iPhone 17 Replace iPhone 15 Pro with 17 base?

[Andy_2341]

Ignoring the finances, as I can't be arsed to calculate them 😁 (I just buy my phones outright.)

I upgraded from the base 11 to the base 17. Great upgrade!

From a 15 Pro? I wouldn't bother.

That’s where I aspire to be. My next iPhone, whether it’s a 20th aniversary or a different model, will be purchased outright.

 

[adrianlondon]

That’s where I aspire to be. My next iPhone, whether it’s a 20th aniversary or a different model, will be purchased outright.

I buy mine outright as I'm not a huge user, so get a cheap mobile plan.

My partner uses their phone loads when out and about, so gets a more expensive plan and then gets a deal with a phone.

So it really depends on your providers and their prices/offers. Usually, it's cheapest to buy outright, but if you don't have the cash immediately to hand, then the monthly contracts are fine.

 

[maika1305]

I traded my 15 Pro Max in for the 17 and I'm happy with my decision. Let me give you a short comparison of pros and cons:

Pros:
1. iP17 got much better battery life (Apple listed iP17 got 29 hours of battery life, whereas 15 Pro Max got 30 hours).
2. iP17 got better heat dissipation.
3. iP17 got a bit thinner screen bezel.
4. iP17 is lighter.
5. iP17 got square sensor for the selfie camera, so you can take landscape pictures without having to rotate your phone.
6. iP17 got longer software support.
7. iP17 got support for the new Photo Style & Audio Mix features.


Cons:
1. iP17 doesn't have a telephoto lens. iP15 Pro is much better in this case.
2. iP15 Pro got a better microphone array. If you record audio a lot, iP15 Pro yields much better audio quality.
3. iP15 Pro got LiDAR, which is essential if you need it to measure or scan stuff with precision.

 

[Ctrlos]

Pros are typically supported longer so the 17 might get one extra year of future software updates instead of two. Honestly it is a bad trade off, worse camera, minor processor upgrade. If one takes pictures it’s already a deal breaker.

Better to find a better deal, heck the Air might make more sense, it at least has 12 gb of ram and one can find those cheap. The camera is comparable and the extra ram would make a real difference in future updates.

Having owned both there is very little difference between the camera on the Air and the 16e. The Air is one of my favourite iPhones of all time but you're buying it for the design.

 

[leifp]

If you genuinely notice no additional financial pain, get the 17. You can then play with both, see which you prefer, and then sell the other one.

I am debating “downgrading” whenever I replace my 15Pro but barring accidents (I had to replace my 12 mini with a 13 mini due to the brutal death of the 12) I cannot foresee any chance of that before the 19/XX generation of phones. Got my dad an e but I think that’s likely a step too far for me…

 

[Andy_2341]

If you genuinely notice no additional financial pain, get the 17. You can then play with both, see which you prefer, and then sell the other one.

I am debating “downgrading” whenever I replace my 15Pro but barring accidents (I had to replace my 12 mini with a 13 mini due to the brutal death of the 12) I cannot foresee any chance of that before the 19/XX generation of phones. Got my dad an e but I think that’s likely a step too far for me…

There would be a pinch of pain upfront finacially if I were to get both. However, from in store comparisons and my family member’s new 17 Pro I was able to compare them somehwhat. I’m sticking with the 15 Pro for the time being. Not enough differences that mean enough to me for me to take that upfront hit or let go of my 15 Pro. I’ll probably step down from the pro line for the XX.

 

[Andy_2341]

I traded my 15 Pro Max in for the 17 and I'm happy with my decision. Let me give you a short comparison of pros and cons:

Pros:
1. iP17 got much better battery life (Apple listed iP17 got 29 hours of battery life, whereas 15 Pro Max got 30 hours).
2. iP17 got better heat dissipation.
3. iP17 got a bit thinner screen bezel.
4. iP17 is lighter.
5. iP17 got square sensor for the selfie camera, so you can take landscape pictures without having to rotate your phone.
6. iP17 got longer software support.
7. iP17 got support for the new Photo Style & Audio Mix features.


Cons:
1. iP17 doesn't have a telephoto lens. iP15 Pro is much better in this case.
2. iP15 Pro got a better microphone array. If you record audio a lot, iP15 Pro yields much better audio quality.
3. iP15 Pro got LiDAR, which is essential if you need it to measure or scan stuff with precision.

The battery life is a big plus for me, as is the heat disapation. The bezel, weight, software support, and photo style/audio mix are not really important for my use. The selfie camera upgrade could be though as I facetime alot. On that note, a better mic array is prefered, and I occasionally use the telephoto. LiDAR is useful but not enough to justify buying a pro model.