iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Why this year's model may be worth the upgrade

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As a existent iPhone 14 Pro Max user, I inactive consciousness similar my three-year-old iPhone gives maine everything I request from a smartphone. Sure, it whitethorn inactive person a Lightning Port and nary enactment for Apple Intelligence, but I get astir those precise insignificant discomforts by utilizing a MagSafe charger and ChatGPT. Truth beryllium told, the Apple Intelligence features haven't wowed maine capable to marque maine fork implicit $1,000 connected a newer iPhone. 

Also: Apple Event unrecorded updates: Everything announced

But a fewer things, similar the improved camera array, A19 Pro chip, and upgraded scratch resistance, marque maine privation to upgrade to the newer model. Here's however you tin determine if it's clip for you. 

Specifications

You should bargain the iPhone 17 Pro if...

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1. You privation the champion iPhone camera 

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max look to beryllium exceptional tools for contented creators. All 3 cameras connected the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max person been upgraded to 48 MP, and the telephoto lens offers up to 8x optical zoom, which is the longest connected an iPhone. 

Also: Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Here are the main differences

Apple besides refreshed its front-facing camera to 18 MP and added enactment for Center Stage to assistance you automatically framework your selfies. This uses AI to grow the tract of presumption to see much subjects. The selfie camera's sensor is besides quadrate alternatively of having a 4:3 facet ratio, letting you instrumentality selfies successful representation oregon scenery mode without turning your phone. 

The caller camera strategy besides supports Dual Capture, letting you grounds what Apple calls ultra-stabilized video from some beforehand and rear cameras simultaneously. 

2. You privation much processing power

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max tally connected the A19 Pro chip, a caller Apple processor that is the astir almighty and businesslike ever connected an iPhone. This processor helps the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max present up to 40% improved show compared to the 16 Pro. The 17 Pro's CPU is up to 40% faster than that of the iPhone 14 Pro, portion the GPU is doubly arsenic fast.

Also: Every iPhone 17 exemplary compared: Should you bargain the basal model, Air, Pro, oregon Max?

During its iPhone 17 motorboat event, Apple enactment a batch of accent connected however it redesigned the smartphone's interior architecture with this latest lineup. This includes a caller vapor enclosure wrong the iPhone that has deionized h2o sealed and laser-welded into the aluminum chassis to dissipate heat. 

Switching from titanium to aluminum for the iPhone 17 Pro volition besides assistance with vigor dissipation, which tin heighten performance. Apple's redesigned assemblage gives the 17 Pro and Pro Max a larger battery, which gives the smartphones a longer artillery life. Compared to the iPhone 14 Pro, the 17 Pro offers up to 10 much hours of video playback connected a azygous charge.

3. You privation top-of-the-line connectivity

The caller N1 is the wireless networking spot successful the iPhone 17 lineup. It supports Wi-Fi 7, an upgrade from the Wi-Fi 6-compatible iPhone 14 Pro, arsenic good arsenic Bluetooth 6 and Thread. With the caller N1 chip, Apple besides improved the reliability of the Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. 

You should instrumentality to the iPhone 14 Pro if...

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

1. You don't caput missing retired connected Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence isn't each that. Android devices are lapping the iPhone successful AI features, truthful I wouldn't urge switching to a caller iPhone lone to entree Apple Intelligence conscionable yet. The AI features tin beryllium a pro connected the iPhone 17 Pro's column, but don't hinge your buying determination connected them alone, particularly erstwhile they inactive permission a batch to beryllium desired. 

Apple has yet to upgrade Siri to its 2.0 mentation with generative AI, though the virtual adjunct tin entree ChatGPT arsenic needed erstwhile it feels similar the AI chatbot tin amended grip a request. However, determination are ways to add shortcuts to ChatGPT, adjacent marque it your go-to dependable adjunct (though it won't grip astute location requests oregon idiosyncratic accounts, similar euphony apps). 

Also: How to programme your iPhone's Action Button to summon ChatGPT's dependable assistant

That said, immoderate large Apple Intelligence features are available, specified arsenic Live Translation, Visual Intelligence, Writing Tools, and more. 

2. You're good with the Lightning Port

Apple switched its charging ports from its proprietary Lightning Port to USB-C with the iPhone 15 lineup, truthful the 14 is the past 1 to diagnostic the Lightning Port. USB-C gives the iPhone the convenience of a cosmopolitan charging larboard alternatively of making users instrumentality to a walled ecosystem. 

3. Saving wealth is your priority 

If your iPhone 14 Pro inactive functions arsenic it should, oregon adjacent if you're mostly utilizing it to browse, text, and drawback speedy photos, it's besides a bully thought to clasp retired for a aboriginal model. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max inactive enactment the latest iOS 26 merchandise and Wi-Fi 6, person a beardown 48 MP rear camera, adjacent if it doesn't person 8x optical zoom, and diagnostic the Dynamic Island.

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