No matter how you slice it, Apple dumped a bunch of products and software features on us at its iPhone 17 event this week. It’s easier to miss the less flashy features, but they are often the things that end up making a meaningful impact in day-to-day life. From iPhones and Apple Watch to AirPods Pro, here are the less “awe dropping” details that might have slipped through the cracks, but could help tip your buying decisions in one direction or another.
1. The iPhone Air Can’t Take Spatial Photos
(Credit: Eric Zeman/PCMag)
Every iPhone 16 can take spatial photos because they all have two or more cameras. This year’s iPhone Air only has one camera, so it can’t take stereoscopic photos. While the iPhone 17 press release notes that it can “take spatial photos and videos to help users relive memories with remarkable depth on Apple Vision Pro,” the iPhone Air release only mentions that video supports “Spatial Audio for immersive listening.” This will matter the most for Apple Vision Pro owners; everyone else can try the 3D Spatial Scenes feature in iOS 26.
2. iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max Have the Same Camera Specs
(Credit: Eric Zeman/PCMag)
The Pro Max iPhones usually get new features first. This year, for example, the 17 Pro Max is the only iPhone with a 2TB variant. When it comes to the camera systems on the 17 Pros, however, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any difference. Both have 48MP Pro Fusion camera systems with up to 8x optical zoom and 18MP Center Stage front cameras. If the camera if your main concern, you can save $100 and get the Pro.
3. Entry-Level iPhone 17 Gets the New Front Camera System
(Credit: Apple/Screenshot by PCMag)
The 18MP Center Stage front camera is one of the more notable upgrades to any of the iPhone models. You’ve probably seen that it can automatically switch from portrait to landscape and reframe its width to incorporate more people. What you might not realize is that this camera feature will be available across all of the new iPhones, including the entry-level one. It’s not often the regular iPhone gets one of the coolest features.
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4. No Black Color Option for iPhone 17 Pros
(Credit: Apple)
Fans of black slabs get a dose of cosmic orange this year. Neither the iPhone 17 Pro nor Pro Max is available in black (case makers apparently didn’t get the memo). Your only options are silver, blue, and orange. The blue and silver options aren’t particularly bold and shouldn’t be divisive, but they aren’t exactly subtle either. The orange color seems to be the boldest ever for an iPhone Pro. The three options look good to my eyes, but the lack of black means there’s no default, fallback choice for people who want their phone to be as sleek as possible.
5. The iPhone Air Only Supports USB 2 Speeds
(Credit: Eric Zeman/PCMag)
The iPhone Air is relatively full-featured for such a thin phone, but Apple did make some odd compromises. Its USB-C port, for example, only supports USB 2 transfer speeds. Both the iPhone 16 Pro and 17 Pro support USB 3 speeds, which Apple equates to being 20 times faster. If you ever connect a cable to do phone restores, backups, or photo transfer, you’re looking at a difference of 480Mbps. One other oddity is that the iPhone Air only supports up to 20W wireless charging, while the iPhone 17 Pro supports up to 25W.
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6. AirPods Pro 3 Charging Case Has a U2 Chip
(Credit: Apple)
The AirPods Pro 3 have Apple’s next-gen ultra-wideband technology, the U2 chip, which boosts the distance of its Precision Finding feature by 1.5 times. This will make locating the headphones even easier from further away. The AirPods Pro 2 had the U1 chip, and the AirPods 4 with ANC don’t have a U-series chip. While no new AirTag was announced at the event, the inclusion of this tech means an update to that product might be on the way very soon. For more, check out Apple AirPods Pro 3 vs. Pro 2: Should You Upgrade or Save Your Cash?
7. New MagSafe Battery Pack Is Only for the iPhone Air
(Credit: Apple)
Apple debuted its first MagSafe Battery Pack back in 2021. It had its flaws, but in general, people seemed to like it because it had some neat tricks, like being able to recharge through a plugged-in iPhone. Apple showed off a new battery pack on Tuesday, but it’s only compatible with the Air (though you can use it to charge an iPhone 17, awkwardly; we wouldn’t recommend it). It’s even in the product’s name: iPhone Air MagSafe Battery. It costs $99, will add 65% battery to the phone, and has up to 12W of power. Everyone else who wants a new charging accessory will need to stick to the 40W Dynamic Power Adapter.
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