The time has come. You’ve finally decided to say goodbye to that iPhone you’ve been using for half a year. Apple just had its big annual iPhone launch event, where it announced its new iPhone 17 line of smartphones (plus a lot more). Right now, it only makes sense to upgrade.
But which new iPhone is right for you? Apple announced four new iPhone models at its event, and you have a tough decision to make:
Mashable has extensive coverage of the Apple event , breaking down every news item, every spec announced, and more. But maybe all those technical details just don’t add up to an obvious answer to your question.
So, here’s a much simpler breakdown to answer the question: What new iPhone should I buy?
iPhone 17
The new iPhone 17 shown at Apple Park.
Credit: CNET
Here’s the honest truth. The standard iPhone 17 model is more than enough of a smartphone for most users. It’s long been the base model in any iPhone lineup. But this year, Apple really went out of its way to close the gap between the iPhone 17 and its more expensive Pro model siblings.
The iPhone 17 is powered by Apple’s A19 chip, which will make this base model feel like a pro model compared to its predecessors. The iPhone 17 also gets the same Super Retina XDR display with ad tech (and a 120Hz refresh rate) as the current Pro lineup, a first.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the iPhone 17 and Pro 17 models is the cameras. The base iPhone 17 model still only has two rear camera lenses, while the Pro models still have an additional camera lens.
However, the cameras that the iPhone 17 has are the same as the Pro: a 48MP Fusion main camera, a 48MP Fusion ultra-wide camera, and the long-awaited upgrade to the front-facing 18MP center stage camera.
If you’re just going to use your iPhone to handle the basics — phone calls, texting, emails, web browsing, occasional photography and video — then it makes sense to save some money and go with the $799 base model iPhone 17.
iphone air
The new iPhone Air seen after the iPhone launch event.
Credit: CNET
Apple debuted an all-new iPhone model this year, the iPhone Air. It’s Apple’s thinnest phone ever, measuring just 5.6mm thick at its thinnest point.
But who is it for? Mashable’s Chris Taylor asked the same question after Apple announced the device. The iPhone Air is super thin, and Apple packed its most powerful processor—the A19 Pro—inside it. However, it has the fewest cameras of any iPhone in the new lineup, and at $999, it has shorter battery life than the cheaper base iPhone model.
However, I can see the thinnest iPhone ever being the iPhone of choice for those looking for a lighter, more minimalist device. With just a single camera lens on the back of the device and a Pixel-style camera bump (sorry, Pixel-style camera bump ), the iPhone Air is sleek and lighter than other models. Some people are just fed up with lugging around a big, bulky smartphone, and I think that’s exactly what the iPhone Air will speak to. If that’s you — and you’re not too concerned about battery life — this is the new iPhone to check out.
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in the controversial Cosmic Orange color.
Credit: CNET
Are you a power user? Do you multitask with multiple apps running different processes at the same time? Do you need an 8x telephoto lens for high-quality, ultra-sharp photography? Do you want to shoot 4K video at 120 frames per second?
Then the iPhone 17 Pro is for you. It’s Apple’s most powerful iPhone yet, and it’s powered by the new A19 Pro Chip. This is the same chip found in the iPhone Air. However, the 17 Pro has a 6-core GPU, making it better at handling video, gaming, and other graphics-intensive tasks.
The iPhone 17 Pro has three rear camera lenses, more than any other smartphone in the iPhone 17 line. And, as mentioned earlier, it’s the only model in the iPhone 17 lineup that can shoot at 120 frames per second.
The iPhone 17 Pro is the iPhone for mobile gamers, content creators, developers, or anyone else who uses their smartphone as a critical tool in their work.
Now, in previous lineups, we would have split the iPhone Pro Max model into its own section, as Apple tends to pack a few extra features into its larger model. However, with the iPhone 17 lineup, the only real difference between the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max is size, battery, and potential storage space.
So if the iPhone 17 Pro is for you, but you want the longest battery life, a massive 2TB storage option for all your content, and a large 6.9-inch screen, then go with the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
