After comparing the iPhone 17 with the 17 air, it is time to tackle the usual shock between the standard model and the pro model. Thanks to the army of shared rumors in recent months, 5 major differences are looming on the horizon for this generation of Apple smartphones – expected for the start of the 2025 school year.
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1. Almost identical screens between iPhone 17 and 17 pro
Let’s talk about the display of these two future models first. In 2025, Apple would have chosen to put these two devices on the same pedestal thanks to a 6.3 -inch screen diagonal. A size change, since the iPhone 16 Pro was the only one to benefit so far.
However, Apple would keep some characteristics under the elbow to differentiate them. The iPhone 17 Pro would indeed keep promotion technology, varying the refresh rate from 1 Hz to 120 Hz. For its part, the iPhone 17 would do better than its predecessor by going from 60 Hz to 120 Hz.
De facto, the frequency would not vary according to the content displayed on the screen – as on the pro models – which would not offer the main advantage of promotion: better energy efficiency, and therefore improved autonomy.
Note, the iPhone 17 Pro would also be entitled to an anti-reflective glass, just to improve the visibility of the screen under conditions of strong light-as in full sun.
2. A photo part always as disparate, a few points
While the Pixel 10 is about to accommodate a telephoto lens, Apple would not have made the same choice for its entry -level model of 2025. Indeed, only the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max would keep this advantage, with an improved optical zoom compared to the iPhone 16 Pro.
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The iPhone 17 would thus remain with its 48 Mpx-angle and its ultra-wide-angle of 12 MP, thus always leaving the exclusivity of the telephoto to pro models … just like the ultra-angle of 48 Mpx. It would still be better equipped than the iPhone 17 Air, limited to a single sensor.
All the new models expected for September 2025 would still have a common point: a 24 MP front camera, against 12 Mpx before. Enough to take much better selfies and vertical videos for social networks.
3. Always more power for the iPhone 17 Pro
Unsurprisingly, the power will differentiate between the standard iPhone and the pro model, with the A19 and A19 Pro processors for this year 2025. Where the iPhone 17 would benefit from slight improvements in terms of performance, things would be much more interesting for the iPhone 17 Pro.
Indeed, this year’s A19 Pro chip would benefit from a 3 nm engraving far more advanced than the previous generation (TSMC N3P). This suggests more power gains, but above all a better energy efficiency, which would logically extend the autonomy of the iPhone 17 Pro.
Second notable difference: the passage to 12 GB of RAM, instead of 8 GB on the current generation and the iPhone 17. Although the real use of this excess of RAM is still unknown, there is a good chance that Apple has taken out for future advanced artificial intelligence functions, or to run applications and games ever more delicious in resources.
Finally, the iPhone 17 Pro would take on a major asset to guarantee much more stable performance: a steam room. What to cool the smartphone much better during intensive uses, such as AI tasks, video editing or gaming.
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4. A autonomy always as different between the two models
22 h 41 min vs 26 h 45 min, these are the respective autonomy of the iPhone 16 and 16 pro recorded during our tests. A significant difference of 4 hours, which should always be relevant with the next generation – or even aggravated.
As we have revealed throughout this article, two elements should offer a more substantial advantage to the iPhone 17 Pro: Promotion screen technology and the A19 Pro chip. As a result, Apple should continue to widen the gap in September 2025.
As for common developments, corridor noises evoke the arrival of a Magsafe wireless load up to 80 % faster. We could indeed go from a power of 25 W to 45 W, enough to recharge the battery much faster than before, even exceeding the speed of the wired load.
5. A completely different design for the iPhone 17 Pro, not for the iPhone 17
Last big difference between the two smartphones: design. Where the iPhone 17 would stagnate, with the exception of its screen from 6.1 to 6.3 inches, the iPhone 17 Pro would adopt a real evolution.
Indeed, the photo modules would be even more different with this generation. While the two sensors at the rear would remain placed on a vertical island for the standard model, the pro variant would extend this area over its width.
We would thus end up with a large island reminiscent of the Pixel 9 and 9 pro, but in much more imposing. The opportunity for the iPhone 17 PRO to differentiate itself from the iPhone 17, but also from all generations of previous iPhone.
