The iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch display at 2622 by 1206 pixels, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display at 2868 by 1320 pixels. Both work out to 460 pixels per inch, and both reach 3000 nits peak outdoor brightness and 1600 nits peak HDR brightness, according to Apple’s tech specs.
The key point for buyers is that the two sizes share every display feature. ProMotion up to 120Hz, Always-On and the OLED Super Retina XDR panel are on both, so choosing the smaller phone does not mean giving anything up beyond screen area. Our iPhone 18 Pro vs Pro Max comparison covers the other differences.
iPhone 18 Pro display specs side by side
| Spec | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.3-inch | 6.9-inch |
| Resolution | 2622 x 1206 | 2868 x 1320 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Panel | OLED Super Retina XDR | OLED Super Retina XDR |
| Refresh rate | ProMotion up to 120Hz | ProMotion up to 120Hz |
| Always-On | Yes | Yes |
| Peak HDR brightness | 1600 nits | 1600 nits |
| Peak outdoor brightness | 3000 nits | 3000 nits |
| Front cover | Ceramic Shield 2 | Ceramic Shield 2 |
Every row below the resolution line is identical. The Pro Max has more pixels because it has more screen, not because it is sharper; at 460 ppi the two panels pack pixels at exactly the same density.
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460 ppi and what the resolution means
The 6.3-inch panel’s 2622 by 1206 grid gives it roughly 3.16 million pixels, and the 6.9-inch panel’s 2868 by 1320 grid gives it about 3.79 million. Those totals are our arithmetic from Apple’s figures; Apple’s tech specs list resolution and ppi only.
Because density is equal, text and interface elements render at the same size on both phones by default. The larger screen simply shows more content, which is the main practical argument for the Pro Max if you read, edit photos or watch video on the phone.
3000 nits outdoors, 1600 nits for HDR
Apple quotes two peak brightness figures. The 3000-nit figure applies outdoors in bright sunlight, when the display pushes brightness up to stay readable. The 1600-nit figure is the peak for HDR content such as Dolby Vision video, where only highlights reach that level.
Both figures are the same on both sizes, so the smaller phone is not dimmer. Apple’s tech specs do not list a typical (non-peak) brightness figure or a minimum brightness for the iPhone 18 Pro, so we cannot quote those.
ProMotion and Always-On
ProMotion adjusts the refresh rate up to 120Hz for smooth scrolling and drops it for static content, which is what makes the Always-On display practical. Apple’s tech specs list both features on the Pro and the Pro Max; there is no Pro-only or Max-only display feature this year.
Apple’s tech specs do not state the minimum refresh rate ProMotion drops to on the iPhone 18 Pro, so we are not quoting one.
The smaller Dynamic Island
The other change on the front is the Dynamic Island, which Apple’s press release says is smaller than before and can show up to three Live Activities at once. Face ID is retained. That matches the 3-in-1 Dynamic Island leak we reported before the event, and it applies to both sizes.
- Both sizes: OLED Super Retina XDR, ProMotion to 120Hz, Always-On, 460 ppi
- Both sizes: 3000 nits peak outdoor, 1600 nits peak HDR
- Both sizes: Ceramic Shield 2 front, smaller Dynamic Island, Face ID
- Only difference: 6.3-inch 2622 x 1206 versus 6.9-inch 2868 x 1320
For a full rundown of what else changed this year, see our iPhone 18 Pro launch coverage. Pre-orders open Saturday, September 12 at 5 a.m. PT, with the phones arriving Friday, September 18. Apple has not published a display comparison against the iPhone 17 Pro on the new specs page.
