Apple has rolled out its latest lineup — the iPhone 17 Pro and the brand-new iPhone Air — alongside last year’s iPhone 16 Pro. At first glance, all three look similar in software and design language, but when you dig deeper, key differences start to emerge. Let’s break down what sets these models apart, what’s improved, and whether it’s worth making the jump.
Display and Sizes
The iPhone Air introduces a 6.5-inch display, compared to the 6.3-inch iPhone 17 Pro. For those who prefer even larger screens, the Pro Max offers 6.9 inches. Apple no longer makes a “Plus” model, which used to slot between the standard and the Max sizes at 6.7 inches. That gap has now been filled by the Air, which feels bigger in the hand than its 6.5 inches suggest, thanks to its thinner profile.
All three models feature Apple’s Dynamic Island — the notch replacement that’s become standard — along with familiar button placements, including the customizable Action Button and the dedicated camera/zoom control.
Build and Weight
Here’s where things diverge:
- iPhone Air – Built with glass and titanium, it’s slim, modern, and surprisingly light, despite its larger size.
- iPhone 17 Pro – Constructed from unibody aluminum, giving it a solid, durable feel but with more weight compared to the Air.
That difference in materials also changes how the phones handle heat and battery placement. The Pro uses its aluminum body to house a redesigned internal chamber, allowing for a bigger battery and improved cooling.
Cameras
At the heart of these phones is the camera system — and here the choice might steer your decision.
- iPhone 17 Pro: Upgraded zoom lens with a 48MP sensor, offering up to 40x video zoom. That’s a huge jump over the iPhone 16 Pro’s 25x zoom cap, making the 17 Pro a powerhouse for long-distance photography.
- iPhone 16 Pro: Still solid with its 12MP zoom, but maxes out at 25x zoom in video.
- iPhone Air: Takes a step back by dropping the Ultra-Wide camera and moving to a single-lens system with 48MP. It still supports a 2x digital/optical blend zoom, but it can’t match the versatility of the Pro models.
In daylight and casual shots, the Air keeps up surprisingly well, but serious photographers will likely notice the missing Ultra-Wide option.
New Selfie Tricks: Center Stage on iPhone Air (and 17 Pro)
The Center Stage selfie experience is genuinely useful:
- It widens the frame when another person enters, then re-centers you when they leave.
- It works in photo and video, but note: if you force rotation manually, you’ll temporarily disable Center Stage—toggle it back on in the UI. Once set, it tracks reliably (with a tiny delay if it’s “deciding” whether someone’s staying in frame).
If you shoot family clips or FaceTime a lot, you’ll love it.
Performance
The iPhone 17 Pro introduces the A19 Pro chip, a step above the A18 Pro in the iPhone 16. The gains in speed and efficiency are there, but in day-to-day use — browsing, messaging, and app performance — the difference is almost imperceptible. Power users, especially gamers and editors, will get more mileage from the 17 Pro’s enhancements.
Photography Tests
In side-by-side comparisons:
- Daylight shots: All three produce sharp, clear photos, with slightly different color balances (the newer models leaning warmer/yellower, while the 16 Pro feels brighter).
- Zoom tests: The 17 Pro’s 48mp 4x zoom larger sensor should be unmatched, with detail that edges out even the 16 Pro, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. In many cases the 16 Pro outperformed the 17. The Air performs decently at 2x but falls behind at long distances since it lacks telephoto hardware.
- Macro: The Pro models excel with crisp close-ups, while the Air struggles to get as close, though its single camera still delivers respectable clarity.
- Night mode: All three do well in standard night shots, but the 16 Pro sometimes appears slightly brighter than the 17 Pro. Zooming at night, however, highlights the Air’s limitations — it quickly gets noisy and pixelated.
Video Performance
Video remains Apple’s strong point. Shooting in 4K at 30fps, all three models deliver smooth results with good stabilization. The Air allows up to 6x video zoom, while the 16 Pro caps at 25x and the 17 Pro stretches all the way to 40x. At night, though, zoom quality diminishes across all models, and lens flaring is more noticeable on the newer phones.
So…Should You Upgrade?
iPhone 16 Pro → iPhone 17 Pro
- Upgrade for: the new 48MP 4× tele, slightly brighter display, revised thermal design, and the updated camera island aesthetic.
- Skip if: your 16 Pro still slaps (it does). Day-to-day speed and main-camera photos aren’t radically different.
From anything older → iPhone Air
- The Air is the sleeper hit. It’s bigger (6.5″), way thinner, and much lighter, yet takes excellent photos thanks to that 48MP main and clever 2× crop. You lose the dedicated tele and some macro versatility, but for most people’s albums, the Air’s results look fantastic—and it’s a joy to hold.
From anything older → iPhone 17 Pro
- You’ll get the best all-around camera system (especially mid-zoom and macro), premium build, and long runway of performance. If you shoot a lot beyond 2×, the Pro is still the move.
Bottom Line
- Photographers / zoom and macro fans: iPhone 17 Pro (or keep your 16 Pro if you’re happy).
- Most people who value comfort, size, and price: iPhone Air. It’s the most fun to carry and shockingly capable.
- Already on a 16 Pro and not desperate for new toys? You can safely wait.
Apple has streamlined its lineup by dropping the Plus and slotting in the Air, and it feels like a smart move. But whether it’s worth upgrading depends on how much you value camera versatility and materials versus slimness and weight.