Apple just introduced the iPhone 17 family along with iPhone Air. Here are some of my observations and educated guesses based on the available info.

First of all, I’d like to refer to the sophisticated yet consistent comparison tool at: https://www.apple.com/iphone/compare/. Below is a cleaner comparison between the iPhone 17 models and iPhone Air. We can refer back to this chart later.

The new iPhone 17

The new iPhone 17 is a big step up from iPhone 16, which excites me a lot.

The most interesting upgrade is the 18 MP front camera with Center Stage features. This is one of those moments when you see an Apple product and think, “That’s clever—why hasn’t anyone else thought of it before?” It introduces so many new use cases for the front camera, especially in the new dual-capture video mode—assuming it also automatically tracks faces so they always stay in frame, which unfortunately is wrong based on my test with the actual phone.

Another meaningful upgrade is the screen, which now supports an always-on display with LTPO technology. Now you can see your customized screen and notifications without tapping your phone.

The new iPhone 17 is such an all-rounder that I would recommend upgrading if you’re using a non-Pro model—even if you’re using an iPhone 16.

The new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max

Many things actually didn’t change on the iPhone 17 Pro from last year’s iPhone 16 Pro, such as the main and ultra-wide cameras, screen quality (brighter outdoors only), Action button, and camera button.

And then there are some upgrades shared—but not exclusive—to the new Pro model, such as the new front camera, dual recording, and Apple’s in-house modem, which don’t make the iPhone 17 Pro stand out from the crowd.

The biggest change on the iPhone 17 Pro is the most drastic design shift since the iPhone 11 Pro. The new design introduces more distinct differences between the Pro models and other devices. It’s not just important but necessary to keep the Pro line distinct, and the new design clearly achieves this goal.

Another design change is the material, which rolls back to aluminum from titanium. Apple stated the reasons for the change are better heat dissipation and lower density. I believe the lower density plays a bigger role here. This year, the iPhone 17 Pro is 206 g (7 g heavier than the iPhone 16 Pro) and the iPhone 17 Pro Max is 233 g (6 g heavier than the iPhone 16 Pro Max). Titanium probably wouldn’t work well if it added even more weight to the phone itself.

The new iPhone 17 Pro still appeals to prosumers or content creators with the new telephoto lens, but these are largely the same and irrelevant to most users. Compared to the upgrades on the regular iPhone 17, all the changes on the iPhone 17 Pro are just meh to me.

Which one should you get?

In my last year’s iPhone 16 Pro review, I recommended it over the regular iPhone 16 due to the more complete experience with only a $200 price gap.

This year, with the iPhone 17 Pro, the upgrades are quite limited, in my opinion. And the price gap has jumped to $300 from $200. Unless you’re an avid photographer or spend a few hours a week editing videos professionally, there’s no need to pay the extra $300—the iPhone 17 is the better buy. If you do have the extra cash, I’d suggest investing it in new AirPods or some Apple stock.

The iPhone Air is in one of its own league, which I have covered below:

iPhone Air: Baseline Acceptable, Except for One Feature

The New iPhone Air: Why Does It Exist?