With Apple’s present crop of iPhones, issues are fairly completely different for the primary time shortly. The bottom iPhone 17 nonetheless feels acquainted, however the iPhone 17 Professional fashions have a very new look, and there is a new mannequin known as the iPhone Air. The “Air” branding has been considerably diluted of late—the current-gen iPad Professional fashions are lighter than the iPad Air—however the iPhone Air brings that means again to the unique concept: a super-thin and ultralightweight machine. Rounding all of it out is the finances iPhone 17e.
The brand new telephones are formally on sale. In case you’re contemplating an improve, which iPhone 17 mannequin must you get? I am going to break down the important thing variations and similarities among the many iPhone 17 lineup, so you may make an knowledgeable alternative. Do not forget, these aren’t the one iPhones that Apple sells—learn our Finest iPhones information for your entire choices. And take a look at our Finest iPhone 17 Instances information for methods to maintain your new handset in pristine situation.
Up to date March 2026: We have added the iPhone 17e.
Desk of Contents
You Don’t Must Improve
You probably have an iPhone from just some years in the past, you in all probability needn’t improve to Apple’s newest, until your machine has points. Even then, there are issues you are able to do to repair your iPhone, like getting a battery alternative, or you’ll be able to attempt a few of these troubleshooting steps. The purpose is, you should not really feel the necessity to improve simply because Apple has a brand new mannequin.
In case you’re set on shopping for an iPhone 17 mannequin, we’ve got a information on promote your iPhone in order that it would not simply gather mud in a drawer. When your new machine arrives, again up your outdated iPhone earlier than switching to the brand new one, then observe our information on factory-resetting your machine earlier than promoting or giving it away. We even have tips about arrange your new iPhone and what settings to alter to get probably the most out of it.
Which iPhone 17 Is Proper for You?
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Apple
iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Professional
Let’s shortly speak in regards to the similarities throughout all of the iPhone 17 fashions this 12 months, and sure, that features the iPhone Air, even when it would not have “17” within the identify.
The Show
Though iPhones differ in display screen dimension, all of them characteristic an OLED display screen (Apple refers to it as a Tremendous Retina XDR show). All of those units, aside from the iPhone 17e, make use of ProMotion know-how. That is the primary time the non-Professional fashions have ProMotion, which is basically a 120-Hz refresh charge.
A excessive refresh charge has been a typical characteristic on Android telephones for some time, nevertheless it means your show refreshes 120 instances per second quite than 60, like on the iPhone 16, so every part you do will really feel smoother. (We have now a broader explainer right here.) These are adaptive refresh charges that may drop as little as 1 Hz when there’s little exercise on the display screen, which is why the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air now assist the always-on show. That does imply that, sure, the iPhone 17e doesn’t have the always-on show.
Apple additionally says there is a new Ceramic Protect 2 entrance glass that is thrice extra scratch-resistant than earlier than, and a brand new antireflective coating to scale back glare. These screens may hit as much as 3,000 nits of peak brightness, that means it will be simpler to learn your iPhone display screen on sunny days, although the iPhone 17e caps it at 1,200 nits to hit that lower cost.
