Hypothetical iPhone 17 Lineup: Detailed Review and Comparison of the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air

Summary:

This video provides a first impression and comparison of Apple's hypothetical iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air.

Key takeaways include:

The base iPhone 17 boasts significant upgrades like a 120Hz OLED screen, USB-C, dual 48MP cameras, and substantially improved battery life.
The ultra-thin iPhone Air features a titanium unibody and remarkable durability but sacrifices battery life and features a mono speaker.
Pro models offer larger batteries and higher-speed USB-C, but the new "Cosmic Orange" finish may scratch easily.
All models now include an 18MP Center Stage front camera with a square sensor for enhanced stabilization and dynamic orientation.
The camera app is redesigned, and the Pro Max introduces a 48MP 4x telephoto lens with 8x hybrid zoom.
Performance benchmarks reveal the Pro models as the fastest, while the Air experiences considerable thermal throttling due to its thin design.
The new Wi-Fi 7 chip (Apple N1) delivers impressive speeds, and all models support fast charging (50% in 20 minutes) with any 40W+ USB-C charger, debunking the need for Apple's proprietary charger.

Comparison of iPhone 17 (7.95mm) and iPhone Air (5.64mm) thickness [ 00:01:50 ]

iPhone 17 (Base Model) Overview [0:35]

Physical Design and Features
- Standard button layout: volume rocker, customizable shortcut button, and power button.
- Features a USB-C port on the bottom.
- Lacks a physical SIM card slot in Canada, the US, and certain other regions, which allows for larger internal batteries.
Display and Camera
- Equipped with a high refresh rate (120Hz) OLED screen, matching the quality of the iPhone 17 Pro.
- Features two 48-megapixel rear cameras, including a 2x optical zoom achieved by cropping the main sensor.
Battery Life
- Offers an additional 8 hours of battery life compared to the preceding iPhone 16.
Storage
- Comes with more default storage at the same price point.

Ultra-Thin Design
- Noticeably thinner than the iPhone 17, measuring 5.64mm compared to 7.95mm.
- Constructed with a titanium unibody, providing a premium feel.
- Does not include a physical SIM card slot in any region globally.
Bend Test Results [2:23]
- Demonstrated impressive durability, withstanding significant bending pressure without permanent damage.
- Features Ceramic Shield technology on both the front and back for enhanced protection.
Battery Situation [3:06]
- Contains a physically smaller battery than the Pro models.
- Despite its size, Apple claims its battery life is comparable to the iPhone 16 Pro, with up to 27 hours of video playback.
- Apple suggests using a MagSafe battery bank as a solution for extended battery life, which can extend video playback to 40 hours, similar to the 17 Pro Max.
Speaker Situation [3:38]
- Features mono speakers, with no speaker grills on the bottom of the device, only a microphone.
- The sound quality is significantly inferior and quieter compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Design and Build
- Available in "Cosmic Orange" (which is noted to scratch easily), silver, and blue.
- Both Pro models are slightly heavier and half a millimeter thicker than their iPhone 16 Pro counterparts.
- Includes a 10 Gbps USB-C port on the bottom.
Battery Life
- Equipped with the largest batteries Apple has ever included in iPhones.
  - iPhone 17 Pro Max (eSIM): 5088 mAh (5.5% increase over physical SIM model).
  - iPhone 17 Pro (eSIM): 4252 mAh (6.7% increase over physical SIM model).

Center Stage Front Camera [7:01]
- All new models feature an 18-megapixel Center Stage front camera.
- Utilizes a square sensor, enabling dynamic cropping for both portrait and landscape orientations without physically rotating the device.
- Provides "ultra-stabilized" video by leveraging the extra sensor space for real-time scene analysis and cropping.
Redesigned Camera App and Features [8:05]
- The new iOS 26 camera app offers a more intuitive and streamlined interface, with easily accessible flash and other settings.
- Portrait Mode: Comparisons show the iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers sharper and more accurate edge detection than the iPhone Air due to its multi-camera data.
- Dual Capture: Allows simultaneous recording with both the front and rear cameras, ideal for capturing reactions or multiple perspectives.
Pro Max's Advanced Cameras [9:22]
- Main Camera: 48 megapixels.
- Ultra-Wide Camera: 48 megapixels.
- Telephoto Camera: A new 48-megapixel 4x telephoto lens, featuring an "8x hybrid zoom" achieved by cropping the sensor to 12 megapixels.
- ProRes Video: Supports 4K 60fps ProRes video recording, a professional video codec that enhances timeline performance during editing, beneficial for pro users but not essential for casual home videos.

Processor and RAM [11:07]
- All new iPhones are powered by Apple's new A19 processor.
  - iPhone 17 Pros: Features the A19 Pro with a 6-core CPU, 6-core GPU, and 12GB of RAM.
  - iPhone Air: Also uses the A19 Pro but with a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and 12GB of RAM, having a similar GPU core count to the base model.
  - iPhone 17 (base model): Equipped with the standard A19, featuring a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and 8GB of RAM.
Benchmark Results
- Antutu:
  - iPhone 17 Pros achieved scores around 2.38 million.
  - iPhone 17 scored approximately 2.20 million.
  - iPhone Air recorded around 2.02 million, indicating significantly lower performance, particularly in GPU, despite its higher RAM.
- 3DMark Stress Test:
  - The iPhone Air exhibited pronounced thermal throttling, with its performance score dropping from 2200 to 1300 at one point, highlighting thermal management challenges due to its thin design.
  - The Pro models experienced minimal thermal throttling, outperforming the Air in sustained performance.
Wi-Fi 7 Connectivity [13:14]
- Incorporates Apple's new N1 Wi-Fi 7 chip with 2x2 MIMO.
- Achieved impressive speeds of approximately 2 Gbps download and 1.6 Gbps upload in optimal conditions, utilizing a 6 GHz band with a Ubiquiti E7 Wi-Fi 7 access point.

Fast Charging
- The new iPhones support enhanced fast charging, capable of reaching approximately 50% charge in 20 minutes, a significant improvement over the previous 30-minute benchmark.
Charger Compatibility
- Contrary to some claims, Apple's specific "40W Dynamic Charger" is not required to achieve these faster charging speeds.
- Tests showed similar charging rates (~38-39 watts) when using a UGREEN 100W GaN charger and an older Anker PowerPort Atom III (from 2019).
- Any 40W or higher USB-C Power Delivery (PD) compliant charger will provide the maximum fast-charging benefits.
- The iPhone 17 Pro Max reached approximately 42-43% charge in 20 minutes, closely aligning with Apple's "up to 50%" claim.

The iPhone 17 lineup represents a substantial upgrade across the board, featuring faster performance, larger batteries, improved camera systems, and quicker charging capabilities.
A potential concern is the "Cosmic Orange" Pro model, which appears to be susceptible to paint scratching, making a protective case a wise investment.