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Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup has lastly arrived, bringing 4 new gadgets to the desk. As anticipated, the sequence consists of upgrades to previous fashions such because the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Professional Max. However this era is shaking issues up by introducing the iPhone Air — a brand new addition that Apple says is “the thinnest iPhone ever made.” And for the primary time in a number of generations, there is not going to be a “Plus” mannequin.
Additionally: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: I compared both, and here’s who wins
Past the iPhone Air, the sequence additionally brings in sweeping upgrades throughout the board. The iPhone 17 sequence can have higher-quality shows, larger total efficiency, and refined digital camera techniques for higher images and video seize. Every of the 4 smartphones shares many of those enhancements; nevertheless, each affords its personal distinctive options that enable it to face out from the others.
consumers have loads of choices. This raises the query: which iPhone 17 mannequin is best for you? The reply is not simple since every machine affords one thing distinctive. So to chop by means of all of the noise, I’ve damaged down the foremost options of each iPhone 17 possibility, highlighting the benefits they provide and explaining why you would possibly wish to decide one over the others.
Options | iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Air | iPhone 17 Professional | iPhone 17 Professional Max |
Costs | $799 | $999 | $1,099 | $1,199 |
Show | 6.3-inch Tremendous Retina XDR with ProMotion | 6.5-inch Tremendous Retina XDR with ProMotion | 6.3-inch Tremendous Retina XDR with ProMotion | 6.9-inch Tremendous Retina XDR with ProMotion |
Battery | 30 hours of video playback | 27 hours of video playback | 39 hours of video playback | 39 hours of video playback |
Finishes | Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White, Black | Sky Blue, Black, White, Mild Gold | Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, Silver | Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, Silver |
Processor | A19 | A19 Professional | A19 Professional | A19 Professional |
Body | Aluminum body | Titanium body | Aluminum unibody | Aluminum unibody |
Storage | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
Digital camera | 18MP Heart Stage selfie / 48MP Fusion Important, 48 Fusion Extremely Vast | 18MP Heart Stage selfie / 48MP Fusion Important | 18MP Heart Stage / 48MP Fusion Important, 48MP Fusion Extremely Vast, 48MP Fusion Telephoto | 18MP Heart Stage / 48MP Fusion Important, 48MP Fusion Extremely Vast, 48MP Fusion Telephoto |
You should purchase the iPhone 17 if…
1. You need a ProMotion show with out paying Professional mannequin costs.
For the primary time, Apple is bringing its ProMotion show know-how to a base iPhone. It will enable the iPhone 17 to accommodate a notably vibrant display screen with an adaptive refresh fee of as much as 120Hz. A function like this allows “supersmooth scrolling, immersive gaming, improved effectivity.” Its glass is protected by Ceramic Defend 2, a brand new function that gives higher resistance to break and diminished glare. One other good thing about ProMotion is that it has an adaptive refresh fee of as much as 120Hz.
Additionally: Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: I compared both models, and here are the differences
Up till now, ProMotion was reserved for higher-end fashions. With this improve, the iPhone 17 is a good selection for individuals who need a premium viewing expertise with no need to pay a premium worth.
2. You favor a conventional design
I am going to get into this intimately later, however each different iPhone 17 mannequin has seen drastic modifications to its design. The iPhone Air, for instance, is extremely skinny, whereas the iPhone Professional fashions introduce a “plateau” that homes vital parts.
If you would like the normal iPhone design of raised digital camera rings on the again and glossy, contoured edges, follow the bottom iPhone 17. It retains the outdated type that folks have grown to like through the years. Additionally, it is the identical dimension because the iPhone 16 Pro. So if you happen to’re used to the outdated Professional mannequin, the transition to the iPhone 17 will probably be seamless.
You should purchase the iPhone Air if…
1. You need the thinnest iPhone ever made
The iPhone Air is Apple’s boldest design transfer in years. It has an ultrathin smartphone, measuring simply 5.6 millimeters thick — roughly a 3rd thinner than the iPhone 16 Professional. It’s Apple’s slimmest iPhone ever made and ideal for anybody who values ultraportable gadgets. Regardless of its slim body, the iPhone Air would not skimp on the {hardware} as a result of the machine comes with, not one, not two, however three chips inside.
Additionally: The best iPhone 17 accessories you should buy if you’re planning to upgrade
You’ve got the A19 Professional, a fast-performing 6-core processor. Then there’s the N1, which is a “new Apple-designed wi-fi chip” enabling help for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and the sensible residence customary Thread. Lastly, the iPhone Air has the C1X, a brand new mobile modem Apple says is esigned” to be twice as quick because the C1 and extra power environment friendly.
2. You do not thoughts buying and selling in some options.
To realize such a skinny kind issue, Apple needed to intestine some key iPhone options. The iPhone Air solely comes with a single rear digital camera, a 48 Fusion lens. This single digital camera lets customers take images in each 28mm and 35mm focal lengths, in addition to shoot high-quality macro pictures. It additionally depends solely on eSIM for mobile connection. You will not be capable of insert your outdated SIM card within the Air mannequin. In case you can reside with these sacrifices, the iPhone 17 Air offers a superb steadiness of fashion and efficiency that the others cannot present.
You should purchase the iPhone 17 Professional if…
1. You need superior digital camera upgrades.
Each single mannequin underneath the iPhone 17 umbrella has acquired substantial digital camera upgrades. As an example, all 4 have a brand new Heart Stage selfie digital camera. This upgraded lens homes a “sq. entrance digital camera sensor,” delivering a “wider area of view and better decision” photographs. It even allows you to take panorama selfies with no need to rotate the smartphone horizontally.
Additionally: iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: I compared both models, and here’s who should upgrade
However the iPhone 17 Professional takes issues even additional by housing three 48MP Fusion cameras for taking sharper pictures and extremely detailed photographs. That is thanks partially to the “up to date Photonic Engine,” which makes use of synthetic intelligence to “protect pure element, scale back noise, and supply” higher colour accuracy. Moreover, Apple’s smartphone homes a “new 48MP Telephoto digital camera” with a bigger sensor for enhancing low-light images.
2. You need a contemporary design
Other than just a few design tweaks through the years, iPhone Professional fashions have successfully regarded equivalent for the reason that iPhone 12 Professional. However for the iPhone 17 Professional duo, Apple has seen match to introduce extra vital modifications. Each the 17 Professional and Professional Max have a “brushed aluminum unibody,” permitting the smartphones to be light-weight and ship higher thermal efficiency. Inside this body is a vapor chamber carrying de-ionized water to maneuver warmth away from its A19 Professional processor.
Across the again is a raised plateau offering additional house for key parts, together with an even bigger battery. Apple says the iPhone 17 Professional can last as long as 39 hours of video playback on a single cost.
You should purchase the iPhone 17 Professional Max if…
1. You need the absolute best efficiency
Just like the iPhone 17 Professional, the iPhone 17 Professional Max runs on the A19 Professional chipset, a robust piece of {hardware} consisting of a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU with “Neural Accelerators constructed into every GPU core.” Alongside these parts is Apple’s new 16-core Neural Engine for powering AI fashions, delivering beautiful graphical constancy, and guaranteeing excessive frames. A chip like this may undoubtedly run sizzling. Fortunately, the iPhone 17 Professional Max has the identical vapor chamber because the 17 Professional to maintain it cool.
Additionally: iPhone 17 preorders are open: Here’s where you can find free phone deals
Much like the iPhone Air, Apple’s flagship machine homes the N1 networking chip to allow help for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. One thing that I did not point out earlier is that the N1 improves the reliability of options like AirDrop.
2. You need the perfect iPhone show
Out of the whole sequence, the iPhone 17 Professional Max has the perfect display screen, boasting a large 6.9-inch Tremendous Retina XDR show. Help for Apple’s ProMotion tech offers a velvety-smooth refresh fee of as much as 120Hz. Plus, the iPhone 17 Professional Max is way brighter than the iPhone 16 Professional because it now hits a brightness stage of three,000 nits, “in addition to 2x higher out of doors distinction.” And once more, identical to the iPhone Air, the high-end smartphone has a display screen protected by Ceramic Defend 2 for distinctive toughness.
