iPhone 17 vs. 17 Pro: Which New iPhone Should You Get?
Comparing the Newest iPhones
Design & Build
Let's start with the fundamentals: how are each of these iPhones designed? They have a lot in common: both the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro feature the Always-On display, Dynamic Island, a Ceramic Shield 2 front and water resistance up to 6 meters for up to 30 minutes. While both feature an aluminum construction, only the iPhone 17's frame is made of aluminum; the Pro has an aluminum unibody, which better dissipates heat. The iPhone 17 Pro also features Ceramic Shield on the back and is a slightly larger phone, 6.9" compared to 6.4". So, which phone has a better design? It depends on what you want from your phone. If you prefer a smaller device, the standard 17 is for you, but if you're someone who tends to drop their phone often, the added durability of the 17 Pro is a good fit for you.
What's Inside: Chips, Cores & More
The iPhone 17 Pro is meant to be an upgraded version of the standard 17, ideal for content creators, gamers and other professionals, and you see that the most in its processing power. The iPhone 17 features Apple's A19 chip, a 6-core CPU, a 5-core GPU and a 16-core neural engine. The iPhone 17 Pro features the A19 Pro chop, a 6-core CPU, a 6-core GPU and a 16-core neural engine. To avoid getting too technical, the iPhone 17 is built to be fast, responsive and intelligent, and the 17 Pro even more so. If you do a lot of mobile gaming, the 17 Pro is a better choice as this added processing power reduces lag and tearing. It's also ideal if you're on the go for work a lot and find yourself opening large attachments or working on spreadsheets.
Storage Options
The easiest way to determine your storage needs is to look at the capacity on your current iPhone and determine how much of it you've used. iPhone 17 has 256GB and 512GB storage options, while the iPhone 17 Pro has both of those options plus a massive 1TB capacity option. If you're about to hit your storage limit, it's probably a good idea to upgrade your storage; how much you choose to upgrade will depend on how many apps you like to have on your phone, the photos in your camera roll and more.
All-Day Battery Life
Both of these phones offer more than all-day battery, even when watching videos. The iPhone 17's battery can last up to 30 hours, and the iPhone 17 Pro's 39. If you tend to watch a lot of video content on your phone, or you're someone who forgets to charge your phone, the additional 9 hours on the iPhone 17 Pro will come in handy. As with many of the features here, the Pro builds on the already-great features of the iPhone 17.
The Differences Between Cameras
What both of these iPhones have in common is a 48MP Fusion Main camera and a 48MP Ultra Wide camera, which help capture high-resolution photos in any lighting condition, both indoors and out. They both have the new Dual Capture Video function, with simultaneous front and rear capture that's great for sporting events or concerts. While they share these lenses in common, the iPhone 17 Pro gets an upgrade with up to 8x optical zoom, whereas the 17 stops at 2x. Additionally, they both feature the 18MP Center Stage front camera, which gives selfies a major enhancement. However, what sets the iPhone 17 Pro apart is the 48MP Fusion Telephoto camera. This camera helps capture the most detailed image possible, like the texture on clothing or fur or feathers on an animal. In short, both of these phones have majorly upgraded cameras. If you're a photographer or content creator, it's probably worth upgrading to the 17 Pro; casual users will still be impressed by the 17's camera.
Comparing Color Options
While not the most important factor when buying a new phone, you probably want to like how a device looks when you're spending $799 or more. There's no overlap in the available colors for the newest generation of iPhone. The iPhone 17 comes in lavender, sage, mist blue, white and black colors, while the iPhone 17 Pro is available in silver, Deep Blue and Cosmic Orange. If you really love the look of a certain color, weigh that against the other factors we've discussed here.
iPhone 17 vs. 17 Pro: Which New Phone is Best For You?
Think of the iPhone 17 vs. 17 Pro this way: the iPhone 17 has great battery life, processing power and camera quality, and the 17 Pro is even better at those things. In short, they're both a great upgrade, so you'll need to think about what you do the most with your phone. If you're a casual user who likes taking photos with friends, scrolling social media and maybe checking your email, the 17 is a great choice. But if you do a lot of mobile gaming, use your phone for work or want the biggest upgrade possible, go with the 17 Pro. No matter which phone you choose, you can find the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro at Abt. If you really want to do a deep dive on these phones, you can read more in our recap of the "Awe Dropping" Apple event, where we cover each feature on these new phones extensively. If you have questions about buying an iPhone at Abt, call us at 800-860-3577 or visit the Apple boutique inside our atrium.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We think it's worth upgrading to any of the iPhone 17 models. The camera gets a big upgrade on every model, with features like Dual Capture, and the processors inside are really powerful for fast, seamless operation no matter what you're doing on your phone.
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The iPhone 17 is 6.4" tall.
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The iPhone 17 Pro is 6.9" tall.
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If you're a casual user who mostly uses their phone for texting, social media and taking pet pics, the 17 is still a major upgrade. If you're a content creator, mobile gamer or otherwise use your phone for work, you'll appreciate the upgraded features of the iPhone 17 Pro.
