Three iPhone 17 models and a new iPhone Air

The new iPhone 17, iPhone Air and both Pro models have more in common than the previous iPhones. For example, all models start with 256 GB storage space and the screens of all these iPhones are equally good. They also all have Apple’s new N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, the same 18 MP selfie cameras and all other cameras now have a resolution of 48 MP.

During the iPhone 17 keynote, Apple also launched the AirPods Pro 3 and three new Apple Watches. We have to wait a little longer on the new Apple TV, airtag 2, and HomePod Mini. Apple Intelligence was also hardly mentioned this time. Apple did come with some new iPhone accessories such as a Crossbody carrier for most Apple covers (not with the transparent covers), a magsafe battery (only fits on the iPhone Air) and some techwoven covers (only for the pro models). Furthermore, there are some new colors again this year. Fans of the color orange can now also buy an iPhone 17 Pro in that color. I expect Deep Blue to become the most popular and silver will also be sold more often.

Below the available colors of the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro models

Standard 256 GB storage space
Great that Apple now provides every new model of the iPhone as standard with 256 GB. With the iPhone 17 you now pay the same amount as last year for the cheapest iPhone 16 with only 128 GB storage space. The iPhone 17 Pro is 100 euros more expensive than the cheapest iPhone 16 Pro with 128 GB storage space. The 256 GB of storage space is sufficient for most users, so you don’t have to spend an additional 250 euros on a version with 512 GB. Even better is that Apple has now also provided the regular iPhone 17 and the iPhone Air with promotional screens with a variable number of image changes per second. Fast movements are therefore displayed nicer and with standing images you use less power. The iPhone screens now all support a light intensity of up to 3000 nits, so that you can also read your iPhone screen better with some brighter light. With the iPhone 16 Pro, the brightest view outside was only 2000 Nits. It is also nice that each screen is provided with an anti -reflection coating of 7 layers and is scratch -resistant to three times with the Ceramic Shield 2. The iPhone 17 is the only one to have an A19 processor that is 20 percent faster than the A18 processor from the iPhone 16, according to Apple.

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Also less differences with the cameras
All cameras on the back now have a resolution of 48 MP. The most important difference is the number of cameras on the back. Compared to the iPhone Air, the iPhone 17 has an extra ultra-wide corner camera and you also get a telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom with both Pro models. If you make a recording of 12 MP you use 25 percent of the sensor image with an in-sensor crop and you can even zoom in up to 8x. With the iPhone 16 Pro Max, 5x was the maximum zoom factor. Also nice is that you can simultaneously record videos on the front and back of your iPhone.

The iPhone 17 Pro now has a wide camera island and 8x optical zoom

Furthermore, all new models are now equipped with the same 18 MP selfie camera with the Center Stage-Technology so that you also easily get several people in the picture. Very handy that you can now also include selfies in a lying format in the portrait position.

When is an iPhone Pro still recommended?
If you often want to make video recordings and that you want to be able to work out well, the Prores video format of the iPhone Pro offers a big advantage. In combination with Apple’s Final Cut Pro 2.0 you can use Apple Log 2 with a wider color correction option and a precise time code that is useful in the post -processing.

Furthermore, you will benefit from the much larger optical zoom. The much faster USB-3 port, which is approximately 20 times as fast than the USB-2 ports of the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air, is then an important advantage. The A19 Pro processor has a larger cache memory and a 40 precent better performance than the processor of the iPhone 16 Pro (Max). With suspected 12 GB 50 percent larger than the 8 GB of the iPhone 16 Pro models, the internal memory. Anyone who uses his iPhone very intensively and cannot regularly charge his iPhone, could opt for the iPhone 17 Pro Max that has by far the longest battery life. The battery life of both pro models is approximately 6 hours longer than with the iPhone 16 Pro (Max).

An important renewal is the completely new cooling system that works with evaporation. Due to 40 percent better cooling, the iPhone does not become too hot even with a long -term heavy load. The new aluminum Unibody also drains the heat much better than the previous Titanium housing. Those who have his iPhone a little longer loaded with the long -term playing of heavy games can therefore decide to buy the latest iPhone Pro 17. The glass back has now been reduced to a small Ceramic Shield glass plate on which Magsafe and the loading coil for wireless loading is placed behind. Due to the wide camera island, the iPhone 17 Pro no longer wobbles it when you put it somewhere.

What is the target group for the iPhone Air?
Because this new model with only 1 main camera is 260 euros more expensive than the iPhone 17, this model is to be the least popular. In this model you can also only use ESIM that is not yet supported in the Netherlands with many cheaper mobile providers. The iPhone Air is made of 80 percent re -used titanium. Partly because of this, the iPhone Air is approx. 2 mm thinner than the iPhone 17 and 12 grams lighter. It is also not even the thinnest Apple product: that honor goes to the 11 inch M4 iPad that is only 5.1 mm thick. Also the 0.2 inch larger screen will probably do few users if they can buy an iPhone 17 Pro for 100 euros more with three cameras on the back. If buyers of an iPhone Air for 115 euros also buy Apple’s new Magsafe battery, they are already more expensive. With that battery you extend the battery life by 65 percent to a video of 40 hours. Via the USB-C connection you can then also charge another device at a speed of 12 W or charge even faster in combination with a charger in the USB-C connection. With this fast charging you can load 50 percent of the battery in 20 minutes.

Moreover, later you will almost certainly get that extra price of the iPhone 17 Pro later if you sell or exchange your iPhone. What remains as a buyer are probably people who find photography less important and attach more value to a slim product with a luxurious appearance. The sky blue or the light gold color may also pull a number of buyers over the line. For Apple, the product probably also serves as a forerunner of the first fold -out iPhone that is expected next year. In this iPhone Air, Apple also used their new C1X chip for mobile internet. This is a 2x so fast version of their first 5G chip that they used for the first time in the iPhone 16th. This chip also uses 30 percent less electricity from the 5G modem chip of the iPhone 16 Pro.

Purchase advice
The iPhone 17 is clearly the model with the best price/quality ratio this year. It is also often best to opt for the version with 256 GB storage space. In the table below you can compare the different models and versions well. If you want to purchase an iPhone Pro to make professional recordings, you can save a lot of money by storing the recordings via the fast USB-C connection directly on external SSD that you can sometimes attach to your iPhone just like a battery via Magsafe. Also in combination with a subscription or by only buying the iPhone 17 in a few months at an external provider you can often save a nice amount.

The physical sale and delivery of the new iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods Pro 3 starts on Friday, September 19. iOS 26 and Watchos 26 will be available on Monday 15 September.

Comparison table for the new iPhone models