Apple’s new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models are just $100 apart and excel in different areas, creating one of the toughest buying decisions for customers in years.
In place of the familiar standard and Pro model division, Apple introduced the new iPhone Air this year. The iPhone Air is positioned as a design-focused iPhone with an ultra-thin, premium, and minimalist aesthetic, with compromises in terms of cameras, speakers, and battery life. The iPhone 17 Pro, on the other hand, is now more performance-focused than ever before with vapor chamber cooling and a thicker frame that houses an even larger battery.
The iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro share a brighter display, the A19 Pro chip, 12GB of storage, a 48-megapixel main rear camera, a brand new front-facing camera with a center-facing camera, Ceramic Shield 2, and more. This guide details all the differences — dimensions, design, cameras, battery life, and pricing — so you can make an informed choice between the two devices.
| iPhone | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 pro max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.15 inches (156.2 mm) | 5.91 inches (150.0 mm) | 6.43 inches (163.4 mm) |
| Width | 2.94 inches (74.7 mm) | 2.83 inches (71.9 mm) | 3.07 inches (78.0 mm) |
| Depth | 0.22 inches (5.64 mm) | 0.34 inches (8.75 mm) | 0.34 inches (8.75 mm) |
| Weight | 5.82 ounces (165 grams) | 7.27 ounces (206 grams) | 8.22 ounces (233 grams) |
The iPhone Air is dramatically thinner and lighter than the iPhone 17 Pro, but to achieve such a radical design, Apple had to make some compromises with features.
| iPhone | Ifone 17 pro and iphone 17 pro max |
|---|---|
| 6.5-inch display | iPhone 17 Pro : 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro max : 6.9-inch display |
| Polished titanium frame with glass back | Anodized aluminum unibody |
| Steam chamber cooling | |
| 5-core GPU | 6-core GPU |
| Single rear camera | Triple rear cameras |
| 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera | |
| 48-megapixel telephoto camera | |
| 1x and 2x optical zoom options | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x optical zoom options |
| LiDAR scanner | |
| True signal flash | Adaptive True Tone Flash |
| Macro photography | |
| Spatial photography | |
| Prorava | |
| Cinematic fashion | |
| ProRes video recording | |
| ProRes raw | |
| Academy color coding system | |
| Apple Log 2 video recording | |
| Genlock support | |
| Macro video recording including SLO-MO and time-lapse | |
| SLO-MO video support up to 1080p at 240 frames per second | SLO-MO video support for 1080p up to 240 fps and 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps |
| 3,149mAh battery | iPhone 17 Pro : 4,252 mAh battery iPhone 17 Pro max : 5,088 mAh battery |
| Up to 27 hours of battery life | iPhone 17 Pro : Up to 33 hours of battery life iPhone 17 Pro max : Up to 39 hours of battery life |
| MAGSAFE wireless charging up to 20w | MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W |
| Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher or a 30W adapter or higher paired with a magsafe charger | Charges up to 50% in 20 minutes with a 40W adapter or higher |
| Support for Apple magsafe battery | |
| USB-C (USB 2) | USB-C (USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers) |
| Mono speaker | Stereo speakers |
| Built-in microphone | Studio-quality four-mic array |
| Just be yourself. | I am and physical sim |
| 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage | iPhone 17 Pro : 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB storage iPhone 17 Pro max : 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB storage |
| Available in cloud white, space black, sky blue and light gold | Available in silver, deep blue and cosmic orange |
Across all storage tiers, the iPhone 17 Pro is only $100 more than the equivalent iPhone Air:
| 256GB | 512GB | 1TB | 2TB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone | $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?
The iPhone Air is clearly the choice for those looking for a minimal iPhone experience that prioritizes delivering a lightweight and super-slim design. Because of that, and its adoption of a titanium frame and subtle color palette, it’s also the best-looking iPhone available today. It’s also the iPhone of choice for those looking for a display size that falls between the 6.3-inch Pro and the 6.9-inch Pro Max.
With its ad-supported display, A19 Pro chip, 12GB of memory, 48-megapixel rear-facing main camera, all-new front-facing camera with center stage, and Ceramic Shield 2, there are surprisingly few compromises. That said, some may miss the additional rear cameras, stereo speakers, and better battery life.
The iPhone Air is a whole new kind of iPhone, so those looking for a fresh experience should choose it over the iPhone 17 Pro. The iPhone Air is also likely to be the one that sets Apple’s first foldable apart next year.
On the other hand, the iPhone 17 Pro eschews thin design and minimalism in favor of packing in as many features as possible. It should be the model of choice for those who need the most versatile camera system, the best performance, and the longest battery life.
Pre-orders for the new iPhone lineup are now open, with the unveiling on Friday, September 19th.
