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iPhone 17 Here is what you are *actually* missing between the 17 Pro and the base 17

T

TheRdungeon

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 21, 2011
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I see so many people this year talking about how the 17 is basically the same as the pro without a telephoto sensor but there are a lot more nuances than that.

Things the Pro has over the base:

- Larger sensor size on the main camera (1/1.28" v. 1.56"). The base does not have the same main camera as the Pro
- Redesigned antenna, much larger around the camera bump (am absolutely not calling it a 'plateau'
- Telephoto camera (kinda obvious one)
- Lidar Sensor - helps with quick/more accurate focusing on the camera and much more accurate measuring in the measure app
- All 4 mics "studio quality". Yeah, they aren't studio quality but each one is about twice as large as those in the base
- A19 Pro chip - Larger cache, actually more efficient than the standard A19, one more GPU Core
- Vapor Chamber + a chassis designed for heat dissipation. We don't know how useful this is for everyday users but even something like a FaceTime call can considerably heat up phones, this could be an advantage
- 12GB RAM v 8GB RAM. Yes Apple Intelligence is dumber than a sack of bricks right now, but Apple is bound to make serious progress in this and you run the risk of certain features being limited to models with 12GB of RAM given how important that is for on device AI
- Larger battery, the EU cycle indicates it gets 6 hours more run time (47hrs vs 41 hrs on standard)

These are all off the top of my head, there may be others. Sure, none of those may be important enough for you to make the jump, and the 17 Base is very good value this year, but it's more nuanced than a lot of people are making it out to be.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk
 
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uecker87 said:
Yeah but they widened the pricing gap from $200 -> $300. Is all of that really worth $300? IMO, no (but obviously everyone is different). But with carrier deals, sure.
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Sure, but if you are holding this device for 4 or so years then $75 a year broken down could easily make it worth it
 
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TheRdungeon said:
I see so many people this year talking about how the 17 is basically the same as the pro without a telephoto sensor but there are a lot more nuances than that.

Things the Pro has over the base:

- Larger sensor size on the main camera (1/1.28" v. 1.56"). The base does not have the same main camera as the Pro
- Telephoto camera (kinda obvious one)
- Lidar Sensor - helps with quick/more accurate focusing on the camera and much more accurate measuring in the measure app
- All 4 mics "studio quality". Yeah, they aren't studio quality but each one is about twice as large as those in the base
- A19 Pro chip - Larger cache, actually more efficient than the standard A19, one more GPU Core
- Vapor Chamber + a chassis designed for heat dissipation. We don't know how useful this is for everyday users but even something like a FaceTime call can considerably heat up phones, this could be an advantage
- 12GB RAM v 8GB RAM. Yes Apple Intelligence is dumber than a sack of bricks right now, but Apple is bound to make serious progress in this and you run the risk of certain features being limited to models with 12GB of RAM given how important that is for on device AI
- Larger battery, the EU cycle indicates it gets 6 hours more run time (47hrs vs 41 hrs on standard)

These are all off the top of my head, there may be others. Sure, none of those may be important enough for you to make the jump, and the 17 Base is very good value this year, but it's more nuanced than a lot of people are making it out to be.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk
Click to expand...
Another big difference is the USB C port. 20 times faster in the pro at 10 Gbps! Anyone shooting serious video or using a big external keyboard, mouse, & display will need the pro. Not to mention gaming with a big 4k monitor, this phone has the chops to be a serious ultra portable gaming rig.
 
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The better question might be whether the price difference between the 17 and 17P (~$200) will future proof the 17P longer than the 17.

In theory, one could buy the 17 today, and in a year later, trade it in for the 18 + some cash (maybe the same $200 mentioned up above) and have a phone (the 18) that might actually be better than the 17P.

Dunno, hard to say.
 
rcpettengill said:
Another big difference is the USB C port. 20 times faster in the pro at 10 Gbps! Anyone shooting serious video or using a big external keyboard, mouse, & display will need the pro. Not to mention gaming with a big 4k monitor, this phone has the chops to be a serious ultra portable gaming rig.
Click to expand...
Anyone shooting serious videos will go for the Pro models anyway.
 
ipsedixit said:
The better question might be whether the price difference between the 17 and 17P (~$200) will future proof the 17P longer than the 17.

In theory, one could buy the 17 today, and in a year later, trade it in for the 18 + some cash (maybe the same $200 mentioned up above) and have a phone (the 18) that might actually be better than the 17P.

Dunno, hard to say.
Click to expand...
Also a fair point, I considered doing that last year with the 16. Or could you not do the same with the Pro if you don't mind $300 being in 'float'
 
I bought iPhone since the 3GS and every year I always spend more to get the “best” and geek out over specs.

After many years I’ve discovered I’d been wasting my money. Some years there were huge differences and others not so much.

Also when I consider how often I used the “flagship” features it’s paying a lot per use.

So here’s my take on this comparison of the 17 v 17 pro and why it’s not really practical.

Camera

These things like camera sensor size sound like big differences on paper but in reality you won’t see a difference day to day.

Even when reviewers compare cameras they often have to zoom in heavily to show subtle details.

As for night shots, neither will hold a candle to a real camera. At the end of the day, even with night mode (long exposure) and all that on, a bit of extra shakiness in your hand and you have a less than ideal photo no matter what.

Battery

Battery life differences are also going to be pretty small. Not nothing but not life changing between the two models.

If you worry about the battery and are a heavy user then you’ll probably need to top off during the day or have a power bank.

And if you’re not then each on will last all day. Who cares if you end the day in 25% with one and 20% with the other?

Vapor Chamber

There will be better cooling on the Pro models but it’s not going to turn a hot phone into an ice box.

If your phone overheats and shuts down while recording 4K video on a hot beach, it will probably do the same anyway.

A19 Pro v A19

The most useless feature to sweat over is the processor. Very, very few people ever push their phone processor to the limit.

On paper a larger cache and an extra GPU core sound like real advantages. In practice no one will notice a difference.

It’s possible a hardcore gamer might notice a few extra frames per second in a super intense game but even that’s doubtful.
 
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Gregintosh said:
I bought iPhone since the 3GS and every year I always spend more to get the “best” and geek out over specs.

After many years I’ve discovered I’d been wasting my money. Some years there were huge differences and others not so much.

Also when I consider how often I used the “flagship” features it’s paying a lot per use.

So here’s my take on this comparison of the 17 v 17 pro and why it’s not really practical.

Camera

These things like camera sensor size sound like big differences on paper but in reality you won’t see a difference day to day.

Even when reviewers compare cameras they often have to zoom in heavily to show subtle details.

As for night shots, neither will hold a candle to a real camera. At the end of the day, even with night mode (long exposure) and all that on, a bit of extra shakiness in your hand and you have a less than ideal photo no matter what.

Battery

Battery life differences are also going to be pretty small. Not nothing but not life changing between the two models.

If you worry about the battery and are a heavy user then you’ll probably need to top off during the day or have a power bank.

And if you’re not then each on will last all day. Who cares if you end the day in 25% with one and 20% with the other?

Vapor Chamber

There will be better cooling on the Pro models but it’s not going to turn a hot phone into an ice box.

If your phone overheats and shuts down while recording 4K video on a hot beach, it will probably do the same anyway.

A19 Pro v A19

The most useless feature to sweat over is the processor. Very, very few people ever push their phone processor to the limit.

On paper a larger cache and an extra GPU core sound like real advantages. In practice no one will notice a difference.

It’s possible a hardcore gamer might notice a few extra frames per second in a super intense game but even that’s doubtful.
Click to expand...
Well written post, appreciate the insight. I'll be going Pro as there's enough there for me to justify it, even the possibility of it running cooler, the increase in battery, the extra RAM and the Zoom lens is enough for me as I tend to upgrade every 4 years or so. I also travel a lot, often to hot climates, so the cooling + battery would be very useful for me even based off that given my upgrade cycle
 
I own a 14 Pro and if I'd get a new one this year, it would be the standard iPhone 17. It has everything I actually need and use in a smaller and lighter package for a lot less money. The standard iPhone 17 is only marginally heavier than the Air mind you. The telephoto I might miss here and there, but not too much. The USB-C speed is completely irrelevant for me. And the other differences you mentioned are as well, because if I was serious about any of that (like the microphones) I would not rely on any of the iPhone's built-in hardware.

I even find the design of the standard 17 nicer than the Pro's. The standard 17 in white would be my choice.

Maybe I'll get a refurbished one in six months :)
 
I think the biggest curveball is the weight thing, as that is something actually objectively better about the base model. And yes I didn’t bother mentioning the USB speeds as even though that’s an improvement to the Pro it’s so underutilized by your average buyer
 
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