Apple’s first Pro smartphone arrived in 2019 as the iPhone 11 Pro, and ever since then I’ve routinely purchased the latest Pro Max model. This year I’m skipping the recently introduced iPhone 17 Pro, and this significant change is not a decision I have taken lightly.
It’s not that I’ve fallen out of love with the iPhone or that I’m moving over to Android, but I’m just not feeling the desire to open my wallet this time around.
A Ritual of Upgrades
I’ve purchased a new iPhone every year, starting with the first one in 2007, except for the iPhone 3GS. Most of these purchases were no-brainers since I covered Apple for various websites. I purchased other models when I wasn’t writing, simply because I wanted the next big thing from Apple.
It wasn’t that long ago when Apple only released one new iPhone a year. Those releases were huge events where buyers stood in line, often for hours, to get their hands on the next big thing. Eventually, to attract different types of buyers, Apple began releasing multiple iPhones each year.
Six years ago, it started releasing regular and Pro models, and this year, the company has diversified even further with the arrival of the iPhone Air. Next year, things are expected to get even more varied with the arrival of the foldable iPhone, but that’s just a rumor (for now).
The Yearly Lures of the iPhone Pro Models
Each new iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max model has featured at least one new feature that Apple has heavily promoted to sell its most expensive models. Some of these upgrades have been bigger than others.
For example, the iPhone 11 Pro was the first to offer a triple-camera system with an ultrawide lens joining the existing wide and telephoto lenses. The following year, the iPhone 12 Pro brought 5G connectivity and MagSafe accessories to the table for the first time. ProMotion displays, the Dynamic Island and its Live Activities feature, and an always-on display followed on later models.
When the iPhone 16 Pro Max was introduced, I considered not upgrading from the iPhone 15 Pro Max because there weren’t many changes between it and the older model. I decided to take the plunge because of the phone’s slightly larger display and thinner borders, and the promise of the new Camera Control button.
In hindsight, the display differences between the two phones weren’t much to get excited about, and the new button felt more like a gimmick to me over time. Despite this, I love my phone. I went to Europe this summer and took excellent photos all over Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. I used it to record wonderful videos of my daughter’s high school graduation.
I will continue to use the iPhone 16 Pro Max for the next 12 months, no matter where my next journey may take me.
Why I’m Not Sold on the iPhone 17 Pro
Don’t get me wrong, the iPhone 17 Pro is a beautiful iPhone. In fact, the phone brings to the table something I always wanted on the Pro models: more unique color choices. In this case, Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue join a more traditional Silver in the lineup. If I were going for an upgrade, Cosmic Orange is the one I would have chosen.
The new phone also includes a better chip, the A19 Pro, improved camera specs, and slightly improved battery life. These are nice updates, but we’ve seen this song and dance before. Every new iPhone Pro model comes with faster internals, better cameras, and increased battery life.
Apple’s iPhone chips are always fast and efficient, and I do not doubt that upcoming tests will show the A19 Pro is the best iPhone chip Apple has ever produced. I also do not doubt that everyday users will be able to take even better photos with the iPhone 17 Pro than with previous models. Those example images and videos at the iPhone 17 event were breathtaking, as they are always at iPhone events.
And yes, it’s nice to see the iPhone 17 Pro gain extra battery life. In this case, the iPhone 17 Pro Max promises 39 hours of video playback between charges, versus 33 hours for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The regular iPhone 17 Pro promises 33 hours of battery life between charges, compared to 27 hours for the iPhone 16 Pro. These are huge improvements, but with fast charging, does it really matter, at least for most folks?
Interestingly, to add that extra battery life, Apple has switched from a titanium body on iPhone Pro models to aluminum. The latter is better at dissipating heat, which in turn makes it less taxing on the chip’s thermal load. What Apple didn’t highlight is that the newer phones made with aluminum are slightly heavier than the older ones made of titanium. Not by much, but heavier nonetheless.
Put together, I don’t see how it’s worth spending at least $1,100 this year to upgrade.
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A19 Pro chip
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is the company’s most powerful smartphone to date, offering impressive cameras and the A19 Pro chip. It lets you do practically anything, including shooting quality videos.
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Apple
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A19 Pro chip
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has many of the same specs as the iPhone 17 Pro, but you get a larger screen and up to 2TB of storage.
Much More on the Horizon
Since 2020, Apple has introduced four new iPhones each fall. This included a “regular” model and two Pro models. The fourth phone was either an iPhone mini version or an iPhone Plus model. This year, instead of either of these, Apple has revealed its thinnest phone to date, the iPhone Air. No doubt, that’s a gorgeous iPhone. And yet, it’s not for everyone because the smaller body meant Apple had to cut corners, especially when it comes to the camera system. It’s one of the reasons some might not buy the iPhone Air on release day.
Despite its limitations, the iPhone Air shows us where future iPhone models are headed. As technology improves and internal components become smaller, we can expect to see thinner iPhone models across the board, including on future iPhone Pro models. That thinness, at least to a degree, should also be present on the company’s first foldable iPhone, which is expected to arrive in 2026. In other words, big design changes are coming, not just in the form of the iPhone Air, but also to the entire new iPhone lineup next year and beyond.
This, coupled with promised upgrades to Apple Intelligence that will probably only be available on next year’s iPhone models, has also given me reasons to wait. While a first-generation foldable iPhone might not appeal to me, a second-generation iPhone Air could, just as a thinner iPhone 18 Pro Max could as well.
Should You Upgrade?
This brings us to whether anyone with an iPhone 15 Pro or older should upgrade to the iPhone 17 Pro. I’d suggest that if your phone is three years old or older, this would be a great time to upgrade. Otherwise, holding off could be for the best. Even the iPhone 15 Pro supports Apple Intelligence, which was a big selling point for the iPhone 16 series next year.
If you’re in the mood for something different and you can live with a single camera, the iPhone Air might also be worth considering.
