Wait, before you decide between iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17, have you thought about the iPhone 17 Pro? Hear me out.
The Best of Both Worlds
The iPhone 17 Pro is basically what happens when you take everything good about the iPhone 17 and add all the Pro features. It's not cheap, but it might be exactly what you want.
It gets the new stuff:
- The faster A19 Pro chip
- 12GB of RAM (both the 16 Pro and base 17 only have 8GB)
- That improved 18MP selfie camera
- Apple's new N1 wireless chip
- Ceramic Shield 2 glass
And keeps the Pro stuff:
- Better zoom than the 16 Pro (8x optical vs 5x)
- ProRes and Log video
- LiDAR scanner
- Pro-quality microphones
Let's Talk Money
- iPhone 17: $799
- iPhone 16 Pro: $699-799 on sale
- iPhone 17 Pro: $1,099
The 17 Pro is expensive. But you're getting a legitimate generational leap.
Who Should Get What
Get the iPhone 17 Pro if:
- You want the best camera phone available
- You plan to keep it for 3-4 years
- You make videos or take photography seriously
Stick with iPhone 16 Pro if:
- You found it on sale
- You prefer titanium over aluminum
Go with base iPhone 17 if:
- You want the newest phone for the lowest price
- You don't zoom much
My Take
If you're debating between 16 Pro and base 17, you're clearly interested in quality. The 17 Pro might be worth stretching the budget for, since it genuinely delivers more than either option.
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