Who should buy the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max

Every September Apple updates its smartphone lineup, and with that comes the question: should you upgrade? For 2025, the company has introduced three models — the base iPhone 17, the ultra-thin iPhone Air, and the flagships iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The Pro versions didn’t revolutionize the design, but got practical improvements to suit certain categories of users.

For those who want power without the weight

After two years of experimenting with titanium, Apple is returning to aluminum. The new material makes the case lighter, dissipates heat better, and lets you release vibrant colors.

In addition, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max get a vapor chamber cooling system. This should help the smartphones handle the stresses of gaming and video recording, where past models got noticeably warm.

And it’s a great way to help the smartphones handle the stresses of gaming and video recording, where past models got noticeably warm.

For those who care about battery life

• iPhone 17 Pro: 3,988 mAh (SIM) or 4,252 mAh (eSIM);
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: up to 5,088 mAh (eSIM);

Apple claims: Pro Max on eSIM delivers up to 39 hours of video playback — two hours more than the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

For photo and video lovers

The key update — a new 48MP telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom. Now all three modules (wide, ultra-wide and tele) have the same 48MP resolution, ensuring consistent quality when you switch.

ProRes RAW video up to 120 fps and Apple Log 2 support have been added. Even this year’s Apple presentation was shot on an iPhone 17 Pro (with professional equipment, of course).

All of this year’s presentation was shot on an iPhone 17 Pro (with professional gear, of course).

The front-facing camera is upgraded, too: 18MP with multi-format shooting — frames for different aspect ratios without flipping the device.

For those who want a colorful design

Apple rarely experiments with Pro Series colors, but this year it added Cosmic Orange. In addition, the classic Silver and Deep Blue remain.

For those who always take the top

• iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3″ display, more comfortable in the hand.
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: bigger screen and record battery life.

Functionally both devices are identical, the choice depends on size preference.

Who can do without the Pro

Not everyone needs a flagship. For messenger, social networking, and video, the regular iPhone 17 will suffice. It’s got the same A19 chip and a better display.

For those who appreciate an ultra-thin body, the iPhone Air — just 5.64mm thick. It continues the iPod touch tradition rather than competing with the Pro lineup.