iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, or iPhone Air?

Apple’s new iPhone 17 range has changed the way you choose your next upgrade. Here’s what iPhone is the best for you in late 2025, depending on your budget.

The fall update to the iPhone lineup is usually quite predictable. Four new flagships arrive, the old Pro models disappear from sale, and the old non-Pro variants are discounted a bit.

For 2025, there’s quite a bit of a difference. For a start, the four new models aren’t just size variants in two tiers. Instead, we have a standard iPhone 17, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, and the iPhone Air which offers something new.

There are also some alterations at the budget end of the scale which may make value-conscious consumers rethink their next upgrade.

As always, how much you have to spend is going to be the biggest factor in what you can choose from. Features and capacities are always secondary.

Here are AppleInsider’s recommendations for the iPhone you should think about getting, based on where your budget stands.

iPhone 17 buyer’s guide – Price ranges

Apple’s iPhone lineup starts from $599 for the cheapest, rising up to $1,999 for the most expensive. The cheapest model is the iPhone 16e, while the most expensive configuration is the iPhone 17 Pro Max with the highest amount of storage.

There’s a price range of $1,400 between the cheapest and most expensive models. In March, the price difference between the cheapest and most expensive was $1,000, but that was before Apple bumped the maximum capacity of the iPhone 17 Pro Max to 2TB.

The vast majority of models stem from the iPhone 17 family, with a few exceptions. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are survivors from the previous generation, taking the place in the range previously occupied by the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15Plus.

The iPhone 16e also carries over as the budget option, since it is still too new for Apple to replace with an iPhone 17e.

While it is introduced as part of the iPhone 17 lineup, the iPhone Air doesn’t use the number as part of its name. It’s also potentially dissimilar enough from the rest of the group to be considered its own style, echoing the introduction of the iPhone X.

For the purposes of this article, we will be splitting up the range into two sub-ranges: Under $1,000, and Above $1,000.

iPhone 17 buyer’s guide – Storage costs

A big thing to consider when looking at which iPhone to buy is storage capacity. Sure, you could get away with the basic storage option for a particular model, but you may run into problems eventually surrounding the storage of apps, videos, and photos on the device.

This was an issue years ago, when storage was more scarce on devices. Now, while there are larger apps and bigger files to hold onto, the storage allowances feel more usable and less limiting than before.

Depending on the model, consumers have between one and four storage options available. For most models, that’s a choice of three capacities, either between 128GB and 512GB or 256GB and 1TB.

The exceptions to this range are at the more extreme ends of the scale. At the more expensive end, the iPhone 17 Pro Max adds a fourth capacity, a massive 2TB option.

On the budget-friendly end, Apple’s in a weird situation where it has three capacities for the iPhone 16e (128GB to 512GB), two for the iPhone 17 (256 and 512GB, two for the iPhone 16 Plus (128GB and 256GB), and just one for the iPhone 16 (128GB).

As for the actual cost of the upgrades, here are the charges to go between the levels:

• Upgrading from 128GB to 256GB costs $100 more.
• Upgrading from 256GB to 512GB costs $200 more.
• Upgrading from 512GB to 1TB costs $200 more.
• Upgrading from 1TB to 2TB costs $400 more.

iPhone 17 buyer’s guide – Under $1,000

The cheapest model is the $599 iPhone 16e with 128GB of storage. It’s the only option available, but you do get a lot for your money. Packing the A18 chip, you get the 6.1-inch display, a 48MP Fusion camera with the fake telephoto zoom, and a massive 26 hours of battery life for video playback.

You gain an edge-to-edge display with Face ID, which is a massive step up from the old iPhone SE. But you do have to live with the Notch instead of Dynamic Island.

At $699, you could get the 256GB iPhone 16e, or you could get the 128GB model of iPhone 16. It’s the older A16 chip here, so less performance and no Apple Intelligence, but there are two physical cameras, including an Ultra Wide option, but the iPhone 16e is probably better here.

Getting to $799, you get two more viable options. You could go for the iPhone 16 Plus 128GB if you really want the 6.7-inch screen upgrade, but there’s also the iPhone 17 as well, also at 128GB.

Unless screen size is highly important, or capacity on the iPhone 16e, the iPhone 17 is the more compelling choice here. The improved A19 chip with the improved 48MP double camera setup on the back, the 18MP Center Stage front camera upgrade, and lots of other small improvements make it a compelling buy.

Getting to $899, your choices consist of the 512GB iPhone 16e, the 256GB iPhone 16 Plus, or the 256GB iPhone 17 with a $100 saving. Again, unless you really need storage or screen estate, the iPhone 17 is the better purchase and gives you cash to buy a case, too.

At the top end of the scale, $999, the choice is a lot more limited as it pares down to just two. You could get the iPhone 17 in its larger 512GB capacity option, or you could go for the brand new option.

The iPhone Air is the replacement for the iPhone 16 Plus, and while its thinner, you do get a Plus-style screen size at 6.5 inches. There’s also the titanium frame, the A19 Pro upgrade, the same front camera as the iPhone 17, but you do go down to just one 48MP camera with its crop-based “optical-quality” 2x zoom.

If it’s screen size and novelty that you desire, the iPhone Air with 256GB of storage is the better choice. If capacity and more camera options is your thing, the iPhone 17 Pro is the better choice.

iPhone 17 buyer’s guide – $1,000 and up

The restructuring of price for Apple’s iPhone ranges means that the $1,000 to $2,000 range is less cluttered than before. A lot of the choices that are feature-centric lie in the lower-priced range.

For this upper tier with three smartphone models, the choices are going to be a lot easier.

The iPhone Air carries over to the $1,099 barrier in its $999 form, representing a $100 saving. Joining it at the level is the first of the new iPhone 17 Pro models.

Equipped with a 6.3-inch display, the iPhone 17 Pro is slightly smaller, a bit thicker, and also has 256GB of storage. The main benefits here include increased battery life by a few hours and two more physical cameras on the back for Ultra Wide and Telephoto shots.

You also get a slightly better A19 Pro chip with a 6-core GPU instead of five on the Air.

Here, it’s a choice between screen size and styling or more photographic flexibility. Unless the iPhone Air is really drawing you in, the iPhone 17 Pro is the choice to go for at this price.

Shifting to $1,199, you could get the 512GB version of the iPhone Air or the 256GB model of the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Aside from the benefits of the iPhone 17 Pro, there’s also a bigger screen jump to 6.9 inches.

There’s also the 256GB model of iPhone Pro to consider, which comes with that $100 saving. Again, it’s a choice of size or camera utility, and the Pro Max probably wins out here.

It’s a similar story for $1,299, as it’s either the 512GB version of the iPhone 17 Pro or a $100 saving for the 512GB iPhone Air or the 256GB iPhone 17 Pro Max. Again, the Pro models are the better choice, depending on how much screen or storage you need.

As we hit $1,399, we also get to the largest capacity of iPhone Air at 1TB. For the same money, you could get the 512GB model of iPhone 17 Pro Max, or save a bit on the 512GB iPhone 17 Pro.

The Pro tier again wins, and storage and screen size are your only trade-off considerations.

As we depart from the iPhone Air, the choices devolve into whether you want the bigger screen, more storage capacity, and the $100 saving hopping between the two.

That is, until you hit $1,499. That’s the highest capacity iPhone 17 Pro at 1TB, going against the 512GB counterpart of the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The choice is still the same capacity versus screen size argument, and the non-Max is probably the best choice at this point.

Going beyond this price, you’re looking only at the iPhone 17 Pro Max. There’s the 1TB model a $1,599 and 2TB at an eyewatering $1,999.

At this level, it’s less a question of which model to get. It’s more about whether it’s worth getting so much storage capacity in the first place.

Avid videographers and creative professionals can probably justify these prices and capacity levels. The average consumer will have a harder time, unless they seriously value bragging rights.

iPhone 17 buyer’s guide – Storage or features?

While less of a concern lower down the range, the choice between storage and features is a big one at the higher end. But it is still a factor that should be considered throughout the range.

Remember that a $100, $200, or $400 capacity change can mean the difference between models or generations of iPhone available to you. In many places in the range, you could get a newer iPhone with better features for lower capacity, or you could secure more capacity for a lower specification elsewhere.

A lot of the time, this can be seen with the cameras, with the Pro models going for three physical sensors, and the iPhone 16e and iPhone Air going for just one.

This is enough of a trade-off if storage is important, as the price difference between the models can secure you quite a few gigabytes.

When it comes to performance, there’s not much to worry about here. All models will support Apple Intelligence now, and will be easily capable of handling everyday computing needs.

Gamers who need to high-quality graphics will be drawn to the models with the A19 Pro anyway.

It’s also arguable that storage is less of a concern now than it was before. In previous generations, consumers could get iPhones with 64GB of storage, or even less going further back.

Starting with 128GB of storage puts even entry-level users in a good position capacity-wise, with less of a need to consider external storage or cloud storage options.

With that line of thinking in mind, storage is less of a concern in 2025, and features should be more of a priority for you.

iPhone 17 buyer’s guide – Paying for it all

The information above is based on buying the models brand new and paying for them outright. While you can use third-party retailers with various offers to take advantage of, we have used the relatively standard pricing as if you were to buy from Apple directly.

If you can afford it, buying the handset outright is a great way to upgrade an iPhone. However, there are other ways if that’s not an option.

Installment plans with carriers continue to be popular, but you can also do similar things with Apple directly.

There are options to buy from Apple and to finance the purchase over time. There’s also the iPhone Upgrade Program, which lets you get a new iPhone every year and get coverage from AppleCare+ too.

If you have an existing iPhone that you’re replacing, or another device, you can usually trade it in for credit towards your new model’s purchase. Apple operates its own program for trade-ins, but you can still shop around to find the best trade-in value.

It is also worth remembering that you don’t have to buy brand new models. The second-hand market is still a thing of value, and shrewd buyers can secure a bargain on a preloved model if they just want an iPhone with more modest specifications.

iPhone 17 buyer’s guide – Where to buy

Wireless carriers are offering aggressive incentives on the iPhone 17, along with the iPhone 16, 16e, and 16 Plus.

Here are the highlights, with even more iPhone deals available in our dedicated deal roundup.

You can also save on an iPhone by picking up a refurbished or pre-owned device. Back Market and eBay both have deals on open-box, and used models.

If you’re looking to unload your used iPhone for cash, Gazelle is also offering a 10% trade-in bonus exclusively for AppleInsider readers.