Buyer’s Guide: iPhone 17, Air, Pro, or Pro Max? 40 Differences Compared

Apple’s four new iPhones launch later this month, with more differences between the latest models than ever before.

Instead of the familiar split between standard and Pro models, Apple has introduced the new iPhone Air, expanded the feature gap between tiers, and refined each model to serve a clearer audience. The result is a four-device family that ranges from the affordable and practical iPhone 17 to the feature-packed iPhone 17 Pro Max, with distinct trade-offs in size, materials, camera hardware, and battery life along the way. All models share Apple’s latest A19 chip platform, meaning performance is fairly consistent across the board, but their designs, display sizes, and camera features are more specialized than ever before.

This guide offers a detailed look at every difference—dimensions, design, cameras, battery life, and pricing—so you can make an informed choice. Whether you prioritize design, photography, or battery life, this year’s iPhones are no longer one-size-fits-all devices, and understanding the lineup is key to choosing the best model for you and your budget.

Sizes and Weights

‌iPhone 17‌
‌iPhone‌ Air
‌iPhone 17 Pro‌
‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max

Height
5.89 inches (149.6 mm)
6.15 inches (156.2 mm)
5.91 inches (150.0 mm)
6.43 inches (163.4 mm)

Width
2.81 inches (71.5 mm)
2.94 inches (74.7 mm)
2.83 inches (71.9 mm)
3.07 inches (78.0 mm)

Depth
0.31 inches (7.95 mm)
0.22 inches (5.64 mm)
0.34 inches (8.75 mm)
0.34 inches (8.75 mm)

Weight
6.24 ounces (177 grams)
5.82 ounces (165 grams)
7.27 ounces (206 grams)
8.22 ounces (233 grams)

Designs

‌iPhone 17‌
‌iPhone‌ Air
‌iPhone 17 Pro‌
‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max

Anodized aluminum frame
Polished titanium frame
Anodized aluminum unibody
Anodized aluminum unibody

Camera plateau
Camera plateau
Camera plateau

Ceramic Shield front
Ceramic Shield front and back
Ceramic Shield front and back
Ceramic Shield front and back

6.3-inch display
6.5-inch display
6.3-inch display
6.9-inch display

Available in White, Black, Mist Blue, Sage, and Lavender
Available in Cloud White, Space Black, Sky Blue, and Light Gold
Available in Silver, Deep Blue, and Cosmic Orange
Available in Silver, Deep Blue, and Cosmic Orange

Battery Life and Charging

‌iPhone 17‌
‌iPhone‌ Air
‌iPhone 17 Pro‌
‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max

3,692 mAh battery
3,149 mAh battery
4,252 mAh battery
5,088 mAh battery

Up to 30-hour battery life
Up to 27-hour battery life
Up to 33-hour battery life
Up to 39-hour battery life

MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W
‌MagSafe‌ wireless charging up to 20W
‌MagSafe‌ wireless charging up to 25W
‌MagSafe‌ wireless charging up to 25W

Up to 50% charge in 20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher
Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher, or 30W adapter or higher paired with ‌MagSafe‌ Charger
Up to 50% charge in 20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher
Up to 50% charge in 20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher

Camera Hardware

‌iPhone 17‌
‌iPhone‌ Air
‌iPhone 17 Pro‌
‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max

Dual rear cameras
Single rear camera
Triple rear cameras
Triple rear cameras

48-megapixel ultra wide camera

48-megapixel ultra wide camera
48-megapixel ultra wide camera

48-megapixel telephoto camera
48-megapixel telephoto camera

0.5x, 1x, and 2x optical zoom options
1x and 2x optical zoom options
0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, and 8x optical zoom options
0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, and 8x optical zoom options

LiDAR Scanner
LiDAR Scanner

True Tone flash
True Tone flash
Adaptive True Tone flash
Adaptive True Tone flash

Camera Features

‌iPhone 17‌
‌iPhone‌ Air
‌iPhone 17 Pro‌
‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max

Macro photography

Macro photography
Macro photography

Spatial photos

Spatial photos
Spatial photos

ProRAW
ProRAW

Cinematic mode

Cinematic mode
Cinematic mode

ProRes video recording
ProRes video recording

ProRes RAW
ProRes RAW

Academy Color Encoding System
Academy Color Encoding System

Apple Log 2 video recording
Apple Log 2 video recording

Genlock support
Genlock support

Macro video recording, including slo‑mo and time‑lapse

Macro video recording, including slo‑mo and time‑lapse
Macro video recording, including slo‑mo and time‑lapse

Slo‑mo video support up to 1080p at 240 fps
Slo‑mo video support up to 1080p at 240 fps
Slo‑mo video support for 1080p up to 240 fps and 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps
Slo‑mo video support for 1080p up to 240 fps and 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps

Other Differences

‌iPhone 17‌
‌iPhone‌ Air
‌iPhone 17 Pro‌
‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max

A19 chip
A19 Pro chip
A19 Pro chip
A19 Pro chip

5-core GPU
5-core GPU
6-core GPU
6-core GPU

Stereo speakers
Mono speaker
Stereo speakers
Stereo speakers

Studio-quality four-mic array
Studio-quality four-mic array

USB-C (USB 2)
USB-C (USB 2)
USB-C (USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers)
USB-C (USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers)

256GB or 512GB storage
256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage
256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage

Pricing

256GB
512GB
1TB
2TB

‌iPhone 17‌
$799
$999

‌iPhone‌ Air
$999
$1,199
$1,399

‌iPhone 17 Pro‌
$1,099
$1,299
$1,499

‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max
$1,199
$1,399
$1,599
$1,999

Which One Should You Choose?
Apple’s latest ‌iPhone‌ lineup is more segmented than ever, with clear distinctions in size, design, and hardware to suit different needs. All four models share the same core performance, so your choice comes down to priorities like design, camera versatility, and price.

iPhone 17: Best for those who need a good, practical all-round ‌iPhone‌ at an affordable price.
iPhone Air: Best for those who want the thinnest and lightest ‌iPhone‌ in a groundbreaking new premium design with a medium-sized display, but are willing to accept noticeable compromises on camera features, battery life, charging speed, and speakers.
iPhone 17 Pro: Best for those who want the versatile new 48-megapixel telephoto camera and a large range of additional camera features and hardware in a smaller package, along with better mics and faster USB speeds.
iPhone 17 Pro Max: Best for “pro” users who need the rich feature set of the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌, but with the largest possible display, battery life, and storage.

The ‌iPhone 17‌ should be the default option for most users, with the ability to move up to the Air as a design-led option, the Pro as a creator-focused device, and the Pro Max delivering everything in the largest format.

Pre-orders of the new ‌iPhone‌ lineup open on Friday, September 12, with launch on Friday, September 19.
Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 ProRelated Forum: iPhoneThis article, “Buyer’s Guide: iPhone 17, Air, Pro, or Pro Max? 40 Differences Compared” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forumsMacRumors: Mac News and Rumors – Front PageRead More