Apple has just kicked off tech’s busy season with its latest event, unveiling the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro in the process.
While the iPhone Air adds a new dynamic to the range, if you’re trying to decide whether you should go Pro or save some money and get the standard model, we’re here to help.
We’ve compared some of the biggest differences between the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 to see what sets the phones apart.
Also see our look at the iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16, and iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The Pro comes in two sizes, with a new design
Visually, the iPhone models look very different this year. While the super-thin iPhone Air will certainly catch the eye, the Pro has picked up a rather large redesign.
Available in both 6.3 and 6.9-inch sizes, the iPhone 17 Pro comes in blue, silver and a very nice-looking orange. The Pro phones are crafted with 7000-series aluminium for improved thermal performance, and they now have integrated antennas.
The iPhone 17 hasn’t picked up a hefty redesign this year, although it still looks good in the range of five colours you can see below.
What is different, though, is that there’s only one size available with a 6.3-inch screen. That means if you want a big iPhone, the Pro is the way to go.
Good news for buyers of the standard iPhone 17 is that it now, like the Pro models, has ProMotion for 120Hz refresh rate and Always-on Display support. Finally…
A19 Pro vs A19
When you choose between the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro, you’re also choosing between two different chips.
The A19 inside the iPhone 17 looks very capable, with a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU, plus the N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread.
But for top-tier performance, it’s the A19 Pro that stands out. This has a new vapor chamber for 40% better sustained performance when compared to the A18 Pro. This is ideal for ensuring games play as well as possible.
Apple claims the 6-core CPU is the fastest on any smartphone, and this is paired with a 6-core GPU and 16-core neural engine for AI tasks. Of course, the Pro chip also boasts the Apple N1 for fast networking.
There’s a clear winner if battery life is key
While there have been improvements across the board in terms of battery life this year, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the clear winner for those who want endurance above all.
Apple claims the biggest phone of the bunch can last for 39 hours of video playback, while the smaller Pro Max should last for 33 hours. The iPhone 17, on the other hand, should last for 30 hours in the same tests.
The camera systems are very different
Apple has typically differentiated its standard and Pro phones by their cameras, and it’s the same this year.
The iPhone 16 has two 48MP rear cameras (a wide and ultra wide) plus the new Center Stage front camera that uses a square sensor for more versatile selfies. You’ll find the Center Stage camera on the front of the Pro series, too.
The iPhone 17 Pro takes the two 48MP cameras from the iPhone 17 and adds a third 48MP telephoto camera for those zoomed-in shots. You can zoom in 4x for a classic portrait look, or 8x to get even closer to a subject.
While both phones are good for video, the Pro series has a few exclusive features. It can shoot in ProRes RAW, Log 2 and genlock.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max goes up to 2TB of storage
All iPhone models start at 256 GB this year. However, for those who must have all the storage possible, the Pro Max can now be picked up in a 2TB size – a first for any iPhone. The standard Pro Max maxes out at 1TB, while the iPhone 17 goes up to 512GB.
The prices need to be considered
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max both arrive with loads of features, but that of course means a higher price. The iPhone 17 Pro starts at £1099/$1099, while the Pro Max starts at £1199/$1199.
On the other hand, the iPhone 17 is much cheaper. It starts at £799/$799.
