Which iPhone to choose this time: the most important updates to the iPhone 17 line with the new iPhone Air

Apple is not one of those companies that often makes serious changes to the model range of its gadgets, although it does not forget about annual upgrades. This time, a little more has happened with the iPhone 17 line than in several previous update cycles. The manufacturer did not just upgrade the model range, but also supplemented it with the new iPhone Air, insider information about which has been filling the information space of specialized publications for quite a long time.

Moreover, the original iPhone 17 smartphone, despite minimal external changes, finally received support for certain features that it was noticeably lacking. And the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max updates were a more serious refinement of previous errors and the first appearance upgrade since the iPhone 11.

In this article, we will look at Apple's smartphone updates and take a closer look at the new "thinnest iPhone ever."

iPhone 17 finally gets a faster display

Perhaps this is a purely subjective exaggeration of the problem, but in previous years I could not accept the fact that the base model of the iPhone only had a 60 Hz screen. With a price of $ 799, the device was not among the most expensive in the "native" market. But for many years now, smartphones that were half the price could offer at least 90 Hz.

It is clear that this is not a fundamental point for all users. Those buyers who have not previously used smartphones with faster screens did not notice the problem at all. But the basic iPhone has ignored such a pleasant "little thing" for too long.

Let me remind you that ProMotion support in Apple smartphones appeared in 2021 in the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max models. It is also difficult to say that it was without delay. And with each subsequent update there was a glimmer of hope that even simpler versions would please with a faster image refresh rate. But this happened only now. And globally - better late than never.

And here it should be noted that ProMotion "went all the way", the LTPO matrix is not inferior to more expensive models: there is Always-On, peak brightness is 3,000 cd/m², Ceramic Shield 2 glass, reduced frames with a larger diagonal than the previous one (6.3 versus 6.1 inches)... Also, all models now have an anti-glare coating, which Apple did not put much emphasis on, but left hope that it will get better under direct sunlight. A great update that the base model was really waiting for.

And since most of the time when working with a smartphone, the user looks at the display, you can easily forgive the company for the lack of updates to the body design (fresher shades of color options almost do not count). But the latter has also become larger, although not dramatically. The dimensions of the predecessor were 147.6×71.6×7.8 mm with a weight of 170 grams, while the iPhone 17 has 149.6×71.5×7.95 mm and 177 grams. And this, again, with a slightly larger display.

Of the expected updates — the A19 processor. It does not change the configuration of the cores or the technical process, but adds a little to the frequencies… For some reason, Apple does not indicate the amount of RAM, but according to available data, the same 8 GB remained. A little less than expected — without changing the cost, the company increased the minimum storage capacity to 256 GB. The optional maximum remains 512 GB.

A good upgrade will also be the battery life. Available information shows an increase in the battery from 3,561 to 3,692 mAh. Apple measures battery life by video playback time: 22 hours for the predecessor versus 30 for the new model. The wired charging power has also been increased to 40 W (like the Pro), which with the appropriate power supply will allow you to get 50% in 20 minutes.

Not only will the updated chip help save battery life, but also the new N1 modem, which combines Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. This is Apple's own development, which also went to all other new models.

The cameras also received some nice improvements. The front sensor was radically updated for the entire new line, and now it is square. The camera was called Center Stage, and its main feature was not even an increase in resolution to 18 MP, but the ability to change the image orientation without having to rotate the smartphone. That is, the position of the device does not play a role at all in changing the aspect ratio. An interesting and quite original approach to selfies.

At the same time, such a camera should provide better image stabilization, allow video recording in Dual Capture mode (simultaneous recording with the main and front cameras), and improve video chats.

The main unit of the iPhone 17 now contains two Fushion sensors, each with 48 MP. The wide-angle one allows you to get a two-fold optical zoom, and the ultra-wide-angle one allows for macro. It’s not that such functions didn’t exist before, but now they are all Fusion. In fact, the company emphasizes in this way the resolution of the ultra-wide-angle camera by four times. However, Sensor-shift stabilization remained only for the wide-angle sensor.

Overall, this year's iPhone 17 upgrade was a pretty good one. And mostly it was the fast and slightly larger screen that made it so. Of course, camera additions are never superfluous, and this year selfie lovers will appreciate them first of all. Still, other things, such as increased performance and battery life, are expected in new smartphones, and without this.

It's also nice that the basic version hasn't changed its price, while doubling the storage capacity. So in the US, this model starts at $799. But for 512 GB, you'll have to add another $200, and with the new updates, it's not as ridiculous a price as it used to be.

However, those who wanted to purchase the base model with a larger display were not given the opportunity. And this happened because of…

iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 specifications comparison

iPhone Air — the "middle ground" that never existed before

The main iPhone lineup has never had three different offerings at once. Of course, the company has released more models in previous years. But the choice has mostly been limited to two options, with the option to choose a larger or smaller version of each. Somewhere in between, with long intervals, there have also been "budget" offerings like the iPhone 5c, SE, and now the iPhone 16e. (You can also recall the short-lived experiment with the 13 mini, but that's a different story.)

The new iPhone Air has become something else altogether. The main feature of the model is its thickness of 5.64 mm. “The thinnest iPhone” — all marketing materials say. For comparison, the thickness of the iPhone 17 is 7.95 mm, and the iPhone 17 Pro (and Pro Max) — 8.75 mm. Samsung slightly outpaced Apple with the release of the Galaxy S25 Edge model, the thickness of the case of which is also close — 5.8 mm. And indeed, against the background of classic monoblocks, which seem to have stopped worrying about ergonomics, the category of ultra-thin cases makes perfect sense. Moreover, technologically it is now easier to do this than before.

At the same time, the iPhone Air became the only new model with a titanium polished frame. For the first time for Apple, Ceramic Shield glass was placed on both sides of the case for better durability. And the look really turned out to be quite stylish. However, not without its limitations.

For example, the iPhone Air is no coincidence that it also became the first model to be released without a SIM card slot, which will be completely replaced by eSIM not only in the US. Not that this is a big problem, but it does indicate a limitation. The Air is equipped with an A19 Pro processor, but it is also not without nuances. This chip has one less graphics core, and there is no talk of an evaporation camera like in the Pro. (Although 12 GB of RAM is expected, which is already very good and creates a reserve for the future.)

And in general, the engineers had to move almost all the "insides" up, placing them in the protrusion with the camera, in order, again, to free up space for the battery. And that's why the main camera here is... one. Yes, it is hardly worse than the others in the line, and has almost the same capabilities. But spherical video cannot be recorded for Vision Pro. Just as ultra-wide-angle photos and videos are not available. Cinematic mode is also not available. But there is a two-time optical zoom, because it is still a Fusion Camera.

And now the battery life remains a big question mark and the physical limitations are clear. GSMArena notes the battery capacity of 3,149 mAh, and Apple — 27 hours of video playback. The latter is also not bad, if you compare it with previous iPhones. But for now, it turns out the simplest indicator in the current line. More will be shown in the tests soon. But in the presentation, right after the phrase "will last all day", they showed a new power bank, which does not give good premonitions. And the power of wired charging is limited to 20 watts, not 40, as in other new products.

So, despite the fact that the iPhone Air received the A19 Pro, you can't count on all the capabilities of such a chip. And not only because it is a simpler version, but also because such a device will have to save battery power more "aggressively" than others.

And here a rather banal conclusion appears by itself — the iPhone Air does not even try to count on a demanding user. This is a stylish and image-oriented smartphone with an appropriate audience. It even returned to accessories the classic bumper from the iPhone 4 era. And if its battery life does not let it down, the iPhone Air will be able to become a worthy part of the line. However, in the opposite case, users will take part in a rather expensive experiment (which may well be half of the iPhone Fold).

And you will have to pay from $999 to $1,399 for such a smartphone (the price will be higher in Ukraine). So the battery better cope with the promised day of work, so as not to disappoint buyers. And the next model would be desirable to have more cameras, but more on that later.

Features of iPhone Air

iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are still all-in-ones

While Apple continues to prepare the Fold variant, the leading position in the lineup remains with the Pro models. This year they received more updates than several predecessors. With internal upgrades came the long-awaited external ones. Of course, the question of design remains subjective. And personally, I can't say that the iPhone 17 Pro has become more beautiful. More practical, yes. But not more beautiful.

Let's start with the fact that the case of the new flagships has returned to the use of aluminum. Initially, the company pampered users with steel and titanium frames, but now it has returned to an aluminum unibody. The official explanation is to improve heat transfer. At the same time, the company emphasized the use of a new evaporation chamber, which, together with the updated case, should improve stability during high loads.

The glass on the back is also noticeably smaller, but the Ceramic Shield insert is still there, allowing you to continue using induction charging stations and MagSafe accessories. However, given the popularity of protective cases, not many users will notice such a visual change overall.

However, along with this, the camera block, which was already large, has stretched across the entire width of the panel. And this is a more noticeable change in design. In addition to the fact that now such a protrusion has become huge, there is also a certain advantage in this - on a flat surface, the smartphone will no longer bounce its corners on the table when the user performs certain actions. Also, perhaps this way it will be more convenient to hold the smartphone, supporting the body under the massive protrusion. But this will be more evident in practice.

I'll be honest, this isn't the most beautiful iPhone Apple has ever released. The new color — Cosmic Orange — will clearly be appreciated by McLaren fans, but I'm not one of them either. What's more, there are no standard dark gray or black colors now. And yes, this is a subjective opinion, and there will certainly be people who like this appearance. Although I have a feeling that there will be fewer of them than before. And the iPhone 17 Pro this year wasn't supposed to be a beautiful device, so as not to accidentally "overshadow" the iPhone Air.

As for other changes, of course, the A19 Pro has become "the most powerful chip in an iPhone in the history of mankind." RAM will now be 12 GB, and the storage has in principle increased to an optional 2 TB, which you also have to look for from competitors. And, by the way, the storage of the smaller iPhone 17 Pro now also starts at 256 GB, but its cost has different numbers.

Still, there have almost never been many questions about the performance of new iPhones. But users have always wanted a bigger battery (although this is probably true for any gadgets or even electric cars). And here the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max have become new record holders. Although with their own small twist. These models will continue to be sold with or without SIM card slots, depending on the region. In cases where these slots are present, the battery will be slightly smaller. Preliminary reports say 3,988/4,252 mAh in the iPhone 17 Pro and 4,832/5,088 mAh in the 17 Pro Max.

This could create a situation somewhat similar to the beginning of the regional division of Samsung flagships, when users were more interested in a Snapdragon model than an Exynos one, and there was an additional motivation to find an American device. Something similar, theoretically, could happen in this case, because a larger battery definitely wins in priorities over a physical SIM card. Perhaps, except for those usage scenarios when there is a need for a physical slot due to frequent travel, for example. Although it is not so difficult to adapt to this nowadays.

Apple still places a lot of emphasis on camera capabilities. Here, too, all three sensors of the main Fusion unit now have 48 MP, and the telephoto now offers 8x optical zoom. Professionals now have access to ProRes RAW video recording and Genlock support. With the BlackMagic dock, you can generally output sound and image to external devices at once… Yes, the functions are not for everyone, but a certain caste of professionals will find it useful. And for everyone else, there is also a new Center Stage front camera.

So, as always, the Pro models in the line offer more performance and battery life, and at the same time are able to better please users who care about camera capabilities. Of course, if there is an appropriate budget for this, because these smartphones are currently the most expensive. Moreover, the iPhone 17 Pro Max with 2 TB now has a price tag of $ 2,000, which has not happened with the cost of an iPhone before. And right now, I don’t even want to think about the price of a potential iPhone Fold.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro specifications comparison

iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro Max specifications comparison

Preliminary conclusions

In fact, "on paper" the new line of smartphones from Apple has really improved seriously. The iPhone 17 has become a great update, which is now not so ashamed of its competitors. They would add a telephoto camera to it, as recently happened with the basic Pixel and has long been relevant for the flagship line of Samsung... But this is probably a question of the not so distant future. And the practically unchanged cost no longer seems like a robbery, as it was before.

iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max remain a collection of the best that the company currently offers. Perhaps now in a rougher external form. But for the best performance, battery life and camera — "you come here". True, such models are not going to get cheaper. However, I would not say that the best competitors differ greatly in cost (if we are not talking about the Chinese "flagship killers", namely the nearest interesting products from Samsung and Google).

And between them, the new iPhone Air is comfortably located. And this device is very clearly aimed at cases when the gadget should not just perform its tasks, but also complement the owner's style. It is not about records of productivity, operating time or professional filming. Here it is precisely "about style and elegance". And it is very interesting whether the category of "sophisticated" smartphones will take hold in general. But this also largely depends on how quickly new battery technologies will allow Apple, including, not to mention power banks in the middle of the presentation, but to leave them for the end in the section "by the way, there are such accessories".

P.S.

The new set of models also "forced" Apple to release a video guide on choosing a new iPhone. In the company's style, the video is light and with a hint of weak jokes, but it is unlikely to help the average Apple Store visitor choose a new iPhone.