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iPhone Q&A
Published September 29, 2025
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What are the major differences between the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air? Which is best for my needs?
There are sixteen specific iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air models (four of each), but this EveryiPhone.com Q&A primarily covers the collective differences to make it straightforward to select which is best for you.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Left to Right: iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, Air)
After settling into a comfortable routine in the previous three years with four models -- two lower end in two sizes (regular, Plus) and two higher end in two sizes (Pro, Pro Max) -- Apple decided to shake things up in 2025 with a single entry-level option, two higher-end options (still Pro and Pro Max), and a new, thinner option -- the iPhone Air.
The iPhone Air has some lower end and some higher end features, so a detailed comparison of the entire lineup can be especially useful accordingly.
External Design & Functionality Differences
Just like many earlier iPhone models released in previous years, the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max and even the iPhone Air can look similar upon first glance.
However, just compared to one another (and ignoring many other models), the single rear camera -- and much thinner case -- are a dead giveaway for the iPhone Air, dual rear cameras make it easy to spot the iPhone 17, and triple rear cameras make it clear that you're looking at an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max.
All are rounded rectangles with flat sides, have a glass front and back, and have nearly edge-to-edge displays. All of these models host the "Dynamic Island" at the top of the display and have essentially the same physical buttons along the sides -- volume up/down and "Action" on the left, "Side" and "Camera Control" buttons on the right, and a USB-C connector on the bottom. All support "MagSafe" wireless charging on the back, also.
All of these models have a "Ceramic Shield 2" on the front for durability, but the entry-level iPhone 17 lacks the original "Ceramic Shield" on the back that the other three models share. All are waterproof to the IP68 standard (IEC standard 60529) for up to 30 minutes of water exposure to a depth of six meters, though.
The entry-level iPhone 17 as well as the higher-end iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models all have an aluminum frame whereas the iPhone Air has a titanium one.
In addition to the less capable rear camera, the iPhone Air only has a single speaker whereas the other models have stereo speakers. The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max have a higher quality four-mic array, as well.
Some models sold outside of North America additionally have a side-mounted access panel for physical Nano SIM access (US models only support eSIM as do models sold in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and a handful of other countries).
The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro are smaller than the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air. The iPhone Air is thinner and lighter than the other three models, though:
 17 |
 17 Pro |
17 Pro Max |
 Air |
|
| Material: | Aluminum/Glass | Aluminum/Glass | Aluminum/Glass | Titanium/Glass |
| Rear: | 2 Cameras | 3 Cameras | 3 Cameras | 1 Camera |
| Speakers: | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo | Mono |
| Four Mics: | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Height (In.): | 5.89 | 5.91 | 6.43 | 6.15 |
| Width (In.): | 2.81 | 2.83 | 3.07 | 2.94 |
| Depth (In.): | 0.31 | 0.34 | 0.34 | 0.22 |
| Weight (Oz.): | 6.24 | 7.27 | 8.22 | 5.82 |
Display Differences
The iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air all use high quality "Super Retina XDR with ProMotion" displays with "Always On" capability, and an adaptive refresh rate up to 120 Hz. The dimensions/resolution are different:
17 |
17 Pro |
17 Pro Max |
Air |
|
| Display Type: | ProMotion | ProMotion | ProMotion | ProMotion |
| Dimensions: | 6.3" | 6.3" | 6.9" | 6.5" |
| Resolution: | 2622x1206 | 2622x1206 | 2868x1320 | 2736x1260 |
| PPI: | 460 | 460 | 460 | 460 |
| Brightness: | 1000 nits | 1000 nits | 1000 nits | 1000 nits |
| HDR Max: | 1600 nits | 1600 nits | 1600 nits | 1600 nits |
| Outdoor Max: | 3000 nits | 3000 nits | 3000 nits | 3000 nits |
| Contrast: | 2 million:1 | 2 million:1 | 2 million:1 | 2 million:1 |
| Always On: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Housing Color Differences
In addition to material differences, there are color differences between the iPhone 17; iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max; and iPhone Air.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 17 Colors)
The iPhone 17 (above) has five subdued color options -- Black, White, Sage (Green), "Mist Blue", and Lavender (left to right).
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 17 Pro/iPhone 17 Pro Max Colors)
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max (above) have three color options -- Silver, "Cosmic Orange", and "Deep Blue" (left to right).
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone Air Colors)
The iPhone Air (above) has four color options -- (Light) "Sky Blue", "Light Gold", "Cloud White", and"Space Black". In person, the blue is so pale that it almost looks white in some lighting conditions.
In previous recent years, Apple used more subtle "professional" colors -- in addition to titanium material -- to make the "Pro" models look more expensive than entry-level models. In 2025, though, the company took a bit of a departure and used more subdued colors and titanium for the new iPhone Air instead.
You might argue that the iPhone Air is the more "professional" model in appearance, although the "Pro" models still top it in performance, camera quality, and overall capabilities. To use a car analogy, the iPhone 17 Pro/iPhone 17 Pro Max is a bit more of a muscle car, complete with a "Cosmic Orange" color not that dissimilar from a late 1970s Trans Am.
The iPhone Air, on the other hand, with its quiet colors and polished titanium band along the edge is more equivalent to a sleek luxury car where appearance is given higher priority than raw horsepower.
Camera Differences
The cameras in the iPhone 17; iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max; and iPhone Air are substantially different from one another.
The front cameras offer essentially the same hardware specs, but the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max support ProRAW photography and ProRes video recording. The rear cameras in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are the most capable, as well.
Front Cameras
The front-facing camera on all four of these models -- which Apple has dubbed "Center Stage" -- support "Face ID" authentication, augmented reality (AR), still photos, and 4K video recording:
17 |
17 Pro |
17 Pro Max |
Air |
|
| Megapixels: | 18 MP | 18 MP | 18 MP | 18 MP |
| Aperture: | f/1.9 | f/1.9 | f/1.9 | f/1.9 |
| Video: | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| ProRAW: | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| ProRes: | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Rear Cameras
The iPhone 17 rear camera has a "Dual Fusion camera system" with 48 megapixel "Fusion Main" and 48 megapixel "Ultra Wide" lenses that shoot still photos and 4K video with a variety of filters and processing options.
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max both have a "Pro Fusion camera system" that combines three lenses -- a 48 megapixel "Fusion Main", 48 megapixel "Fusion Ultra Wide", and 48 megapixel "Fusion Telephoto." These models also support the Apple ProRAW photo format and ProRes video codec as well as other features geared toward professional photographers.
The iPhone Air has a single lens 48 megapixel "Fusion Main" camera that shoots still photos and 4K video; the least capable of these models:
17 |
17 Pro |
17 Pro Max |
Air |
|
| Megapixels: | 48 MP x2 | 48 MP x3 | 48 MP x3 | 48 MP |
| Fusion Main: | 26 mm, f/1.6 | 24 mm, f/1.78 | 24 mm, f/1.78 | 26 mm, f/1.6 |
| Ultra Wide: | 13 mm, f/2.2 | 13 mm, f/2.2 | 13 mm, f/2.2 | No |
| Telephoto: | No* | 100 mm, f/2.8 | 100 mm, f/2.8 | No |
| Digital Zoom: | 2x-10x* | 2x-40x† | 2x-40x† | 10x‡ |
| ProRAW: | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| ProRes: | No | Yes | Yes | No |
* By combining an image from both cameras, the iPhone 17 emulates a 2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, 4x optical zoom range, and a digital zoom up to 10x. Apple advertises that the Fusion Main also "enables" 12 megapixel "optical-quality" 2x Telephoto (52 mm focal length, f/1.6 aperture).
† By combining an image from multiple cameras, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max emulate an 8x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, 16x optical zoom range, and digital zoom up to 40x. Apple advertises that the Fusion Main also "enables" 12 megapixel "optical-quality" 2x Telephoto (48 mm focal length, f/1.78 aperture) and the "Fusion Telephoto" also "enables" 12 megapixel "optical quality" 8x Telephoto (200 mm focal length, f/2.8 aperture).
‡ The iPhone Air provides digital zoom up to 10x. Apple advertises that the Fusion Main camera also "enables" 12 megapixel "optical-quality" 2x Telephoto (52 mm focal length, f/1.6 aperture).
Identification Differences
The iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max are easy to mix up with any number of other iPhone models. The iPhone Air initially is pretty distinctive, but very well could be easy to confuse with future models.
It is not possible to identify specific models within each line by appearance alone, either.
Accordingly, one relatively easy way to uniquely identify these models is by the Model Number listed on the cardboard shipping box, inside the USB-C port, and within the iOS "Settings" app, among other places.
Consequently, for the purpose of this Q&A, it is sufficient to note that the following model numbers refer to these iPhone devices:
iPhone Model |
Model Number |
EveryiPhone.com's Ultimate iLookup feature also can precisely identify these iPhone models by Order Number (referred to as "Model" within the iOS "Settings" app under General > About), and other identifiers, as well.
Battery Life Differences
The iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air all have superb battery life:
17 |
17 Pro |
17 Pro Max |
Air |
|
| Local Video: | 30 Hours | 33 Hours | 39 Hours | 27 Hours |
| Streaming: | 27 Hours | 30 Hours | 35 Hours | 22 Hours |
Unfortunately, Apple no longer provides a battery life estimate for audio -- no doubt reflecting the reduced importance of these devices as portable music players since the iPod days -- but the largest iPhone 17 Pro Max provides the longest runtime in local video playback and streamed video playback alike.
All of these devices are "fast-charge capable" of charging to 50% capacity, as well.
Wireless Connectivity & Data Differences
Collectively, the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air models all provide the same general connectivity. For example, each provides 5G support, Gigabit LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, "second generation" Ultra Wideband, Thread networking, NFC capability, and more.
There also are a few 5G and 4G LTE bands that are supported by some models and not others. Most notably, for 5G, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max models sold in the United States support 5G mmWave bands n258 (26 GHz), n260 (39 GHz), n261 (28 GHz), but others do not.
Supported 4G and 5G bands vary accordingly:
iPhone Model |
Model No |
Additional 4G/5G |
14 (700 PS) n14 (700 PS) n258 (26 GHz) |
||
iPhone 17 (CA/MX/JP/SA) |
11 (1500 MHz) n14 (700 PS) |
|
iPhone 17 (Global) |
53 (TD 2500) |
|
iPhone 17 (China) |
-- |
iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max models sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and a handful of other countries only support eSIM and models sold in China support dual physical Nano SIM. The models sold just about everywhere else support eSIMs and a single physical Nano SIM.
None of the iPhone Air models support 5G mmWave. Other 4G and 5G band differences between models include:
iPhone Model |
Model No |
Additional 4G/5G |
14 (700 PS) n14 (700 PS) |
||
11 (1500 MHz) |
||
53 (TD 2500) |
||
-- |
The iPhone Air models, regardless of the location sold, only support eSIM.
Internal Differences
Although specific parts like batteries are different, these models have quite a bit in common internally. The higher-end iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max have the fastest performance, one more GPU core, faster USB-C charging, and LiDAR support:
17 |
17 Pro |
17 Pro Max |
Air |
|
| Clockspeed: | 4.25 GHz | 4.25 GHz | 4.25 GHz | 4.25 GHz |
| Processor: | A19 | A19 Pro | A19 Pro | A19 Pro |
| CPU: | 6 Cores | 6 Cores | 6 Cores | 6 Cores |
| GPU: | 5 Cores | 6 Cores | 6 Cores | 5 Cores |
| RAM: | 8 GB | 12 GB | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage: | 256/512 | 256/512/1 | 256/512/1/2 | 256/512/1 |
| LiDAR: | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| USB-C: | USB 2 | USB 3 | USB 3 | USB 2 |
In terms of overall performance, the higher-end iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are in the neighborhood of 4% to 7% faster than the entry-level iPhone 17.
The higher-end iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models also are around 3% to 5% faster overall than the iPhone Air. The iPhone 17 and iPhone Air deliver very similar performance, largely because the iPhone Air has to downclock on some more strenuous tasks to avoid overheating.
iOS Support Similarities
The iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air all originally shipped with iOS 26, the current version of the iOS. They support the Apple Intelligence (AI) feature, too.
iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, & iPhone Air Comparison Chart
These differences as well as other details and pricing information is summarized below:
17 |
17 Pro |
17 Pro Max |
Air |
|
| Introduced: | Sep 2025 | Sep 2025 | Sep 2025 | Sep 2025 |
| Discontinued: | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| Processor: | A19 | A19 Pro | A19 Pro | A19 Pro |
| GPU Cores: | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| RAM: | 8 GB | 12 GB | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage: | 256/512 | 256/512/1 | 256/512/1/2 | 256/512/1 |
| Battery Life: | 27-30 Hours | 30-33 Hours | 35-39 Hours | 22-27 Hours |
| Display Size: | 6.3" | 6.3" | 6.9" | 6.5" |
| Resolution: | 2622x1206 | 2622x1206 | 2868x1320 | 2736x1260 |
| Display Type: | ProMotion | ProMotion | ProMotion | ProMotion |
| Always On: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Front Camera: | 18 MP | 18 MP | 18 MP | 18 MP |
| Rear Camera: | 48 MP x2 | 48 MP x3 | 48 MP x3 | 48 MP |
| ProRes: | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Material: | Al/Glass | Al/Glass | Al/Glass | Ti/Glass |
| 4 Mics: | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Speakers: | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo | Mono |
| LiDAR: | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wi-Fi: | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Thread: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C: | USB 2 | USB 3 | USB 3 | USB 2 |
| Colors: | 5 Colors | 3 Colors | 3 Colors | 4 Subdued |
| SIM Card: | Nano/eSIM | Nano/eSIM | Nano/eSIM | eSIM Only |
| Orig. iOS: | iOS 26 | iOS 26 | iOS 26 | iOS 26 |
| Max. iOS: | iOS 26 | iOS 26 | iOS 26 | iOS 26 |
| Apple AI: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Orig. USD: | US$799 US$999 |
US$1099 US$1299 US$1499 |
US$1199 US$1399 US$1599 US$1999 |
US$999 US$1199 US$1399 |
| Orig. GBP: | £799 £999 |
£1099 £1299 £1499 |
£1199 £1399 £1599 £1999 |
£999 £1199 £1399 |
| Orig. CAD: | C$1129 C$1429 |
C$1599 C$1899 C$2199 |
C$1749 C$2049 C$2349 C$2949 |
C$1449 C$1749 C$2049 |
| Orig. AUD: | A$1399 A$1799 |
A$1999 A$2399 A$2799 |
A$2199 A$2599 A$2999 A$3799 |
A$1799 A$2199 A$2599 |
| Orig. JPY: | ¥129,800 ¥164,800 |
¥179,800 ¥214,800 ¥249,800 |
¥194,800 ¥229,800 ¥264,800 ¥329,800 |
¥159,800 ¥194,800 ¥229,800 |
| Orig. CNY: | RMB 5,999 RMB 7,999 |
RMB 8,999 RMB 10,999 RMB 12,999 |
RMB 9,999 RMB 11,999 RMB 13,999 RMB 17,999 |
RMB
7,999 RMB 9,999 RMB 11,999 |
These original prices are for devices unlocked and paid in full upfront. Carrier subsidized options, leases, and trade-in discounts also are available.
For pricing in dozens of countries, see the "Global Prices" on the specs page for each iPhone as well as the "By Global Original Prices" section of EveryiPhone.com.
So, which is for me? Should I buy an iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, or iPhone Air?
Compared only to one another, and ignoring earlier models, the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air all are excellent quality and highly capable.
However, because all of these 2025 models have a high-quality "Always On" ProMotion display and the iPhone Air is a bit of an oddball, the comparison is less straightforward than it has been in previous years.
iPhone 17 Pro Max?
The easiest decision is whether or not you would like the largest possible display. If your top priority is (1) large display size and/or (2) long battery life, and (3) the option of 2 TB of storage, and (4) price is no object, then the iPhone 17 Pro Max with its monster 6.9" display is for you.
If you want the largest possible display at a lower price, you might like to consider an earlier iPhone Pro Max on the used market.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro?
If you would prefer a smaller device and/or a lower price tag, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro are the models to consider among these four. The iPhone 17 has the same high-quality 6.3" "Always On" ProMotion display as its more expensive iPhone 17 Pro contemporary.
If configured with the same amount of storage, the iPhone 17 Pro is an extra US$300. The extra money gets you (1) a much more advanced rear camera with support for more professional options and file formats, (2) a bit better performance and an extra GPU core, (3) more RAM (which could mean longer future iOS support), (4) a bit better battery life, (5) a more durable back, (6) faster USB 3 charging over USB-C, (7) a better mic, and (8) LiDAR support. At additional cost, you also have (9) the option of more storage.
For those who greatly value photography, the better rear camera in the iPhone 17 Pro likely is worth the extra money, and the other features are nice to have, but the entry-level iPhone 17 is a good value and likely the best choice for the majority of users.
iPhone Air?
The iPhone Air is intended for someone who wants a large display in the thinnest possible case and is not especially concerned about photography or price.
Compared to the entry-level iPhone 17, the iPhone Air is US$200 more. The extra money gets you (1) a bigger display, (2) a thinner case, (3) less weight, and (4) more RAM. At additional cost, you also have (5) the option of more storage.
However, despite paying an extra US$200 for the iPhone Air, you are stuck with (1) a significantly less capable single lens camera, (2) worse (but still decent) battery life, and (3) a single speaker. You also lose (4) the physical Nano SIM support (in some markets) and (5) 5G mmWave (in the US), which might or might not matter to you. To pay more money for a less capable camera, shorter runtime, and inferior audio, you need to really value that bigger display and thinner case.
Of course, for those on a budget, any number of older iPhone models also are well worth considering to save more money, too.
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Please also see EveryiPhone.com's Ultimate iComparison feature to dynamically compare any iPhone model to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad.
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