3 Reasons Why I'm Skipping The Iphone 17 Pro And Buying This Model Instead

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iPhone 17
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There are plentifulness of dedicated iPhone users for illustration myself who are loyal to guidelines exemplary iPhones. When I upgrade my iPhone each 2 aliases truthful years, I don't fuss pinch nan Pro variations. 

My position is that arsenic nan guidelines exemplary iPhones go much advanced, I don't request to walk a fewer 100 other dollars connected features that a casual personification for illustration maine won't need. I'm nan other of a powerfulness user, unless powerfulness is synonymous pinch a scary magnitude of scrolling done TikTok. 

Also: Every iPhone that tin beryllium updated to iOS 26 (and erstwhile you tin instal it)

If you scheme to upgrade to a caller iPhone but wonderment if nan Pro models are excessively precocious for your mundane needs, nan guidelines exemplary has a fewer Pro-level features that moreover nan astir casual personification tin appreciate. 

Here are a fewer reasons why I'm upgrading to nan iPhone 17 complete nan iPhone 17 Pro, and immoderate of my reasons whitethorn thief you make your buying determination too.

1. Pro-level display

iPhone 17
Rene Ramos/Apple/ZDNET

One of nan guidelines exemplary iPhone 17's astir "Pro" features is its caller upgraded display. Compared to nan iPhone 16 -- and each erstwhile modular generations earlier it -- nan iPhone 17 and 17 Pro person nan nonstop aforesaid show specifications. 

The guidelines exemplary iPhone 17 receives an upgraded 6.3-inch display, a 120Hz refresh rate, an always-on display, 2,622 x 1,206 pixel resolution, and 3,000 nits highest outdoor brightness. All of these specs are upgrades complete nan iPhone 16. Previously, a larger display, faster refresh rate, and always-on show were reserved for Pro models only.

Also: T-Mobile will springiness you a free iPhone 17 Pro - here's really to get yours

To a casual iPhone user, these show specs whitethorn not look integral capable to nan personification acquisition to salary other money for, and to me, they're not. But including them successful nan guidelines exemplary telephone makes them a nice-to-have, and I'm excited astir that.

2. Upgraded camera system

The iPhone 17 sports an 18MP Center Stage beforehand camera. This is nan first awesome beforehand camera upgrade since nan iPhone 11, and I was pleasantly amazed that it wasn't reserved for nan Pro models.


During Apple's keynote, nan institution said nan iPhone 17's backmost camera has 4 times nan solution of nan iPhone 16's, and nan Center Stage beforehand camera's quadrate style allows for much pixels, elastic photograph framing, stabilization, and a wider section of view. 

Also: iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Why I'm upgrading to this year's exemplary aft 3 years 

The caller camera uses AI to grow nan camera's section of view, truthful you tin return photos successful scenery while keeping nan telephone vertical.

If you usage your iPhone camera for mundane photograph and video taking, nan iPhone 17's camera strategy will beryllium much than enough. However, if you scheme to sprout professional-grade photos and videos, nan guidelines exemplary iPhones deficiency nan further optical zoom, ProRAW record format, and different Pro-level photograph and video polishing capabilities recovered successful nan iPhone 17 Pro.

3. More customization options

iPhone 17 family
Zooey Liao/ZDNET/Apple

The iPhone 17's retention configurations are improved from past year's models; it now originates pinch 256GB of soul retention astatine nan aforesaid $799 introduction price. More precocious features and much robust iOS updates require much onboard storage, truthful it's a positive for users who don't want to salary much to upgrade nan guidelines model's retention aliases trust solely connected iCloud.

Also: Why I'm breaking nan 5-year iPhone upgrade rhythm - and I'm not alone

Additionally, nan guidelines exemplary iPhone 17 offers more, and arguably better, colour options than nan Pro models. The guidelines exemplary lineup consists of 5 colors: Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White, and Black, while nan Pro models travel successful 3 colors: Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver. 

ZDNET's buying advice

There's a $300 value summation from a 265GB iPhone 17 and a 256GB iPhone 17 Pro. However, if your telephone usage demands much than nan 512GB limit for nan modular model, you'll want to see nan iPhone 17 Pro.

Also: Every iPhone 17 exemplary compared: Should you bargain nan guidelines model, Air, Pro, aliases Max?

The 2 phones stock nan aforesaid show specs, truthful if you were eyeing a Pro exemplary specifically for a larger show aliases faster refresh rate, nan iPhone 17 tin get nan occupation done. For casual usage -- texting, calling, navigation, web surfing, YouTube-ing, and societal media scrolling -- nan iPhone 17 will do good for astir people, and its upgraded artillery capacity complete nan full iPhone 16 family helps pinch that.

Greater differences dishonesty successful nan 2 phones' camera systems and soul processors, arsenic nan iPhone 17 Pro has an upgraded A19 Pro chip. The iPhone 17 Pro besides features an further rear 48MP Fusion Telephoto lens, much optical zoom settings, and ProRAW image record compatibility. The upgraded camera gives nan iPhone 17 Pro much precocious photography and videography capabilities, making it suitable for contented creators and professionals.

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