iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro: The base iPhone suddenly makes a lot more sense
A 120Hz screen, new cameras, more storage, same price: the iPhone 17 sounds almost too good to be true.
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Apple’s 2025 iPhones are here, and for the first time in years, the base iPhone feels truly worth its money. In fact, the iPhone 17 sounds like a much better deal than the iPhone 17 Pro. Not only has the base model finally gained a smooth 120Hz ProMotion display, but it also has a new 48 MP ultrawide camera and the same new 18 MP selfie camera as the Pro.
The icing on the cake is that (despite the increased base storage of 256 GB) the iPhone 17 keeps its predecessor's price of $799, whereas the Pro has jumped to $1099.
For that extra cost, the iPhone 17 Pro introduces a redesigned aluminum build with a sturdier design, a more powerful A19 Pro chip with vapor chamber cooling, and debuts a 48 MP telephoto camera with extended zoom. At $1,099, Apple has positioned the Pro as the creator’s iPhone, while the regular iPhone 17 may finally be enough for everyone else.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro differences:
| iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|
| 6.3" OLED 1-120Hz ProMotion Always-on | 6.3" LTPO OLED 1-120Hz ProMotion Always-On |
| A19 (3nm N3P) 8 GB RAM No vapor chamber cooling | A19 Pro (3nm N3P) 12 GB RAM vapor chamber cooling |
| Dual rear cameras | Triple rear cameras |
| 18 MP selfie (new) | 18 MP selfie (new) |
| Up to 30 h video playback (27 h streamed) | Up to 33 h video playback (30 h streamed) |
| Wired charging: 50% in ~20 min (40W adapter) | Wired charging: 50% in ~20 min (40W adapter) |
| $800 (256 GB base) | Likely from $1,100 (256 GB base) |
| 512 GB max storage | 1 TB max storage |
Table of Contents:
Design and Size
Ceramic Shield 2 protection, slimmer bezels, and a new Pro look
iPhone 17 Pro gets a tougher Ceramic Shield 2 back and a new forged aluminum body. | Image credit — Apple
The iPhone 17 continues with an aluminum frame and glass back, but introduces Ceramic Shield 2 on the front, which Apple says is three times more scratch resistant than before. The back remains reinforced glass.
The iPhone 17 Pro moves away from last year’s titanium and adopts a new forged aluminum unibody. Apple highlights this as lighter, stronger, and more thermally efficient, as it integrates the vapor chamber cooling system directly into the frame. Unlike the base model, the Pro is protected by Ceramic Shield 2 on both the front and the back, making it more resistant to scratches and cracks.
The Pro also debuts a redesigned rectangular "camera plateau", which houses its triple 48 MP camera system and sets it apart visually from the dual-camera iPhone 17.
When it comes to size and weight, the iPhone 17 comes in at 149.6 × 71.5 × 7.95 mm and weighs 177 grams. The iPhone 17 Pro is slightly taller, wider, and thicker at 150.0 × 71.9 × 8.75 mm, and it’s also noticeably heavier at 206 grams.
The iPhone 17 Pro moves away from last year’s titanium and adopts a new forged aluminum unibody. Apple highlights this as lighter, stronger, and more thermally efficient, as it integrates the vapor chamber cooling system directly into the frame. Unlike the base model, the Pro is protected by Ceramic Shield 2 on both the front and the back, making it more resistant to scratches and cracks.
When it comes to size and weight, the iPhone 17 comes in at 149.6 × 71.5 × 7.95 mm and weighs 177 grams. The iPhone 17 Pro is slightly taller, wider, and thicker at 150.0 × 71.9 × 8.75 mm, and it’s also noticeably heavier at 206 grams.
| iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|
| Thickness 7.95 mm | Thickness 8.75 mm |
| Dimensions 149.6 × 71.5 mm | Dimensions 150.0 × 71.9 mm |
| Weight 177 g | Weight 206 g |
The iPhone 17 and 17 Pro colors:
- iPhone 17: Black, Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage, White
- iPhone 17 Pro: Black, Silver, Gold, and a new standout Orange
Display Differences
iPhone 17 finally gets 120Hz ProMotion — smoother scrolling is no longer Pro-exclusive. | Image credit — Apple
One of the biggest upgrades this year is that the iPhone 17 now has a 120Hz ProMotion OLED display. Apple withheld this feature for years, leaving the base iPhones stuck at 60Hz, but it’s finally here. The result will be smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming.
Both models use 6.3-inch OLED panels with the same resolution (2622 × 1206, 460 ppi) and peak brightness of 3000 nits outdoors, making them much easier to read under sunlight compared to the 2000 nits of the iPhone 16 series. In HDR content, both peak at 1600 nits, and typical brightness remains 1000 nits.
Apple has added a seven-layer anti-reflective coating to the iPhone 17 series.
It is not quite as effective as the coating on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but as seen in this hands-on by YouTuber MrWhoseTheBoss, it noticeably reduces reflections compared to the iPhone 16 series.
The Dynamic Island is unchanged across both phones, and Face ID remains the only biometric option.
Both models use 6.3-inch OLED panels with the same resolution (2622 × 1206, 460 ppi) and peak brightness of 3000 nits outdoors, making them much easier to read under sunlight compared to the 2000 nits of the iPhone 16 series. In HDR content, both peak at 1600 nits, and typical brightness remains 1000 nits.
Apple even added LTPO technology to the new base model, allowing the refresh rate to scale down to 1Hz. This unlocks Always-On Display support and greater power efficiency.
Apple has added a seven-layer anti-reflective coating to the iPhone 17 series.
It is not quite as effective as the coating on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but as seen in this hands-on by YouTuber MrWhoseTheBoss, it noticeably reduces reflections compared to the iPhone 16 series.
The Dynamic Island is unchanged across both phones, and Face ID remains the only biometric option.
| iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|
| Size 6.3" OLED | Size 6.3" LTPO OLED |
| Brightness 3000 nits (peak) | Brightness 3000 (peak) |
Performance and Software
A19 vs A19 Pro, USB 2 vs USB 3, 8 GB vs 12 GB RAM
iPhone 17 Pro adds vapor chamber cooling — a first for iPhones — to handle heavier workloads. | Image credit — Apple
Both phones run on Apple’s latest 3nm chips, but the Pro uses the more powerful A19 Pro. The A19 chip inside the iPhone 17 has a 6-core CPU (2 performance, 4 efficiency), a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. The A19 Pro adds a 6-core GPU, giving it more headroom for gaming, creative work, and Apple Intelligence features.
The Pro also gains a vapor chamber cooling system, allowing it to sustain peak performance for longer without overheating, which will be noticable when gaming or doing a lot of video recording and editting, for example.
The iPhone 17 comes with 8 GB of RAM and storage up to 512 GB storage, while the Pro is equipped with 12 GB of RAM and offers storage up to 1 TB (both start at 256 GB). That makes the Pro better suited for workflows that include larger files.
The Pro also gains a vapor chamber cooling system, allowing it to sustain peak performance for longer without overheating, which will be noticable when gaming or doing a lot of video recording and editting, for example.
| iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|
| Chip A19 | Chip A19 Pro |
| Process 3nm | Process 3nm |
| RAM, Storage 8/256 GB 8/512 GB --- LPDDR5X RAM NVMe storage | RAM, Storage 12/256 GB 12/512 GB 12/1 TB LPDDR5X RAM NVMe storage |
Another important difference is the USB-C port. The iPhone 17 only supports USB 2 speeds, meaning file transfers are limited. The iPhone 17 Pro supports USB 3 at up to 10Gbps, making it much faster for moving ProRes video or large files.
On the software side, both models ship with iOS 26, which introduces the new Liquid Glass design language, Live Translate, Call Screening, and the first wave of Apple Intelligence features.
On the software side, both models ship with iOS 26, which introduces the new Liquid Glass design language, Live Translate, Call Screening, and the first wave of Apple Intelligence features.
Camera
Dual 48 MP vs triple 48 MP
Apple upgrades the selfie game with a new 18 MP Center Stage front camera on the iPhone 17. | Image credit — Apple
Apple has finally upgraded the base iPhone’s secondary camera: the iPhone 17 now has a 48 MP ultrawide alongside its 48 MP main sensor. This should mean sharper detail, better low-light performance, and improved macro photography when shooting up close. On the front, it gets the brand-new 18 MP Center Stage selfie camera, which has a wider field of view, automatic reframing, and improved stabilization for video.
The iPhone 17 Pro steps things up significantly with an all-48 MP triple system that includes a new 48 MP telephoto camera, which allows the Pro to go up to 40x, while the base iPhone 17 is limited to 10x.
iPhone 17 Official Sample Photos:
iPhone 17 Pro Max Official Sample Photos:
| iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|
| Main 48 MP, f/1.6 26 mm 1/1.56" sensor size | Main 48 MP, f/1.8 24 mm 1/1.28" sensor size |
| Ultrawide 24 MP, f/2.2 13 mm 1/2.55" sensor size | Ultrawide 48 MP, f/2.2 13 mm 1/2.55" sensor size |
| Telephoto None | Telephoto 48 MP, f/2.8 4X zoom 1/2.55" sensor size |
| Selfie 18 MP Center Stage, f/1.9 | Selfie 18 MP Center Stage, f/1.9 |
For video, both support Dolby Vision HDR, Cinematic mode, Action mode, and Dual Capture. The Pro, however, unlocks more advanced tools: 4K120 ProRes, ProRes RAW, Apple Log, Academy Color Encoding System, and Genlock support, all of which are features aimed squarely at professionals.
Battery Life and Charging
Bigger batteries, faster charging
Even the base iPhone 17 now hits 30 hours of video playback — a new record for its size. | Image credit — Apple
Both iPhones use stacked battery technology for better energy density and durability. The iPhone 17 comes with a ~3,692 mAh battery, while the iPhone 17 Pro is slightly larger at ~3,988 mAh (Nano SIM) or ~4,252 mAh (eSIM). Keep in mind that battery sizes are not confirmed yet, so take these with a grain of salt.
Apple rates the iPhone 17 for up to 30 hours of video playback (27 streamed), while the Pro lasts up to 33 hours (30 streamed). These are Apple’s best runtimes yet for this size.
Apple rates the iPhone 17 for up to 30 hours of video playback (27 streamed), while the Pro lasts up to 33 hours (30 streamed). These are Apple’s best runtimes yet for this size.
| iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|
| Video playback Up to 30 h (27 h streamed) | Video playback Up to 33 h (30 h streamed) |
Charging speeds 50% in ~20 min (40W adapter) 25W MagSafe / Qi2 Wired reverse charging USB-C 2.0 | Charging speeds 50% in ~20 min (40W adapter) 25W MagSafe / Qi2 Wired reverse charging USB-C 3.2 |
Charging speeds have also improved. With Apple’s new 40W Dynamic Power Adapter, both models can reach 50% in about 20 minutes. Wireless charging remains capped at 25W, but both phones now support Qi2, so third-party magnetic chargers can finally match MagSafe’s top speeds.
Both models support reverse wired charging, but still no reverse wireless charging, even on the Pro.
This year software contributes to the battery life too. iOS 26 introduces Adaptive Power Mode, which uses AI to learn user habits and subtly adjust performance and background activity to extend battery life.
Both models support reverse wired charging, but still no reverse wireless charging, even on the Pro.
Specs Comparison
Here's a quick overview of the iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro specs.
| iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|
| Size, weight 149.6 x 71.5 x 8 mm, 177 g | Size, weight 150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm, 206 g |
| Screen 6.3" OLED 120Hz | Screen 6.3" LTPO OLED 120Hz |
| Processor A19 3nm | Processor A19 Pro 3nm |
| Versions: --- 8/256 GB 8/512 GB LPDDRX5 | Versions: 12/256 GB 12/512 GB 12/1 TB LPDDRX5 |
| Cameras: 48 MP main 48 MP ultra --- 18 MP front | Cameras: 48 MP main 48 MP ultra 48 MP 4X zoom 18 MP front |
| Battery: ~3,692 mAh | Battery: ~3,988 mAh |
| Charging: USB-C 40W wired 25W wireless | Charging: USB-C 40W wired 25W wireless |
Summary
The iPhone 17 finally feels like the iPhone most people wanted years ago. With a 120Hz display, brighter screen, 48 MP ultrawide, and 18 MP Center Stage selfie camera, it no longer lags far behind the Pro. Add in the longer battery life and faster charging, and the $799 model sounds like a much better deal, especially considering the unchanged price tag with double the storage of its predecessor.
The iPhone 17 Pro is still the choice for power users. Its telephoto zoom camera, larger main sensor, A19 Pro chip with vapor chamber cooling, and USB 3 port make it the obvious pick for creators. The advanced video suite (ProRes RAW, Apple Log, Genlock) further solidifies it as the iPhone for professionals.
For most people, though, the regular iPhone 17 seems to cover the essentials so well that the Pro is harder to justify. Unless you need pro-grade video tools, extended zoom, or 1TB of storage, it sounds like the base iPhone 17 will finally do the job.
The iPhone 17 Pro is still the choice for power users. Its telephoto zoom camera, larger main sensor, A19 Pro chip with vapor chamber cooling, and USB 3 port make it the obvious pick for creators. The advanced video suite (ProRes RAW, Apple Log, Genlock) further solidifies it as the iPhone for professionals.
For most people, though, the regular iPhone 17 seems to cover the essentials so well that the Pro is harder to justify. Unless you need pro-grade video tools, extended zoom, or 1TB of storage, it sounds like the base iPhone 17 will finally do the job.
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