Apple just released the iPhone 17 lineup on September 9, 2025. This includes the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. If you want to know which one is best for you, this post compares them all.
We will look at design, display, cameras, performance, battery life, and more. This review uses details from Apple's event and hands-on impressions. It helps you decide based on what matters most, like price or features.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Air vs iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
In this section, we give a quick overview of the main differences. The iPhone 17 is the basic model at $799. It has many pro features now, like a smooth 120Hz screen. The iPhone 17 Air costs $999 and is very thin, but it has some limits. The iPhone 17 Pro is $1,099, and the Pro Max is $1,199. They focus on better cameras and longer battery. All start with 256GB storage, which is double last year's base amount without raising the price much.
The base iPhone 17 is great value. It looks like the iPhone 16 but adds a bigger screen and better parts. The Air is for people who want a light, fancy phone, but it might not last all day on battery. The Pro models are for those who need top cameras and power. Now, let's break it down by category.
Design and Build
The designs differ a lot this year. The iPhone 17 uses aluminum with a glass back, just like last year. It comes in colors like Mist Blue, Lavender, Sage, White, and Black. The size is the same as the iPhone 16, but the screen is now 6.3 inches because the edges around it are thinner. It feels familiar and strong, with Ceramic Shield 2 on the front to resist scratches three times better.
The iPhone 17 Air is the thinnest at 5.6 millimeters. That's thinner than a pencil or any other iPhone. It uses polished titanium for the body and rails, with Ceramic Shield on both front and back. This makes it feel premium and light. Colors include Black, but details on others are not full. Apple says it's the most durable iPhone ever, but thin phones can bend easier. Tests will show if that's true.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max switched back to aluminum from titanium. They have a unibody design, meaning the back is one piece of metal with a glass window for wireless charging. This helps with heat and fits a bigger battery. They are thicker by about 8% and heavier than last year's Pros. The back has a new "plateau" bar at the top for cameras and parts. Colors are Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver. No Black here, which is odd after 13 years. The Pro is 6.3 inches, and Pro Max is 6.9 inches.
All models have the same buttons and ports, but the Air is eSIM-only worldwide because there's no room for a physical SIM card. In the US, Pros are also eSIM-only, which gives them a bit more battery space.
Here's a table to compare designs:
| Feature | iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Air | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Titanium body | Aluminum unibody | Aluminum unibody |
| Thickness | Standard | 5.6 mm (thinnest) | Thicker than last | Thicker than last |
| Colors | Mist Blue, Lavender, Sage, White, Black | Black (others TBD) | Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, Silver | Same as Pro |
| Durability | Ceramic Shield 2 front | Ceramic Shield front/back | Ceramic Shield 2 front, Ceramic Shield back | Same as Pro |
| SIM Type (Global) | Physical + eSIM | eSIM only | Physical + eSIM (US: eSIM only) | Same as Pro |
This shows the Air stands out for thinness, but Pros are built for better cooling.
Display Quality
Apple made displays the same across all models this year. That's a big change. Every iPhone 17 has a 120Hz ProMotion screen that can go down to 1Hz for always-on mode. This makes scrolling smooth and saves battery. Brightness reaches 3,000 nits, so it's easy to see outside. There's a new anti-reflective coating to cut glare, like on some other phones.
Sizes differ: iPhone 17 and Pro are 6.3 inches, Air is 6.5 inches, Pro Max is 6.9 inches. All have thin bezels, making the screen look bigger. The base model jumped from 6.1 inches last year because of smaller edges.
No big gaps here. Even the cheapest gets the best screen Apple ever made. This ends years of base models having slower 60Hz screens.
Cameras and Photography
Cameras show clear differences. The iPhone 17 has two 48-megapixel lenses: main and ultrawide. The main is like last year but better for close-ups. Ultrawide is new at 48MP, up from 12MP, for wider shots and macros. It supports spatial photos and videos, but few people use that with Vision Pro.
The iPhone 17 Air has only one 48MP main camera, same as the base model's main. No ultrawide or zoom lens. This limits what you can shoot on a $1,000 phone. It's form over function.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have three 48MP lenses: main, ultrawide, and telephoto. The main has a larger sensor for better light and details, with a 24mm field instead of 26mm. It has laser autofocus for portraits. Ultrawide matches the base model's. The telephoto is new: 4x optical zoom with 48MP, up from 5x at 12MP last year. This closes the quality gap when zooming. You can go to 8x optical or 40x digital. They have better stabilization with second-gen sensor-shift OIS.
All models share the front camera: 18MP square sensor, up from 12MP. It takes vertical or horizontal selfies without turning the phone. Center Stage follows you on calls, and dual capture records front and back at once.
For video, base and Air do 4K at 60fps. Pros do 4K at 120fps, ProRes RAW for pros, Apple Log 2 for better colors, and genlock for syncing cameras. Pros have four mics for studio sound; others have fewer.
The Pros are best for photos and videos. Base is good for most people. Air is weakest with one lens.
Compare cameras in this table:
| Camera Feature | iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Air | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear Lenses | 2 (48MP main + ultrawide) | 1 (48MP main) | 3 (48MP all) | Same as Pro |
| Telephoto | No (2x crop) | No | 4x optical, 48MP | Same as Pro |
| Video Max | 4K 60fps | 4K 60fps | 4K 120fps, ProRes RAW | Same as Pro |
| Front Camera | 18MP square | 18MP square | 18MP square | Same as Pro |
| Special Features | Macro, spatial | Basic | Genlock, Log 2 | Same as Pro |
Pros win for serious users.
Performance and Chips
Performance comes from the chips inside. The iPhone 17 has the A19 chip: 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU. It runs 20% faster than last year. With 8GB RAM, it's fine for daily tasks.
The iPhone 17 Air uses A19 Pro, but with one less GPU core (5 instead of 6). It has 12GB RAM. No cooling system, so it might get hot and slow down during hard tasks like games.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have full A19 Pro: 6-core CPU and 6-core GPU, 12GB RAM. They add a vapor chamber for cooling, first on iPhone. Aluminum helps too, 20 times better than titanium at moving heat. This gives 40% better sustained performance than iPhone 16 Pro. Great for editing or gaming.
All handle AI tasks well, but Pros stay cool longer. Base is enough for most; Pros for power users.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery is key for daily use. The iPhone 17 gets 30 hours of video playback, up 30% from iPhone 16. Good for all day.
The iPhone 17 Air has the worst at 27 hours, same as last year's Pro. Thin design limits battery size. Apple made a special MagSafe pack to add more, but you need it attached to match others. It charges at 20W, slower than rest.
The iPhone 17 Pro gets 33 hours, Pro Max 39 hours—the longest ever. Up 22% and 18% from last year. Thicker body and rearranged parts fit bigger batteries. eSIM-only versions add 5% more.
All charge to 50% in 20 minutes with new 40W adapter, except Air at slower speed. Pros might charge better without getting hot.
Battery table:
| Model | Video Playback Hours | Charging Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 | 30 | 25W | Solid for daily |
| iPhone 17 Air | 27 | 20W | Needs pack for more |
| iPhone 17 Pro | 33 | 25W | Bigger than base |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | 39 | 25W | Best in lineup |
Pro Max is top for heavy users.
Connectivity and Storage
All have Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread for smart homes via N1 chip. 5G is fast on base and Pros with mmWave. Air only has slower sub-6GHz.
Storage starts at 256GB for all. Base goes to 512GB. Air to 1TB? Pros to 1TB, Pro Max to 2TB (expensive at $2,000 total).
USB speeds: Base and Air at USB 2 (480 Mbps, like old Lightning). Pros at USB 3 (10 Gbps) for fast transfers.
Dual-frequency GPS is now on all, better for maps.
Other Features and Accessories
All support Qi2 wireless charging. Pros have millimeter-wave antenna on top.
Cases: New silicone and techwoven. Techwoven only for Pros. Air has slim MagSafe battery.
No big Apple Intelligence talk this year; focus on hardware.
Price and Value
Prices: iPhone 17 $799, Air $999, Pro $1,099, Pro Max $1,199. All 256GB base.
Base offers best value with Pro features at low price. Air is gamble for thinness. Pros worth it for cameras and battery.
Which One Should You Buy?
If you want value, get iPhone 17. It's like a Pro without telephoto.
For thin and light, try Air, but watch battery.
For photos or power, Pro or Pro Max.
Pro Max for big screen and battery. Base for most people.
FAQ about the iPhone 17 lineup
1. What are the main differences between the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro?
The iPhone 17 is the base model at $799, with a 6.3-inch display, dual 48MP cameras (main and ultrawide), A19 chip, 8GB RAM, and 30 hours of battery life. It now includes Pro-level features like 120Hz ProMotion and 3,000 nits brightness. The iPhone 17 Pro, at $1,099, adds a third 48MP telephoto camera for 4x zoom, A19 Pro chip with an extra GPU core, 12GB RAM, vapor chamber cooling for 40% better sustained performance, USB 3 speeds, and 33 hours of battery. The Pro focuses on advanced photography and power, while the base offers great value for everyday use.
2. Is the iPhone 17 Air worth buying compared to the others?
The iPhone 17 Air at $999 is ultra-thin at 5.6mm with a titanium body, 6.5-inch display, single 48MP camera, A19 Pro chip (with one less GPU core), 12GB RAM, and 27 hours of battery life. It appeals to those who want a light, premium feel, but it compromises on cameras (no ultrawide or telephoto), battery (needs a MagSafe pack for all-day use), thermal performance (no vapor chamber, may overheat), and 5G (only sub-6GHz). If thinness is your priority and you do not mind the limits, it is worth it. Otherwise, the base iPhone 17 provides better features for less money.
3. Which model has the best battery life?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the best battery at 39 hours of video playback, followed by the iPhone 17 Pro at 33 hours. The base iPhone 17 gets 30 hours, and the iPhone 17 Air has the lowest at 27 hours. The Pros benefit from thicker designs, rearranged components, and eSIM-only options in the US that add about 5% more capacity. All models charge quickly to 50% in 20 minutes with a 40W adapter, except the Air at slower 20W speeds. Choose the Pro Max if you need the longest runtime for heavy use.
4. Do all iPhone 17 models have the same display quality?
Yes, all models—the iPhone 17, Air, Pro, and Pro Max—have the same high-quality display features: 120Hz ProMotion with 1Hz always-on mode, 3,000 nits peak brightness, anti-reflective coating, and ultra-thin bezels. The only differences are screen sizes: 6.3 inches for the base and Pro, 6.5 inches for the Air, and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max. This is the first time Apple has standardized top-tier displays across the lineup, so even the $799 base model gets the best screen Apple has made.
5. How do storage and pricing compare, and is there a best value?
All start at 256GB: iPhone 17 at $799 (up to 512GB), Air at $999 (up to 1TB), Pro at $1,099 (up to 1TB), and Pro Max at $1,199 (up to 2TB, costing $2,000 total). The base doubled storage from last year's 128GB without a price hike, making it the best value with Pro-like features. The Air's higher price feels steep for its compromises. The Pros increased by $100 but offset it with doubled storage. For most people, the iPhone 17 offers the top value unless you need pro cameras or extra battery.
Conclusion
The iPhone 17 lineup brings exciting changes, with the base model standing out as a strong choice for budget-conscious buyers thanks to its Pro-level upgrades. The Air experiments with thin design but may not suit everyone due to its trade-offs. The Pro and Pro Max deliver for power users focused on cameras and performance. Consider your needs—like battery, cameras, or size—before picking one. So review your options to get the right fit.