iPhone 17 vs. iPhone Air vs. iPhone 17 Pro review: Tough to pick a favourite

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The iPhone Air is revolutionary. The iPhone 17 Pro has the best camera. The iPhone 17 is fantastic and the most affordable. Apple did not make it easy for customers this year.

I’ve been writing iPhone reviews for years, and I’m usually able to confidently make recommendations. It’s usually, “if your current phone works well, no need to upgrade.” Supported with, “if you want a new phone, the regular one is great, go Pro if you want the best camera.” This year, I will still provide suggestions, but it’s not as black and white — it’s black, white and stunning orange.

I won’t get distracted by the Pro’s new beautiful burnt metallic orange colour, which Apple is calling Cosmic Orange, because the entire new lineup needs attention.

I’ve been testing all three devices, and I go through my review of each device below. Before getting into the meat and potatoes of these Apple devices, here’s a quick summary of recommendations.

Which 2025 iPhone is right for me?

• iPhone 17 (starting from $1,129): If your current phone is working well, it may be hard to justify the upgrade. However, some new features are baked into the hardware and won’t be accessible with a software upgrade (more on this below). I recommend the iPhone 17 to most people who are looking for a new, fantastic iPhone at the most affordable price. 

• iPhone Air (starting from $1,449): To Air or to Pro – that is the Apple dilemma this year. The Air feels so great in my hand, the screen size is between the 17 and 17 Pro Max, it’s light, it’s the most durable, it seems like the future of phones. But the Pro’s camera is better. I recommend the Air to those who are willing to spend more than the 17 and don’t use their camera to zoom into really far subjects.
• iPhone 17 Pro (starting from $1,599): To Pro or to Air – I will likely Pro, because I care about having the best camera — occupational hazard. But I want the Air for the same reason I like the MacBook Air, it’s lighter. I recommend the Pro to those who are actually creative professionals, or those like me who prioritize camera quality over phone weight.

That’s the best I can do at a snapshot because all three phones are fantastic, and they all have very distinct key features. Below, I go over each model and its shiniest new features to help guide any iPhone decisions you may be considering. I start with the review of the iPhone 17, then the iPhone Air and finally, the iPhone 17 Pro.

Also, note that the entire lineup says goodbye to physical SIM cards. It’s super easy to transfer from a physical SIM card to an eSIM; the new iPhone will prompt you when transferring from your old phone.

iPhone 17 review: Ceramic Shield, Dual Capture, 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide, battery

Ceramic Shield: After using the iPhone 16 Pro for a year, I ended up with one scratch on the screen. I used an Apple silicone case that I needed to replace once because the corners were worn away from all my drops. This Ceramic Shield is a welcomed upgrade. Apple says it’s tougher than any smartphone glass or glass-ceramic and 3x more scratch-resistant than the iPhone 16 lineup — time will tell.

Dual Capture: This was one of my “woahhh” moments when first trying the phone. You can record videos with your front and back cameras at the same time. It seems like it’s primed for content creators who love reaction or “get ready with me” videos. It looks like FaceTime, where you can see yourself on a small screen while using the back camera.

48MP Fusion Ultra Wide: You can zoom in and zoom out with this camera without sacrificing details of the subject. This feature also helps with capturing high-quality photos in low-light environments. My favourite aspect is the selfie camera, where you can zoom out even more to get a wider shot.

Battery: iPhone 17 has up to 30 hours of video playback, three hours more than the 16 Pro and eight hours more than the 16. Apple also introduced a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max, which can charge the phone up to 50 per cent in 20 minutes when using a USB-C charging cable. It can charge up to 50 per cent in 30 minutes with a 30W adapter with a MagSafe Charger.

Accessories: The 17 only has the classic silicone case. The only difference this year is that there are holes at the bottom so you can attach the new Crossbody Strap (all new cases are compatible with this strap). I like these cases, but they only last me six months before I need to replace them.

What:iPhone 17
Colours: Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White, Black
Cost: Starting from $1,129 (same as iPhone 16)
Where to buy:Apple | Best Buy
Date available: Sept. 19, 2025

iPhone Air review: Design, durability, A19 Pro chip

Comparing the Air to the 17: The iPhone Air has the Ceramic Shield mentioned above, but on the back too. It also has Dual Capture. It does not have the 48 Fusion Ultra Wide camera, so it can’t zoom out to .5  like the 17 can. The battery can handle up to 27 hours of video playback, while the 17 can get 30. The Air is compatible with its own new accessory, the Apple iPhone Air MagSafe Battery — it can charge the phone up to 65 per cent, but it is sold separately.

Design: It’s so light and pretty. It’s 165 grams, 12 grams lighter than the 17. But the screen has a 6.5-inch display, .2 inches larger than the 17. The Air is just 5.64 mm, more than 2 mm thinner than the 17 and 3 mm thinner than the 17 Pro. The sides of the Air are shiny, versus the matte finish of the 17 and 17 Pro. The Air comes in five colours. I’m testing the Sky Blue, which is okay, but nothing compared to Light Gold, which looks very happy in my hand. Overall, the Air is my favourite design of an iPhone yet because the screen is a happy medium size, and it’s just so light and thin. Apple introduced accessories to try to keep it light (see below).

Durability: Apple says the Air is the most durable phone of any other iPhone. For the first time, Apple used 3D-printed titanium in order to create a new port that can fit the Air’s thin design.

A19 Pro chip: I try hard to avoid talking tech and just focus on the result of the tech. The A19 Pro chip is the most efficient yet; it creates a smooth, power-efficient experience so the phone can compute demanding programs, like AI, with ease.

Accessories: Apple introduced the Bumper, a case that just goes around the perimeter of the phone. I want this for all the models. I say now. If it works, and the iPhone doesn’t get all scratched up with my inevitable drops. Like the other new cases, the Bumper works with the new strap. The Air also gets the new MagSafe Battery pack — it does make the phone significantly heavier.

What:iPhone Air
Colours: Sky Blue, Light Gold, Cloud White, Space Black
Cost: Starting from $1,449
Where to buy:Apple | Best Buy
Date available: Sept. 19, 2025

iPhone 17 Pro review: Camera, battery, vapour chamber

Comparing the 17 Pro to the 17 and Air: The Pro has the front and back Ceramic shield, like the Air. It has Dual Capture. It has the 48 Fusion Ultra Wide camera plus a 48MP Fusion Telephoto, meaning it has an optical zoom from .5 to 8x. The battery can handle up to 33 hours of video playback. The 17 Pro also comes in a fun colour this year, Cosmic Orange. It looks more impactful in person.

Camera: This is why I may go Pro over Air. The darn spectacular camera. The 17 Pro (and 17 Pro Max, a larger version of the same phone, which is the same aside from a longer-lasting battery) increases the zoom incrementally from the 16 Pro, introducing the 48MP Pro Fusion camera system (from the Pro camera system). You can now zoom up to 8x. The video controls are also more advanced than those of previous iPhones. Videos can be processed faster.

Battery: There’s an obvious new feature of the iPhone 17 Pro, the “plateau.” The bar that sticks out of the back of the phone. This, paired with the added space relieved from the physical SIM, allows for increased battery capacity. The 17 Pro can have up to 33 hours of video playback, and the 17 Pro Max has a whopping 39 hours.

Vapour chamber: The 17 Pros have a vapour chamber built into the phone, which is designed to cool the phone’s components. This is used so the Pro can work efficiently and powerfully without overheating. I’ve been outside using my phone during the summer, and sometimes it says “iPhone needs to cool down.” After retorting “we all do” at the inanimate object, I try to get the phone to shade. This chamber should reduce or eliminate that warning.

Accessories: There may be a solution to my worn-away silicone case corners — the new iPhone 17 Pro TechWoven Case. It feels more durable than the silicone. It also feels rougher and more slippery. Not sure if I like the “hand feel” of the TechWoven Case yet.

What:iPhone 17 Pro
Colours: Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue
Cost: Starting from $1,599 (iPhone 16 Pro started from $1,449)
Where to buy:Apple | Best Buy
Date available: Sept. 19, 2025

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