{"id":258561,"date":"2025-10-29T11:15:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T11:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/258561\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T11:15:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T11:15:17","slug":"ive-been-using-the-iphone-17-pro-for-a-month-heres-my-pros-and-cons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/258561\/","title":{"rendered":"I’ve been using the iPhone 17 Pro for a month \u2014 here’s my pros and cons"},"content":{"rendered":"

One week you scratch the surface, two weeks<\/a> get you deeper, but a month is more than enough time to appreciate a phone\u2019s full potential. That\u2019s exactly where I\u2019m at now with the iPhone 17 Pro<\/a>, which like its predecessors, isn\u2019t just trying to be a viable best phone<\/a> contender \u2014 it\u2019s also trying to prove it\u2019s the more compelling model in Apple\u2019s lineup.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because there\u2019s less of a gap separating the prices of Apple\u2019s new models. For example, its starting price of $1,099 is $100 more than previous models. This makes it $100 less than the iPhone 17 Pro Max<\/a>, but it\u2019s also $100 more than the iPhone Air<\/a>. Needless to say, it\u2019s complicated this time around.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

But now that I\u2019ve spent over a month using the iPhone 17 Pro and testing out its new features, like its new Center Stage camera<\/a> and \u2018upgraded\u2019 telephoto camera<\/a>, I have a better idea of how it really stacks up. And more importantly, whether it\u2019s something I would recommend.<\/p>\n

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iPhone 17 Pro : What I LikeAmazing gaming performance<\/p>\n

\n

\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

Above all, I can\u2019t tell you enough about A19 Pro\u2019s performance<\/a> \u2014 it really puts other phones to shame in the graphics department, even the best gaming phones<\/a> out there. Paired with its even brighter 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display, it feels so rewarding to put in the amount of hours as I do with gaming. Its benchmark scores below prove that.<\/p>\n

Swipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0 <\/p>\n

iPhone 17 Pro<\/p>\n

iPhone 16 Pro<\/p>\n

Galaxy S25 Ultra<\/p>\n

Pixel 10 Pro<\/p>\n

Processor<\/p>\n

A19 Pro<\/p>\n

A18 Pro<\/p>\n

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3<\/p>\n

Tensor G5<\/p>\n

Geekbench (single core\/multicore)<\/p>\n

3,834 \/ 9,988<\/p>\n

3,400 \/ 8,341<\/p>\n

3,031 \/ 9,829<\/p>\n

2,335 \/ 6,375<\/p>\n

WildLife Original Unlimited (fps)<\/p>\n

158.37<\/p>\n

109.33<\/p>\n

161.66<\/p>\n

79.29<\/p>\n

Adobe Premiere Rush (mins:secs)<\/p>\n

0:22<\/p>\n

0:21<\/p>\n

0:52<\/p>\n

2:19<\/p>\n

Games like Diablo Immortal come to life with how it handles shadows and lighting effects, while fast-paced racing games like Asphalt Legends run at super smooth frame rates that keep up the action. With strategy games like Age of Origins, the iPhone 17 Pro is a champ at showing battle scenes unfold.<\/p>\n

Best of all, it doesn\u2019t heat up as much as previous models I\u2019ve tested \u2014 which is in part to the new vapor chamber system it incorporates.<\/p>\n

Refreshing makeover<\/p>\n

\n

\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

A new color option makes a huge difference in adding variety to the iPhone 17 Pro, but I also like the design makeover it gets as well. While there\u2019s ongoing debate about this new paint job, as there\u2019s been reports of the cosmic orange model changing color<\/a> and iPhone 17 \u2018scratchgate<\/a>\u2019 controversy, my iPhone 17 Pro has remained relatively unharmed for the past month. Yes, there are a few superficial scratches on it, but I haven’t been good at keeping a case on it like I do with my other phones.<\/p>\n

Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.<\/p>\n

Aside from the new two-tone color design, Apple refines the design of the iPhone 17 Pro by extending the camera compartment \u2014 making it more symmetrical in a way. I also like how the edges now have a slight contour to them, making it even more comfortable when my hand touches its aluminum frame.<\/p>\n

It’s a low light camera beast<\/p>\n

Image 1 of 2<\/p>\n

\"iPhoneiPhone 17 Pro(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)\"SamsungGalaxy S25 Ultra(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Another area where the iPhone 17 Pro continues to impress me is the low light performance of its main camera. Apple might not have changed the hardware, but whatever new image processing algorithms it\u2019s using really draws out more details than other camera phones I\u2019ve tested.<\/p>\n

In my 200 photo shootout with the iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra<\/a>, and then subsequently my 200 photo shootout with the iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Pixel 10 Pro XL<\/a>, Apple proves it\u2019s a low light master \u2014 and the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max share the same identical main camera.<\/p>\n

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In pitch dark conditions, I\u2019m still astounded by how the iPhone 17 Pro\u2019s night mode makes it look like it\u2019s daytime. Most cameras tend to deliver softer results, but not this one as it retains a lot of the details.<\/p>\n

Better value than the iPhone Air<\/p>\n

\n

\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t used the iPhone Air that much, but from what I know about it from my colleague\u2019s iPhone Air review<\/a>, I would recommend getting the iPhone 17 Pro over it. Don\u2019t be charmed by the ultra-thin design of the iPhone Air, especially when it\u2019s only $100 less than the iPhone 17 Pro.<\/p>\n

With that difference, the only benefit you\u2019re getting is a slimmer and lighter phone. The downsides include a single rear camera, way shorter battery life, and a less powerful processor. If you\u2019re spending this much, you might as well fork over the extra money and get the iPhone 17 Pro.<\/p>\n

iPhone 17 Pro: What I Don’t LikeNo major change with telephoto camera performance<\/p>\n

One of the biggest concerns I had heading into using the iPhone 17 Pro is how its new telephoto camera performs<\/a>. Apple\u2019s strategy this year is a familiar one I\u2019ve seen play out countless times with other best camera phone contenders, but nonetheless one I\u2019ve been eager to put to the test.<\/p>\n

While its 48MP telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom highlights the high resolution sensor Apple’s favored, the optical zoom is actually scaled back versus the 5x one with the previous model. As a result, I don\u2019t see much improvement compared to the previous telephoto camera. Just take a look at the comparison shot above I captured with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.<\/p>\n

Less value over the iPhone 17 Pro Max<\/p>\n

\n

\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

Even though Apple gives the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max the same hardware, I just don\u2019t feel like the 17 Pro has as much value as previous models. That\u2019s mainly due to the $100 price increase it gets this time, which drives up the price to $1,099 \u2014 whereas previous models fetched for $999.<\/p>\n

Although it\u2019s been upgraded to double the storage amount at 256GB, the $100 difference separating it from the iPhone 17 Pro Max isn\u2019t enough for me to say it has as good or better value. That\u2019s because for the extra money, you\u2019re getting a larger display and longer battery life. In fact, it lasts over 2 hours longer with our battery drain test<\/a>. That\u2019s significant in my opinion. You\u2019re<\/p>\n

iPhone 17 Pro: bottom line<\/p>\n

\n

\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

Unless you prefer its smaller size, it\u2019s really hard for me to recommend the iPhone 17 Pro over the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Yes, it shares the majority of the same hardware, like its triple 48MP cameras, A19 Pro chip, and new vapor cooling system, but its higher cost doesn\u2019t give it as nearly the same kind of value I see from the iPhone 17 Pro Max.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s still an outstanding phone that works in all the areas I need it to work in. As a camera phone in my pocket, the quality is outstanding no matter the situation or lighting conditions. When it comes to productivity and gaming, the A19 Pro makes everything run so effortlessly. Like I said, it\u2019s a good phone with everything I\u2019d want in a flagship \u2014 but I wish it were still $200 less like in previous years.<\/p>\n

Follow Tom’s Guide on Google News<\/a> and add us as a preferred source<\/a> to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!<\/p>\n

More from Tom’s Guide<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"One week you scratch the surface, two weeks get you deeper, but a month is more than enough…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":258562,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[165,74],"class_list":{"0":"post-258561","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-mobile","9":"tag-technology"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=258561"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258561\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/258562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=258561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=258561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=258561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}