Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup has formally arrived, bringing 4 new units 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 technology 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 event recap: iPhone Air preorders, Apple Watch 11, AirPods Pro 3, more
Past the iPhone Air, the sequence additionally brings in sweeping upgrades throughout the board. The iPhone 17 sequence may have higher-quality shows, better total efficiency, and refined digital camera programs for higher images and video seize. Every of the 4 smartphones shares many of those enhancements; nevertheless, each presents its personal distinctive options that permit 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 easy since every machine presents one thing distinctive. So to chop via 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 choose 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 Most important, 48 Fusion Extremely Huge | 18MP Heart Stage selfie / 48MP Fusion Most important | 18MP Heart Stage / 48MP Fusion Most important, 48MP Fusion Extremely Huge, 48MP Fusion Telephoto | 18MP Heart Stage / 48MP Fusion Most important, 48MP Fusion Extremely Huge, 48MP Fusion Telephoto  |
You can purchase the iPhone 17 if…
1. You desire 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. This can permit the iPhone 17 to accommodate a notably vibrant display screen with an adaptive refresh price of as much as 120Hz. A function like this permits “supersmooth scrolling, immersive gaming, improved effectivity.” Its glass is protected by Ceramic Protect 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 price of as much as 120Hz.
Up till now, ProMotion was reserved for higher-end fashions. With this improve, the iPhone 17 is a good alternative for individuals who desire a premium viewing expertise while not having to pay a premium worth.
Additionally:Â Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: I compared both models, and here are the differences
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 essential parts.
If you need the normal iPhone design of raised digital camera rings on the again and glossy, contoured edges, keep on with the bottom iPhone 17. It retains the outdated model that individuals have grown to like through the years. Additionally, it is the identical dimension because the iPhone 16 Pro. So when you’re used to the outdated Professional mannequin, the transition to the iPhone 17 will probably be seamless.
You can 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 excellent for anybody who values ultraportable units. Regardless of its slim body, the iPhone Air does 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 have 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 dwelling 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 attain such a skinny type 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 pictures 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 have the ability to insert your outdated SIM card within the Air mannequin. If you happen to can reside with these sacrifices, the iPhone 17 Air supplies steadiness of favor and efficiency that the others cannot present.
You can 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. For 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 discipline of view and better decision” photographs. It even enables you to take panorama selfies while not having 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, cut back noise, and supply” higher shade accuracy. Moreover, Apple’s smartphone homes a “new 48MP Telephoto digital camera” with a bigger sensor for enhancing low-light images.
2. You desire a contemporary design
Other than just a few design tweaks through the years, iPhone Professional fashions have successfully appeared an identical for the reason that iPhone 12 Professional. However for the iPhone 17 Professional duo, Apple has seen match to introduce extra important 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.Â
Across the again is a raised plateau offering additional area for key parts, together with a much bigger battery. Apple says the iPhone 17 Professional can last as long as 39 hours of video playback on a single cost.
You can purchase the iPhone 17 Professional Max if…
1. You need the very best efficiency
Just like the iPhone 17 Professional, the iPhone 17 Professional Max runs on the A19 Professional chipset, a strong 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 making certain excessive frames. A chip like it will 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 very best iPhone show
Out of your complete sequence, the iPhone 17 Professional Max has the very best display screen, boasting an enormous 6.9-inch Tremendous Retina XDR show. Help for Apple’s ProMotion tech supplies a velvety-smooth refresh price of as much as 120Hz. Plus, the iPhone 17 Professional Max is far brighter than the iPhone 16 Professional because it now hits a brightness degree of three,000 nits, “in addition to 2x higher outside distinction.” And once more, identical to the iPhone Air, the high-end smartphone has a display screen protected by Ceramic Protect 2 for distinctive toughness.
