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Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup brings a few of the greatest design adjustments the smartphone collection has seen in years, and no two fashions higher spotlight this shift than the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The iPhone Air is without doubt one of the thinnest smartphones Apple has ever made, made for many who worth a modern, moveable design.
In the meantime, the iPhone 17 Professional Max doubles down on energy with a cutting-edge digicam system and a brand new vapor chamber cooling system.
Additionally: iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: I compared both models, and here’s who should upgrade
Each gadgets are nice, however they cater to totally different audiences. The query of the day is: Which one do you have to get as your new each day driver? It is arduous to decide on, however don’t be concerned — I am right here to assist. Under, I’ve damaged down how the iPhone Air compares to the iPhone 17 Professional Max.
Specs
Options | iPhone 17 Air | iPhone 17 Professional Max |
Costs | $999 | $1,199 |
Show | 6.5-inch Tremendous Retina XDR with ProMotion | 6.9-inch Tremendous Retina XDR with ProMotion |
Battery | 27 hours of video playback | 39 hours of video playback |
Finishes | Sky Blue, Black, White, Mild Gold | Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, Silver |
Processor | A19 Professional | A19 Professional |
Body | Titanium body | Aluminum unibody |
Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
Digicam | 18MP Middle Stage selfie / 48MP Fusion Fundamental | 18MP Middle Stage / 48MP Fusion Fundamental, 48MP Fusion Extremely Extensive, 48MP Fusion Telephoto |
You should purchase the iPhone Air if…
1. You need an ultrathin but robust cellphone
At simply 5.6 mm thick, the iPhone Air is sort of a 3rd thinner than the iPhone 16 Professional. Though it seems fragile, it is something however, as Apple designed its cell machine to be simply as sturdy as it’s elegant. The smartphone’s body is product of grade 5 titanium, a fabric recognized for its excessive energy and “corrosion-resistant traits.”
Ceramic Protect protects the again of the iPhone Air, permitting it to raised resist harm. On the entrance, Apple selected to equip the display screen with Ceramic Protect 2. Because of this materials, Apple says the show has “3x higher scratch resistance” than earlier fashions and “improved anti-reflection” properties.
2. You do not want each bell and whistle
As I discussed in my iPhone 17 series comparison piece, the iPhone Air is not as feature-rich because the higher-end fashions.
This can be a controversial opinion, however I believe the machine’s lack of bells and whistles will profit customers as they’re going to obtain a extra streamlined expertise. For example, it solely has a single 48MP Fusion lens as its rear digicam system. According to Apple, it permits the equal of 4 lenses with customers capable of shoot images in each 28mm and 35mm focal lengths. You will not need to fiddle round with the settings or be taught what the cameras do. It is all condensed.
Additionally: iPhone Air vs. Samsung S25 Edge: I compared both thin phones, and there’s a clear winner
One other change pertains to mobile connectivity. The iPhone Air depends solely on eSIM expertise. Carriers proceed to extend help for eSIM at a constant price, so this is not too massive a detriment, however this does imply that you simply will not be capable of use your SIM card. Apple has additionally stated that the adoption of an “eSIM-only design” allowed the corporate to save lots of area, serving to the iPhone Air obtain that skinny kind issue.
You should purchase the iPhone 17 Professional Max if…
1. You need essentially the most highly effective iPhone
The iPhone 17 Pro Max shares a stunning variety of similarities with the iPhone Air. Each gadgets run on a three-chip setup, which consists of the A19 Professional processor, N1 networking chip, and C1X modem. Collectively, this trio permits the smartphones to ship highly effective efficiency, help Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and supply quicker, extra energy-efficient mobile connections.
Additionally: T-Mobile will give you a free iPhone 17 Pro – here’s how to get yours
The place the Professional Max differentiates itself is in measurement and stamina. Its large 6.9-inch Tremendous Retina XDR show hits 3,000 nits of brightness, making certain visibility underneath direct daylight. Help for ProMotion lets it run at a refresh price of 120Hz for easy visuals. The glass is even protected by Ceramic Protect 2. Paired with a battery reportedly able to lasting as much as 39 hours of video playback, it’s the iPhone constructed for customers who need the perfect of the perfect.
2. You need the perfect digicam system
The similarities between the 2 telephones do not cease on the chipset or shows as a result of in addition they have related digicam techniques. For instance, each fashions have the brand new 18MP Middle Stage selfie lens. Not solely does it present higher-quality photos, nevertheless it additionally makes use of a brand new kind of sensor that lets homeowners seize photographs in each portrait and panorama orientations while not having to rotate their cellphone.
The iPhone 17 Professional Max differentiates itself once more by offering professional-grade video. The flagship mannequin now helps ProRes RAW, a video codec that higher preserves knowledge for high-quality footage, the Log 2 format for wider shade gamuts, and genlock.
Genlock is software program that synchronizes “video throughout a number of cameras.” For content material creators, instruments like these permit the iPhone 17 Professional Max to double as a succesful filmmaking digicam.
