On June 19, 2007, nearly two decades ago, the first iPhone in history went on sale. A few months earlier, Steve Jobs had unveiled it in a keynote, and by the summer, Apple’s mobile device was already available to United States citizens who wished to get theirs. Back then, iPhones were still far from the wide range of options that users enjoy today. Its famous App Store for developing all kinds of tasks with a click did not yet exist. It took another year for the App Store to debut with 500 apps; today, it is estimated to boast more than 1.8 million applications.
Over this entire period, just as the App Store has evolved, iPhones have as well. Soon, the latest models (the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max) will be surpassed by the iPhone 18 Pro. Since September 18, it has been available in stores. The changes made are not so noticeable in the external appearance of the phone, but rather in its internal design and, consequently, in the advanced capabilities, which will also make this device the preferred smartphone of many runners.
What is the iPhone 18 Pro?
At first, it will be available in three colors: black, blue, and a burgundy shade that some refer to as cherry red and others as dark cherry. There has been considerable debate about choosing black versus silver, which seems to have been discarded. Regarding the camera, the iPhone 18 Pro will allow its owner to play much more with depth of field and with the amount of light captured by the sensor. To achieve this, its designers have included a mechanism by which the lens opens and closes as if it were a professional camera. They have also added a sensor (presumably the Sony IMX905) that will help the colors in photographs align even closer to the natural tones of the real image.
Beyond its camera, which some argue is the greatest contribution Apple can make to the world of smartphones today, the iPhone 18 Pro will be more robust than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The new thickness will measure 9 mm, while the phone will weigh around 240 g, which also gives it an edge over the immediately preceding models (the iPhone 17 Pro Max weighs 231 g).
Another major change is the possible removal of the physical SIM card. Instead, Apple seems to advocate the use of the eSIM, which, if you want to switch carriers, speeds up the process. The eSIM can be accessed remotely to activate, deactivate, and reconfigure it.
Regarding the displays, it is anticipated that the iPhone 18 Pro will employ a new technological advancement that prevents the screen from consuming too much energy. Unlike conventional displays, LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) screens adapt automatically to the type of content the user is viewing on the device at any moment. In this way, the displays help reduce energy consumption and optimize battery use.
To achieve this, they reduce or increase the refresh rate depending on whether static images are being displayed or, conversely, if moving visual content is being played (for example: games). This rate measures how many times per second the image updates on the screen. With the iPhone 18 Pro and its LTPO displays, the refresh rate is adjusted continuously to avoid unnecessary battery drain. Furthermore, the battery capacity is expected to exceed 5,200 mAh.
This increase will translate into a battery that has about 10% more capacity. To better understand the significant leap this change represents, one only needs to compare what the iPhone 18 Pro promises (5,200 mAh) with the iPhone 17 Pro, whose battery capacity does not reach 4,000 mAh.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Running
Perhaps the only challenge on the horizon for Apple fans is the price of the iPhone 18 Pro. Some place it at 1,300 dollars; others at 2,500 dollars. It is expected that, in any case, it will exceed €1,319, which is the minimum price today for the iPhone 17 Pro model. A cheaper alternative is a refurbished iPhone from earlier years, which can mean savings of more than €300, or even the refurbished iPhone 18 Pro itself, and thus at a lower price.
Refurbished smartphones on the best marketplaces are inspected before being made available to consumers again. Over its twelve years of activity, this marketplace has offered Apple users the latest iPhone models at a more affordable cost, with a 30-day free trial, with two years of warranty included, and with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that their iPhones have passed up to 100 checks.
These refurbished smartphones are also available for runners who need a phone in just as good shape as they are. According to Statista, Spain is the third country in the world where most people say they run to exercise. Among the advantages that an iPhone 18 Pro can provide a runner, the following are notable:
- First, the telephoto lens and the variable-aperture camera of the iPhone 18 Pro allow more experimentation with photography. What appears in the foreground is rendered with greater sharpness than the background, which is slightly defocused to draw the viewer’s attention to what is truly important in the photo. This enables taking better snapshots of places you pass during a run, especially when the route includes spots with great views.
- The battery capacity is fundamental, especially when the runner plays music while running. Spotify, YouTube, and other music and video platforms consume quite a bit of energy, particularly when used in the background. The LTPO screens of the iPhone 18 Pro and its high battery capacity would compensate for and balance that consumption.
- The eSIM, which we mentioned earlier, would allow the runner to participate in international competitions or continue with their running routine in other countries without ever having to swap SIM cards.
Even with all that, perhaps the greatest advantage of the iPhone 18 Pro for runners will be the new Apple C2 modem. It is expected that the company has designed the modem to provide satellite-based 5G connectivity. This would mean that running in the mountains would no longer present a problem: the satellite 5G connection of the iPhone’s C2 modem would allow the runner to access the internet and stay connected even in regions where there is no wifi or where terrestrial base station coverage does not reach.
