For a little more than the past two weeks, I’ve been putting the iPhone 17 Pro to the test to see if it’s worthy of being a best phone contender. Although I initially gave an early verdict on which new iPhone I’d pick after spending hands-on time with new models — including the iPhone Air — there’s still something to say about the iPhone 17 Pro.
In my iPhone 17 Pro review, I emphasize how this year’s model gets a price increase — and how that lessens the gap between that model and the more expensive iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, you're not just choosing between the Pro and the Pro Max. I've also mentioned what makes the standard iPhone 17 just as impressive after using it for a week, like how it gains a 120Hz refresh rate to make it feel more like a pro.
Now that two weeks have gone by, I have a better appreciation (and idea) of what really makes the iPhone 17 Pro compelling. Here’s what I like and don’t like.
Above everything else, I absolutely love the iPhone 17 Pro's redesign because the makeover injects a new look without shedding the identity Apple has carved out for its Pro phone.
The two-toned color scheme is a pleasant contrast that’s best on display with the Cosmic Orange color of the phone. And while the camera housing gets extended, it still retains the iconic look that’s made it memorable.
While there have been images of the new iPhones showing up with big scuff marks that raise questions about the durability of their aluminum unibody frame and Ceramic Shield back cover, the scratches I see on my iPhone 17 Pro after two weeks are in line with the wear and tear I typically experience with other phones. That’s why I always advise putting on a case to best minimize scratches.
The iPhone 17 Pro still features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with the same 2,622 x 1,206 resolution as before, but the new Ceramic Shield 2 covering the panel offers improved anti-reflection. I played the new "Tron: Ares" trailer on both the new model and the iPhone 16 Pro, and the difference is instantly noticeable.
From the same angles, the iPhone 16 Pro’s display shows more reflections that can become distracting over time — whereas the iPhone 17 Pro subdues them. They’re not totally eliminated, but at least this new anti-reflection coating softens them.
Another thing I immediately notice every night I put my iPhone 17 Pro on a charger is that it charges way faster than before. That's because the phone has been upgraded to 35W wired charging, which is up from the 30W speed of the iPhone 16 Pro.
As a result, our testing shows an improvement, as the iPhone 17 Pro can get to 40% capacity in 15 minutes, and subsequently to 72% in 30 minutes. Charging the iPhone 16 Pro in the same amount of time gets it to 29% and 56%, respectively.
Whether I’m casually watching video reels on my downtime, or putting in time playing Diablo Immortal or Age of Origins, the iPhone 17 Pro’s performance never backs down. That’s partly due to the unbeatable performance of the A19 Pro chip, which consists of a 6-core CPU and 6-core GPU.
This combination makes basic phone stuff a breeze, while more processor-intensive tasks like gaming run effortlessly.
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