iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro: Is the Premium Worth It?
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Apple’s 2025 iPhone lineup has made one thing clear: the gap between the regular iPhone and the Pro models has never been closer.
With the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro sharing many of the same great features, especially the display and front-facing camera system, the question for most buyers is whether they really need to spend more money on a “premium” device.
On paper, the two devices look almost the same, but they do have a few key differences that will probably make you choose one over the other. If you’re not sure which iPhone 17 you should get this year, here are the main differences between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro: Design
At first glance, the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro look almost identical, especially if you’re only looking at the front. Both have Apple’s good ol’ design that we’ve seen for years now. Additionally, both devices sport the new and stronger Ceramic Shield 2 glass on the front.
But once you turn them around, you’ll notice one of the first clear differences: the camera bump — or, as Apple now calls it, the “plateau.” The standard iPhone 17 sticks with Apple’s familiar pill-shaped bump with two camera lenses that was introduced on last year’s iPhone 16. However, the iPhone 17 Pro switches things up this year with a rectangular bump that’s not everyone’s favorite, to say the least. It’s more than a cosmetic change, as it also makes room for an additional telephoto lens, which we’ll get into later, and improves the placement of the antennas.
Size is another difference, albeit a slight one. The iPhone 17 measures 5.89 inches tall and 2.81 inches wide, making it a touch smaller and easier to use with one hand. The iPhone 17 Pro is slightly larger at 5.91 inches tall and 2.83 inches wide.
These differences may not seem significant on paper, but in practice, the iPhone 17 Pro will definitely feel bulkier, especially if you plan to use a case. Of course, you might not notice it unless you have both devices side by side, or if you’re upgrading from a regular iPhone 16.
With that said, weight might be a factor for you. Because of the larger body and different materials, the iPhone 17 Pro weighs 7.27 ounces, while the iPhone 17 weighs 6.24 ounces. Again, not a huge change, but the slight extra weight could make holding the iPhone 17 Pro uncomfortable, especially after prolonged use.
Color options are another big difference between these two models. The iPhone 17 Pro comes in three finishes: cosmic orange, deep blue, and silver. All of them will make the iPhone feel and look premium, although the new orange color may not be for everyone.
The iPhone 17, on the other hand, offers more color options with lavender, sage, mist blue, white, and black. This makes the base model more appealing if you’re a casual user or you’re just someone who wants a phone that looks more fun.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro: Display
For the past five years, one of the biggest differences between Apple’s base iPhone and its Pro models has been the screen. Fortunately for iPhone fans, that line no longer exists, and it’s one of the most exciting changes in this generation.
Both models ship with a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display, offering incredible quality and color accuracy. As we mentioned before, they’re also both protected by Ceramic Shield 2 on the front, which Apple says is tougher than previous generations.
It’s worth mentioning that the iPhone 17 Pro is slightly ahead by adding Ceramic Shield 2 protection on the back, which will help keep the device safe for longer. That said, if you’re putting your phone in a case, the benefit is less important in everyday use.
However, the most significant change for us is that, for the first time ever, both the base iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro include ProMotion and an Always On display. That’s significant, as Apple previously reserved ProMotion’s adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate for its higher-end models. Now, scrolling, gaming, and animations will feel equally fluid on both devices.
The Always On feature also makes both phones feel more modern, letting you glance at widgets or the time without having to tap the screen.
Brightness is also the same, with both devices reaching a peak of 3,000 nits. This makes them some of the brightest displays in the market, and makes them perfect to use under direct sunlight.
These huge upgrades for the base model make them a really compelling option, especially since you can save a good amount of money and get pretty much the same display.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro: Camera
When it comes to the camera system, Apple still leaves a significant gap between the two devices.
On the front, you’ll still have the same experience with both iPhones. That’s because both devices have been upgraded to a new 18 MP front-facing camera with Center Stage support. This feature automatically keeps you in frame during video calls and now even extends to photos, so group selfies will be great no matter how many people are in the picture. Both also capture ultra-stabilized video and offer Dual Capture, letting you record with front and rear cameras at the same time.
It’s when you turn these iPhone models around that you start to notice the differences. The iPhone 17 packs a dual-camera setup: a 48 MP Fusion main camera and a 48 MP Fusion Ultra Wide. This will let you take amazing shots, either from landscapes or macro photography. It also supports Dolby Vision video recording at up to 4K 60 frames per second, and optical zoom goes up to 2x, which is perfect for most casual users.
The iPhone 17 Pro also comes with a 48 MP Fusion main camera and a 48 MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera. However, it also adds a third 48 MP Fusion telephoto lens, which offers a much greater optical zoom range that includes .5x to 1x, 2x, 4x, and even 8x.
For photography lovers, this is a major upgrade. Whether you’re capturing a distant singer at a concert or shooting portraits, the versatility will be much appreciated. Plus, macro photography and Dolby Vision recording are also supported, making the iPhone 17 Pro a must-have if you have the best in terms of video and photography.
If you’re the kind of person who mainly uses your phone for casual shots, the iPhone 17’s dual system will be more than enough. But if you see your iPhone as a serious camera, the iPhone 17 Pro’s triple-lens system will justify the price.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro: Performance
To some extent, the two devices share some processing power. Both iPhone models feature a six-core CPU and a 16-core Neural Engine that power Apple’s latest machine learning features.
The differences lie in the chip and the GPU. The iPhone 17 runs the A19 chip with a five-core GPU, while the iPhone 17 Pro packs the A19 Pro with a six-core GPU. That extra core may sound minor, but it translates into meaningful gains in performance for graphics-intensive tasks like gaming and video editing.
The A19 Pro also delivers slightly better thermal performance, and the iPhone 17 Pro comes with Apple’s new cooling system: a vapor chamber. This new technology allows the iPhone to distribute the heat across the iPhone and away from the A19 Pro chip, which means it can sustain high performance for longer periods of time.
This matters if you’re playing console-level games optimized for Apple silicon or working on things like 4K video editing from your device. Both chips are blazing fast in regular, day-to-day use, but the Pro offers more capabilities for demanding tasks and future-proofing.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro: Connectivity
This is a small difference, but it can be a deal-breaker for some users. Both devices use USB-C, but as with previous models, the iPhone 17 Pro supports better transfer speeds using USB 3, up to 20 times faster than the USB 2 on the base iPhone 17.
For most users, this won’t matter much, as charging speeds remain the same between both devices. However, for photographers, filmmakers, or anyone moving large files regularly, the iPhone 17 Pro’s faster data transfers can save significant time. The faster port speeds also allow the iPhone 17 Pro to record video directly onto an external storage device.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro: Battery Life
Battery life is another important thing to consider, and here the iPhone 17 Pro is ahead again — although not by as much as it’s been in the past.
According to Apple, the iPhone 17 Pro can provide up to 33 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 17 only lasts up to 30 hours. That’s to its new ProMotion display, the iPhone 17 gets a nice improvement that narrows the gap over last year’s models, which offered 27 and 22 hours, respectively, but the iPhone 17 Pro still comes out ahead, giving you a bit more cushion if you’re a heavy user and leaving you with extra power before you have the chance to charge it.
This small difference will be important for users who are always on the go or tend to work hard on their devices throughout the day. With that said, if you’re a casual user and have no problem with slightly shorter battery life, this won’t be a significant issue.
Overall, the differences here aren’t massive, but they can be decisive if battery life is really important for you.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro: Price
We’ve reached the last difference, and yet one of the biggest ones, between the two models.
The iPhone 17 starts at $799 for the 256 GB model — the same starting price as last year’s iPhone 16, with twice the storage — and goes up to $999 for the 512 GB, which is the highest capacity available.
The iPhone 17 Pro, on the other hand, starts at $1,099 for 256 GB and climbs all the way to $1,499 for 1 TB. That’s at least a $300 price difference, a gap which increases if you need more storage.
For the price, the iPhone 17 delivers incredible value, offering many of the same features as the iPhone Pro, such as ProMotion and a front-facing camera system, without breaking the bank. With that said, the iPhone 17 Pro will be your only option if you need to go beyond 512 GB.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro: Which One Should You Get?
So, is the premium device and price worth it? The answer depends more on what you need your new iPhone for.
For most people, the iPhone 17 will be more than enough. With ProMotion, Always On display, and a great camera system, it covers pretty much everything casual users need from their iPhones and then some. The cheaper price makes it an even easier pick to recommend.
For power users, the Pro’s advantages are more noticeable. If you care about the best camera system on the market, want more battery life, or tend to do demanding work or gaming on your device, the iPhone 17 Pro is the best option for you. Not only that, but with the improvements on both hardware and software, the iPhone 17 Pro will most likely last longer over time compared to the base model.
Overall, the obvious choice for most users will be the iPhone 17, even if you’re a power user. If you have the money or absolutely need the extra power and battery, the iPhone 17 Pro might be better for you. Either way, you can’t go wrong with either of these devices.
Will You Pay Extra for the Pro?
The gap that sets the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro apart has never been narrower. Other than the camera, you now get nearly everything the Pro models have to offer for $300 less, which is a no-brainer for casual users or people on a budget.
With that said, there are a few things that make the iPhone 17 Pro still stand out. Whether it’s because you want the feel of a premium device or you need a more powerful iPhone, there are valid reasons to spend the extra money for the Pro models.
The good news is that whichever model you choose, you’re getting one of the most advanced smartphones on the market.
