iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro: Expected differences

Apple’s iPhone 17 series is slowly but surely coming towards us, and with the standard iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro both in the spotlight, it’s important to understand how they will compare.

The questions is how close will the iPhone 17 feel to the iPhone 17 Pro, and will the new telephoto camera be the only meaningful separating factor to make it a more appealing purchase than the base model?

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro expected differences:

Table of Contents:

The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro are both expected to introduce fresh design changes, but to different extents.

The iPhone 17 will reportedly adopt a more seamless look with a “splicing” frame design, replacing sharper edges with smoother transitions between the back and sides for better ergonomics. It will also feature slimmer bezels across all sides, benefiting from Apple’s new BRS (Border Reduction Structure) technology, which debuted with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro will receive an even bigger design update. Early leaks pointed to a new camera island and possibly a full switch from titanium to aluminum frames — though this remains somewhat uncertain and later reports claim it is not true. So, chances are that the 17 Pro will still differentiate itself with its more premium build.

Both models will retain the new Camera Control Button first seen on the iPhone 16 series and might have their Action and Volume buttons merged into one.

Color options for the iPhone 17 are rumored to include Black, White, Pink, Teal, and Ultramarine. For the Pro, colors like Teal Titanium, Green Titanium, and Dark Green Titanium are floating around as the rumored hues, alongside more traditional Black Titanium and White Titanium ones.

In the box, both models are expected to come with a USB-C charging cable, but no power adapter.

The iPhone 17 and 17 Pro will both see upgrades in their screens, but once again, the Pro version will push the boundaries further.The iPhone 17 is expected to feature a 6.27-inch OLED panel, slightly larger than its predecessor, with ProMotion (120Hz refresh rate) finally arriving to the base model! This display will use Samsung’s newer M14 OLED technology, providing better brightness, longevity, and efficiency compared to previous models.

The iPhone 17 Pro will sport a slightly bigger 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display, offering not just ProMotion but also Always-On Display capabilities. The Pro might also use an improved “metalens” technology to shrink the Dynamic Island, giving users more screen real estate and a sleeker look.

The iPhone 17 series will introduce the A19 generation of Apple’s silicon, but there will be clear differences.The iPhone 17 is expected to come with the standard A19 chip, manufactured using the 3nm process. It will be paired with 8GB of RAM, which is a step up from the 6GB found in older base iPhone models.

The iPhone 17 Pro, on the other hand, will boast the A19 Pro chip, offering even more power and efficiency. It will be supported with 12GB of RAM, preparing it for future AI tasks and more intense multitasking.

Both devices will run iOS 19, but Apple Intelligence features are not expected to fully roll out until 2026, meaning neither model will showcase the full power of Apple’s AI ambitions at launch.

Connectivity-wise, both models should support Wi-Fi 7, and custom-designed Apple 5G modems (codenamed “Centauri”) are expected to debut, promising better speeds, lower latency, and improved energy efficiency.

When it comes to photography, the iPhone 17 Pro will have a clear advantage when compared to the regular model.

The expected iPhone 17 camera setup is :

• 48 MP main camera
• 12 MP ultra-wide camera
• 24 MP selfie camera (an upgrade from previous 12 MP units)

While the iPhone 17 Pro camera setup is said to come with:

• 48 MP custom IMX903 main sensor (larger than before)
• 48 MP ultra-wide camera
• 48 MP 5x telephoto zoom camera
• 24 MP selfie camera

We expect the standard model to deliver excellent photo and video quality, with a significant bump in selfie performance thanks to that new 24 MP front-facing camera.

The Pro model will also support more high-end features like 8K video recording, a better ALD anti-glare coating, and a new stacked sensor design — all of which should help improve low-light performance, zoom clarity, and overall image quality.

Both iPhones are expected to come with improved battery life, but not dramatically so.

• iPhone 17 battery size: around 3,600 mAh.
• iPhone 17 Pro battery size: around 3,700 mAh.

Both models are said to benefit from stacked battery technology, which improves energy density and longevity of the battery. The new battery adhesive system that came with the iPhone 16 generation should also make a comeback, making battery replacements easier and less invasive.

As for charging, rumors suggest the Pro models might introduce reverse wireless charging (up to 7.5W), a first for iPhones. Wired and wireless charging speeds are expected to remain similar to previous models.