Pricing: A Few Surprises
The iPhone 17 lineup spans four models and various storage capacities. Here’s how it breaks down:
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iPhone 17: 256GB, $799; 512GB, $999
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iPhone Air: 256GB, $999; 512GB, $1,199; 1TB, $1,399
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iPhone 17 Pro: 256GB, $1,099; 512GB, $1,299; 1TB, $1,499
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iPhone 17 Pro Max: 256GB, $1,199; 512GB, $1,399; 1TB, $1,599; 2TB, $1,999
Apple has ditched the old 128GB standard, as all phones start with 256GB across the board. If you want the most space possible, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the only model available with 2TB of storage, but it will cost you nearly $2,000. If you’re just looking for a new iPhone with a compelling feature set for the least amount of money, that’s the iPhone 17.
Winner: iPhone 17
Hands-On with the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max
Design: 3 Distinct Looks
Apple iPhone 17 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The iPhone 17, Air, and Pro models have distinctly different designs. The iPhone 17 looks like the iPhones you already know, with two rear cameras within a vertical pill-shaped island. The iPhone Air features a Google Pixel-like camera bar (that Apple calls the plateau) on the back that traverses the width of the phone with a single, solitary camera on the left. The Pros have an entirely new look, with a large rectangular housing around its rear three cameras and flash, along with a second rectangular section below it.
See our detailed chart above for all the sizes, but the iPhone Air is the thinnest and lightest at 0.22 inches and 5.82 ounces, while the iPhone Pros are the thickest at 0.34 inches. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the heaviest at 8.22 ounces.
iPhone Air (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Other than the backs of the devices, the 17 and 17 Pros look relatively similar to their iPhone 16 counterparts, with rounded-rectangle designs and flat sides. The 17 has an aluminum frame, while the 17 Pro uses an aluminum unibody. The iPhone 16 Pros feature titanium frames, so this is a change. However, Apple employs titanium for the iPhone Air’s frame, which should help its strength. Apple also covers the back of the 17 Pro and Air models with its Ceramic Shield for toughness, but did not mention at the event what material is on the back of the 17.
The new iPhones share several commonalities. They are all rated IP68 to handle dust and water. They all have an Action button, Camera Control, MagSafe, and a USB-C port. As always, design is subjective, and with three distinct designs, you have more choice than ever.
Winner: Tie
Displays: It Comes Down to Size
iPhone Air (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The only key difference between the new iPhones’ displays is size. The iPhone 17 and 17 Pro feature 6.3-inch panels, while the Air has a larger 6.5-inch display, and the Pro Max boasts a massive 6.9-inch display.
Otherwise, the lineup shares many of the same specs. The dynamic island remains a staple of the series. Apple says it covers each new iPhone’s display with its Ceramic Shield 2, which is tougher than any other smartphone glass or glass ceramic.
All the new iPhones feature screens with a pixel density of 460 pixels per inch (ppi), an always-on display, an anti-reflective coating, a 1-120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. You won’t miss out on display features with any of these phones.
Winner: Tie
Performance: They’re All Going to Be Fast
iPhone 17 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The iPhone 17 features the new Apple A19, while the other three models have versions of the Apple A19 Pro. The A19’s CPU is up to 40% than the iPhone 15, while its GPU is up to 80% faster. We have not tested Apple’s claims just yet.
The two Pro models feature vapor chambers and new cooling technology to keep those powerful chips running at peak speeds for longer. While the Air uses an A19 Pro chip, it is not the same as the one in the Pros. The A19 Pro in the iPhone 17 Pro models has a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU, while the Air has a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU. The A19 chip also has a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU. We will have to see how different the performance is between these three chips.
Apple did not mention the amount of RAM in any of the new devices. Considering the advanced cooling and extra GPU core, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max look like the ones to beat in the group.
Winner: iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max
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Cameras: How Many Do You Want?
iPhone 17 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Apple said that each camera in the new lineup has the capabilities of multiple cameras, but we will keep it simple. The standard iPhone 17 has a 48MP main shooter with an f/1.6 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS), and a 48MP ultra-wide lens with an f/2.2 aperture and a 120-degree field of view.
iPhone Air (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The iPhone Air has a single 48MP camera at an f/1.6 aperture with OIS, which the company says enables 12MP optical-quality 2x telephoto images. We can’t know if it’s capable of this kind of quality until we test it, though.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max feature a 48MP main shooter with an aperture of f/1.78 and OIS, a 48MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view, and a 48MP telephoto lens at an f/2.8 aperture with 4x optical zoom. The Pro line can shoot video at up to 4K resolution at 120fps, while the 17 and Air max out at 4K resolution at 60fps.
All of the new iPhones now have an 18MP Center Stage front camera that can also shoot 4K video at 60fps. The selfie camera keeps you centered in the frame, similar to some iPads. The most interesting part of this new camera is its square sensor that allows you to take regular vertical photos, but adds the ability to shoot landscape selfies while the phone is held in portrait orientation.
The iPhone Pro line contains the best of Apple photography in a device. It has a dedicated telephoto lens, unlike the other two models, and can shoot video at a higher frame rate.
Winner: iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max
Recommended by Our Editors
Battery Life: Perhaps the Biggest Differentiator
iPhone 17 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Apple did not detail the battery capacities of these new phones at the event; however, it did provide projected battery life in certain scenarios. For video playback, the iPhone 17 gets up to 30 hours, the iPhone 17 Pro gets up to 33 hours, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max gets up to 39 hours.
The iPhone Air is a little different. By itself, it lasts up to 27 hours. However, if you add Apple’s new, optional iPhone Air MagSafe battery ($99), battery life swells to 40 hours.
All the new models support MagSafe, Qi2, and Qi wireless charging. The iPhone 17 and Pro can charge up to 50% in 20 minutes if you use a 40W (or higher) charger. The Air reaches the same 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W charger. The iPhone 17 and Pro models support up to 25W wireless charging through MagSafe, while the Air charges at up to 20W.
We will have to see how these devices do in our battery tests once we get them in.
Winner: Too soon to tell
Odds and Ends: Give and Take
All the new iPhones use eSIM worldwide, ditching physical SIM cards for good. This year’s line supports two active eSIMs and can store eight or more.
The iPhone 17 Pro’s USB-C port supports USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s), while the other models support USB 2 speeds (up to 480Mb/s). This could be important if you are moving large files around using a wire. The Pro models also have a LiDAR scanner, which helps with photography and augmented reality uses.
The iPhone Air supports sub-6GHz 5G only, while the other three support sub-6GHz and the fastest form of 5G, mmWave. If you want the fastest 5G, it’s not in the Air.
Which iPhone 17 Is Right for You?
The new iPhone lineup provides many upgraded features and striking new designs. I can’t offer definitive buying advice until I get a chance to spend more time with the phones, but I can give you a few pointers until then:
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If you want the thinnest, sleekest iPhone, the iPhone Air is for you.
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If you want the best camera capabilities possible, the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max is the way to go.
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If you don’t want to break the bank, the iPhone 17 is a compelling option.
You can preorder the new iPhones beginning on Sept. 12, with an in-store sale date of Sept.19. Check back soon for full reviews.
