Comparison
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro: Do You Need the Pro?
For most people the iPhone 17 is the smarter buy: same 6.3-inch 120Hz screen, same main and ultra wide cameras, and nearly the same battery life. Get the 17 Pro for the 4x telephoto, USB 3, ProRes video and a few more hours of battery.
Buy the iPhone 17 if you want a 120Hz always-on screen, two 48MP cameras and great battery life without paying for Pro. Buy the iPhone 17 Pro if you want a 48MP 4x telephoto, the A19 Pro chip, USB 3 transfers, ProRes video and the longest battery life in a 6.3-inch iPhone.
You zoom a lot or shoot sports, concerts and wildlife
You shoot ProRes or edit video on a computer
You want the most battery life in a 6.3-inch iPhone
You want up to 1TB of storage
You want a 120Hz screen and great cameras without paying for Pro
You rarely zoom past 2x
You want a lighter phone
256GB or 512GB is enough storage
Skip both if: you want a bigger screen. Look at the iPhone 17 Pro Max with its 6.9-inch display.
The short version
This is the closest the standard iPhone and the Pro have ever been. Both have a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR screen with ProMotion up to 120Hz, an always-on display and 3000 nits peak brightness outdoors. Both have a 48MP Fusion main camera, a 48MP ultra wide, an 18MP Center Stage front camera, Camera Control, the Action button and Apple Intelligence. Both start at 256GB.
So what does the Pro add? A third rear camera, a 48MP telephoto with 4x optical zoom. The A19 Pro chip with a 6-core GPU. A USB 3 port. ProRes and ProRes RAW video, LiDAR, and a few extra hours of battery.
If you never zoom and never shoot pro video, the iPhone 17 gives you almost everything.
What's different
See every spec side by side
| iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | September 2025 | September 2025 |
| Screen | 6.3" OLED, 2622 x 1206 | 6.3" OLED, 2622 x 1206 |
| Refresh rate | Up to 120Hz ProMotion, always-on | Up to 120Hz ProMotion, always-on |
| Peak brightness (outdoor) | 3000 nits | 3000 nits |
| Chip | A19 (5-core GPU) | A19 Pro (6-core GPU) |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Main camera | 48MP Fusion | 48MP Fusion |
| Ultra wide | 48MP | 48MP |
| Telephoto | None (2x optical-quality from main) | 48MP, 4x optical (8x optical-quality) |
| Front camera | 18MP Center Stage | 18MP Center Stage |
| 4K video | Up to 60 fps | Up to 120 fps, ProRes and ProRes RAW |
| LiDAR scanner | No | Yes |
| Video playback | Up to 30 hours | Up to 33 hours |
| Fast charging (wired) | 50% in 20 min (40W adapter) | 50% in 20 min (40W adapter) |
| Port | USB-C (USB 2, up to 480Mb/s) | USB-C (USB 3, up to 10Gb/s) |
| Body | Aluminum, glass back | Aluminum unibody, Ceramic Shield back |
| Thickness | 7.95 mm | 8.75 mm |
| Weight | 177 g | 206 g |
| Water resistance | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) |
| Refurbished price | From $1,159.99 | From $1,149.99 |
Weights and battery figures are for the Canadian eSIM-only models, from Apple's specs.
Camera: the telephoto is the big difference
Both phones have the same 48MP main camera and 48MP ultra wide on paper, though the Pro's main camera uses a slightly different 24 mm, f/1.78 lens.
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In everyday shots, you will have a hard time telling them apart.
The Pro adds a 48MP telephoto with 4x optical zoom, and Apple says it gives optical-quality zoom up to 8x. That is great for concerts, sports, kids on stage, pets across the yard and flattering portraits. The iPhone 17 tops out at a 2x optical-quality crop from the main camera. Past 2x, it uses digital zoom, and detail drops fast.
If you look at your photos and wish you could get closer, get the Pro. If you mostly shoot people, food and places in front of you, the iPhone 17 is enough.
Video for creators
The 17 Pro is built for people who take video seriously.
Read more
It records 4K Dolby Vision at up to 120 fps, supports ProRes, ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2 and Genlock, and can record to an external drive. Its USB 3 port moves files at up to 10Gb/s with a USB 3 cable.
The iPhone 17 records 4K Dolby Vision at up to 60 fps and its USB-C port runs at USB 2 speed, up to 480Mb/s. For home videos and social media, that is plenty. For editing big files on a computer, the Pro saves real time.
Chip and performance
The A19 Pro has a 6-core GPU, one more than the A19 in the iPhone 17.
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Both have a 6-core CPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, and both GPUs have Neural Accelerators. In daily use, apps open and run equally fast. The extra GPU core helps in demanding games and long video exports.
Both phones run Apple Intelligence and both have Apple's N1 wireless chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
Battery life
Apple rates the 17 Pro at up to 33 hours of video playback and up to 30 hours streamed.
Read more
The iPhone 17 is rated at up to 30 hours and 27 hours. Both are excellent. The Pro just gives you a little more cushion on long days.
Charging is the same: 50% in about 20 minutes with a 40W or higher USB-C adapter, and MagSafe or Qi2 wireless charging up to 25W.
Design, size and weight
The two phones have the same screen size but feel different.
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The 17 Pro has an aluminum unibody with a Ceramic Shield back and a large camera plateau across the top. It is thicker at 8.75 mm and heavier at 206 g. The iPhone 17 is 7.95 mm thick and weighs 177 g, so it feels noticeably lighter in a pocket.
Both are rated IP68 and both have Ceramic Shield 2 on the front. Canadian models of both are eSIM only, with no physical SIM tray. All our phones are unlocked.
Price range
Refurbished, the iPhone 17 starts at $1,159.99 and the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,149.99. Higher storage and better grades cost more. Prices on this page update live from our store.
Browse the full iPhone 17 series, or see the newer iPhone 18 Pro. Have an older phone? You can sell or trade it in.
Should you buy new or refurbished?
Refurbished is the easiest way to get a current iPhone.
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Every phone we sell is inspected and tested, unlocked, and backed by up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns. Grades describe looks only. Read new vs used vs refurbished to see how they compare.
Still choosing? Our buying guides: best phones in Canada, best camera phones, best battery life and best phones for seniors.
FAQ
Is the iPhone 17 Pro worth it over the iPhone 17?
Only if you will use what it adds: the 4x telephoto, ProRes video, USB 3 speeds and a few extra hours of battery. Otherwise the iPhone 17 has the same screen, main camera, ultra wide and front camera.
Do the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro have the same screen?
Yes. Both have a 6.3-inch OLED at 2622 by 1206, ProMotion up to 120Hz, an always-on display and 3000 nits peak outdoor brightness.
Does the iPhone 17 have a telephoto camera?
No. It has a 48MP main camera and a 48MP ultra wide. Its 2x zoom is an optical-quality crop of the main camera. The 17 Pro adds a 48MP 4x telephoto.
Which has better battery life, iPhone 17 or 17 Pro?
The 17 Pro, by about three hours. Apple rates it at up to 33 hours of video playback against up to 30 hours for the iPhone 17.
Is the iPhone 17 Pro heavier than the iPhone 17?
Yes. The 17 Pro weighs 206 g and is 8.75 mm thick. The iPhone 17 weighs 177 g and is 7.95 mm thick.
Still choosing? Read our guide to which iPhone to buy.
See them side by side: compare every spec and today's prices by condition, or add a third phone.
Skip the new-phone price
Get the iPhone 17 Pro pre-owned from $1,149.99, tested by real technicians with up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns.
