For a little more than the past two weeks, I’ve been putting the iPhone 17 Pro to the test to see if it’s worthy of being a best phone contender. Although I initially gave an early verdict on which new iPhone I’d pick after spending hands-on time with new models — including the iPhone Air — there’s still something to say about the iPhone 17 Pro.
In my iPhone 17 Pro review, I emphasize how this year’s model gets a price increase — and how that lessens the gap between that model and the more expensive iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, you’re not just choosing between the Pro and the Pro Max. I’ve also mentioned what makes the standard iPhone 17 just as impressive after using it for a week, like how it gains a 120Hz refresh rate to make it feel more like a pro.
Now that two weeks have gone by, I have a better appreciation (and idea) of what really makes the iPhone 17 Pro compelling. Here’s what I like and don’t like.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro: What I Like
Big fan of the redesign
Above everything else, I absolutely love the iPhone 17 Pro’s redesign because the makeover injects a new look without shedding the identity Apple has carved out for its Pro phone.
The two-toned color scheme is a pleasant contrast that’s best on display with the Cosmic Orange color of the phone. And while the camera housing gets extended, it still retains the iconic look that’s made it memorable.
While there have been images of the new iPhones showing up with big scuff marks that raise questions about the durability of their aluminum unibody frame and Ceramic Shield back cover, the scratches I see on my iPhone 17 Pro after two weeks are in line with the wear and tear I typically experience with other phones. That’s why I always advise putting on a case to best minimize scratches.
Better anti-reflective screen
The iPhone 17 Pro still features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with the same 2,622 x 1,206 resolution as before, but the new Ceramic Shield 2 covering the panel offers improved anti-reflection. I played the new “Tron: Ares” trailer on both the new model and the iPhone 16 Pro, and the difference is instantly noticeable.
From the same angles, the iPhone 16 Pro’s display shows more reflections that can become distracting over time — whereas the iPhone 17 Pro subdues them. They’re not totally eliminated, but at least this new anti-reflection coating softens them.
Faster charging speed
Another thing I immediately notice every night I put my iPhone 17 Pro on a charger is that it charges way faster than before. That’s because the phone has been upgraded to 35W wired charging, which is up from the 30W speed of the iPhone 16 Pro.
As a result, our testing shows an improvement, as the iPhone 17 Pro can get to 40% capacity in 15 minutes, and subsequently to 72% in 30 minutes. Charging the iPhone 16 Pro in the same amount of time gets it to 29% and 56%, respectively.
Unbeatable A19 Pro performance
Whether I’m casually watching video reels on my downtime, or putting in time playing Diablo Immortal or Age of Origins, the iPhone 17 Pro’s performance never backs down. That’s partly due to the unbeatable performance of the A19 Pro chip, which consists of a 6-core CPU and 6-core GPU.
This combination makes basic phone stuff a breeze, while more processor-intensive tasks like gaming run effortlessly.
More framing options for selfies
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With the introduction of the new 18MP Center Stage front camera that appears on all iPhone 17 models, taking selfies with the iPhone 17 Pro is even more of a breeze than ever before. Since it’s a square-shaped sensor, I can access the same four different framing options regardless of how I hold the phone.
On top of that, the front camera also has a wider field of view than its predecessor. Take a look at the gallery above to see all the framing options at your disposal.
Still a low light beast
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Even though the iPhone 17 Pro’s main camera hasn’t gotten an upgrade from last year’s model, it still delivers outstanding performance under low-light situations that put its rivals to shame.
Take the side-by-side comparison above, which I took in my backyard with my iPhone 17 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra. No other phone compares to how well the iPhone 17 Pro exposes the scene, while also retaining details without introducing much noise or artifacts to the shot.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro: What I Don’t Like
Still not convinced by its new telephoto camera
Out of everything, the one thing I question most about the iPhone 17 Pro is Apple’s decision to go for a telephoto camera with a higher-resolution sensor but with less optical zoom than before. On paper, the 48MP telephoto shooter makes the 12MP one of the iPhone 16 Pro look quaint, but bear in mind that its optical zoom went from 5x on last year’s phone to 4x.
That might seem like a minor difference, but let me tell you the results surprised me. I took over a dozen telephoto zoom shots with the iPhone 17 Pro and 16 Pro, and while the iPhone 17 Pro’s shots at 4x zoom are noticeably sharper, the sharpness becomes less apparent at 5x and beyond. If you look at the 8x zoom shots above, they appear identical in their details.
I was hoping for significant improvements for the iPhone 17 Pro, but I just don’t see those emerging from the updated telephoto camera.
The price hike
I’m not a fan of the price hike that Apple gave to the iPhone 17 Pro. Instead of the $999 Apple has charged for several years now, the entry-level Pro model now costs $100 to pick up.
Sure, Apple boosts the storage to 256GB, but I was hoping for the company to do that without a price increase. Just look at the iPhone 17, which gets upgraded to 256GB of storage as well, but still costs $799 like its predecessor.
Lack of more Apple Intelligence features
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, which is one of the most disappointing parts about the software. Considering that I’ve been using the iOS 26 beta release for months, the final release didn’t feel as new or fresh. It could’ve been the perfect opportunity for Apple to show us all new stuff, but it didn’t.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro: Bottom Line
Because the iPhone 17 Pro’s higher cost lessens the price gap with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, it’s much harder for me to recommend getting the iPhone 17 Pro — unless you really prefer a smaller-sized flagship phone. That’s essentially the only incentive to go buy the iPhone 17 Pro.
At the same time, that price increase also makes for a tougher sell over some of the best Android phones out there, including the Pixel 10 Pro that directly competes with this iPhone model.
If you’re willing to pay the extra cost, you won’t regret it because I think the iPhone 17 Pro checks off a lot of the boxes for stuff I’d want in a flagship phone. Not only does it look and feel premium, but its performance lives up to that high-end billing. And despite not having a significant improvement to its telephoto camera performance, the iPhone 17 Pro is still a capable camera phone that I wouldn’t mind making my backup to my mirrorless camera.
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