A wider maximum aperture does not automatically make every photo better, but it does give you important advantages.

Main benefits of a faster lens:

• more light: lets you use faster shutter speeds or lower ISO in low light, helping reduce motion blur and noise
• shallower depth of field: makes it easier to blur backgrounds and isolate subjects
• autofocus help: more light can improve AF speed and accuracy
• stopping down advantage: a lens that opens very wide is often sharper and less vignetted when used stopped down than a slower lens used wide open at the same f-stop

Why they cost more:

• larger apertures require more glass and more complex optical design
• many are built to a higher standard and aimed at advanced/pro users
• zooms with constant wide apertures are especially complex

So the answer is: not inherently “better,” but more versatile. If you shoot portraits, events, action, or low light, a wider aperture can make a big real-world difference. If you mostly shoot in good light or want deep depth of field, a slower lens can still produce excellent images.