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iPhone 17 Pro One Year Later: What Held Up and What Didn't

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We're getting close to the launch of new iPhone 18 Pro models that will replace the iPhone 17 Pro models, so MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera decided to take a look back at the iPhone he's been using for close to 12 months.


Ceramic Shield 2 was the best iPhone upgrade this year. Apple said it's more resistant to scratches, and that turned out to be true. Dan goes caseless, and his iPhone 17 Pro has only faint scratches, while the 16 Pro was scratched after three weeks. The iPhone has also survived facedown drops with no damage, but there are a few chips in the aluminum along the edges. There have been reports of the orange color fading over time, but Dan didn't see that with his device.

Battery life was also a standout on the iPhone 17 Pro. It's able to keep up with a full day of heavy use, which is normally only possible with the larger battery in the Pro Max iPhones. Dan swapped to the smaller iPhone 17 Pro over the 17 Pro Max because the battery lasted longer than the 16 Pro battery.

Apple added vapor chamber cooling in the 17 Pro, and that kept the iPhone cooler than normal for most of the year. Dan said his iPhone is running hotter with minor dips in performance, probably because of the iOS 27 beta. Running beta software can affect battery life and device performance.

Rumors suggest the iPhone 18 Pro isn't going to be a huge upgrade over the iPhone 17 Pro, and it's likely prices are going to go up. It's not the worst idea to buy an iPhone 17 Pro now instead of holding out for the iPhone 18 Pro, especially if you have an older iPhone.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro One Year Later: What Held Up and What Didn't
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/13/iphone-17-pro-one-year-later/
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My 17 Pro has been fantastic. It runs cooler, is brighter in the sun for longer (it’s never dimmed all the way to useless), and the battery lasts longer than my old 12 Pro Max battery (even when it was 100% capacity). It’s really an impressive device. I don’t have any scratches either (not even micro ones). I do use a case (open case backless design) since aluminum dents easily. Not mentioned, the 8x camera, I love that thing.
 
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My caseless 16 Pro was in such good condition after the year was up, but my 17 Pro has a corner dent, scratches and little chips on the camera plateau. Screen is perfect though, which is nice.

I’d like them to bring back titanium or find a replacement for anodisation, which just isn’t tough enough for caseless users.
 
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How do people feel about the cameras? Ad-wise, you would expect image quality similar to a DSLR from 10 years ago (excepting, of course, things you need very heavy telephoto lenses for. Does it live up to that expectation: like a DSLR for street use? It seems to me that most of what recent cell phones have been about are the cameras.
 
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BSDnostalgia said:
How do people feel about the cameras? Ad-wise, you would expect image quality similar to a DSLR from 10 years ago (excepting, of course, things you need very heavy telephoto lenses for. Does it live up to that expectation: like a DSLR for street use? It seems to me that most of what recent cell phones have been about are the cameras.
Click to expand...
It’s really good. It makes taking 8x pictures super easy since you can see where the zoom is in the frame of the sensor and the stabilization is aggressive. Definitely an upgrade from the 5x.
 
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Justin Cymbal said:
Aluminum scratches too easily

Please switch back to titanium next year!!
Click to expand...

I have a 16PM now and I gotta tell ya that thing is thermally challenged. Last weekend we drove to Annapolis and I was running Waze, Apple Music, and charging the phone in an air conditioned car. It got too hot and stopped charging. This thing brings the heat and part of it is the titanium chassis. It just sucks at dissipating heat.

I’m not going to just get a 17PM at the end of the cycle. I’m gonna get an 18PM in the cherry purple or prune color, whatever it is so I can show off I got the newest thing. I also want the new camera and the maybe smaller Dynamic Island.

It’s a waste of money and that’s one reason I’m doing it. I usually re phone every year and I missed last year so I’m getting the new one this year. The heck with it.
 
Love my 17 Pro, except for the annoying noise when it wirelessly charges. If I want to record video somewhere and I have a MagSafe battery on the back, I have to take it off or the click is audible on the recording.

If Apple can fix that with a software update, I’ll be ecstatic. Heck, maybe they already have, I haven’t tried for a while. But until then, it’s a black mark on an otherwise excellent device as far as I’m concerned.
 
BSDnostalgia said:
How do people feel about the cameras? Ad-wise, you would expect image quality similar to a DSLR from 10 years ago (excepting, of course, things you need very heavy telephoto lenses for. Does it live up to that expectation: like a DSLR for street use? It seems to me that most of what recent cell phones have been about are the cameras.
Click to expand...
Well, my 10 year old DSLR is still far superior thanks to a full size frame (24x36) and the actual glass.
I've switched to Halide Mkiii and am happier with it than the stock app
 
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BSDnostalgia said:
How do people feel about the cameras? Ad-wise, you would expect image quality similar to a DSLR from 10 years ago (excepting, of course, things you need very heavy telephoto lenses for. Does it live up to that expectation: like a DSLR for street use? It seems to me that most of what recent cell phones have been about are the cameras.
Click to expand...
So a DSLR from 10 years ago would be something like a Nikon D810 or D750 or Canon EOS-1D X Mark II. So no, there is no comparison with a phone camera and real camera. The phone is for snap shots, the others for serious photography. Have you ever seen photographers on the sidelines of a football game shooting with an iPhone? Or a professional wedding photographer? Street photography you would want to be able to control depth of field maybe long exposures, extreme wide angle lenses and telephoto.
 
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BSDnostalgia said:
How do people feel about the cameras? Ad-wise, you would expect image quality similar to a DSLR from 10 years ago (excepting, of course, things you need very heavy telephoto lenses for. Does it live up to that expectation: like a DSLR for street use? It seems to me that most of what recent cell phones have been about are the cameras.
Click to expand...
Even the very first DSLR released would take better pictures than the 17 Pro in terms of raw image quality, you cant disobey the laws of physics, however the cameras on the 17 Pro are really good especially in RAW format. Takes great pics of my two skittish cats. Battery life the best i ever had in a phone.
 
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No issues with my Orange 17 Pro Max. Screen has been great. I have a Bellroy Venture case on it. But periodically take it out at home for cleaning.
 
BSDnostalgia said:
How do people feel about the cameras? Ad-wise, you would expect image quality similar to a DSLR from 10 years ago (excepting, of course, things you need very heavy telephoto lenses for. Does it live up to that expectation: like a DSLR for street use?
Click to expand...
I get good results that I’m happy with, but anyone thinking it’s close to a DSLR is dreaming. The bokeh alone, and Apple’s stagnant portrait mode implementation, puts a DSLR in another universe.

But boy photographic styles have helped make the stock camera app more usable. Just being able to tone down the overly HDR’d default presentation has been a gift. Shadows are good!

I’ve been happy with some of the noise grain on the new telephoto too, which has given some of my shots a bit of a filmic look compared to the nasty colour noise of previous sensors.
 
It's what most people have wanted - the 17 has just been SOLID. In 7 years, this one will be looked back at as the "good" choice before all the change.
 
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I upgraded from the 15pm to the 17pm just a few weeks ago. I figured the updates this cycle will likely be minimal, the phones more costly, and I wanted to lock in a good trade in value for my 15pm.

So far I’m really happy with my decision. I put it in a dbrand ghost case and prism screen protector, so it’s quite well protected.
 
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MacRumors said:
Ceramic Shield 2 was the best iPhone upgrade this year. Apple said it's more resistant to scratches, and that turned out to be true.

Battery life was also a standout on the iPhone 17 Pro. It's able to keep up with a full day of heavy use, which is normally only possible with the larger battery in the Pro Max iPhones. Dan swapped to the smaller iPhone 17 Pro over the 17 Pro Max because the battery lasted longer than the 16 Pro battery.

Apple added vapor chamber cooling in the 17 Pro, and that kept the iPhone cooler than normal for most of the year. Dan said his iPhone is running hotter with minor dips in performance, probably because of the iOS 27 beta. Running beta software can affect battery life and device performance.

Rumors suggest the iPhone 18 Pro isn't going to be a huge upgrade over the iPhone 17 Pro, and it's likely prices are going to go up. It's not the worst idea to buy an iPhone 17 Pro now instead of holding out for the iPhone 18 Pro, especially if you have an older iPhone.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro One Year Later: What Held Up and What Didn't
Click to expand...

Oh Ceramic Shield 2 is the best upgrade the entire 17 lineup got this year, even the 17e got it which makes this phone’s screen with Ceramic Shield 2 ( also comes with anti reflectivity coating for the 17e as well) better than the entire 16 lineup.

Also the 17 Pro has the best battery life of any 6.1/6.3 inch iPhone ever, on par with the 17e since that has the A19 and has the same battery mah (4005) as the 16e, Apple knew this with the 16e and increased that battery life with the 17 Pro not to mention the vaper chamber cooling system
 
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My 17PM battery usage:
1 hour running errands with the phone ALWAYS charging when in the car: minus 10% battery every hour at least
3 hours away and I’m always at 70% battery. Maybe 72%.

When driving with CarPlay, my Anker car charger will keep the 17PM from decreasing battery %. But battery % will either NOT increase, or only go up very slowly.

17PM will still overheat intermittently and stop charging. (Once a month-ish). Esp when playing podcasts (OverCast).

All that aside, it’s a great phone. LOVE the burnt orange + orange silicone case + Apple Watch w/ Tumeric braided solo watch.
 
Jemi9OD said:
I upgraded from the 15pm to the 17pm just a few weeks ago. I figured the updates this cycle will likely be minimal, the phones more costly, and I wanted to lock in a good trade in value for my 15pm.

So far I’m really happy with my decision. I put it in a dbrand ghost case and prism screen protector, so it’s quite well protected.
Click to expand...
Did you happen to use the new lease program? I'm on the fence for getting a 17 Pro Max for less than $2/month on a 12 month lease.
 
Just received 17pm 1tb in silver today. Still debating whether to keep it or not, I’m concerned the 18 pros will have some compromises like the google pixel lineup. For instance the rumor of QLC drives and other cheaper components
 
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