of these three methods is available, since all of them are the current, general iPhone transfer path rather than something new for this launch. What is specific to this phone is the eSIM step folded into all three, covered separately since iPhone 18 Pro has no SIM tray at all in the United States and eleven other markets. Our iPhone 18 Pro overview and iOS 27 release date cover the hardware itself if you are still deciding what to move data onto.
What Apple has not said
Apple does not publish an expected duration for any of the three methods, does not say how the choice interacts with iOS 27 specifically since the transfer guides predate this release, and has not published a recommended method for iPhone 18 Pro by name. The guides above are the current, general versions, and Apple has flagged no separate iPhone 18 Pro edition of any of them as of this week.
Decide which method fits your morning before Friday, September 18 arrives, since an iCloud backup started the night before saves time regardless of which of the other two you end up using on delivery day itself.
