Which iPhone 17 model should you buy?

With the current Apple For iPhones, things are very different for the first time in a while. The basic iPhone 17 is still familiar, but the iPhone 17 Pro models have a completely new look, and there’s a new model called the iPhone Air. The “Air” branding has been toned down somewhat recently, as current iPad Pro models are lighter than the iPad Air, but the iPhone Air brings meaning back to the original idea: an ultra-thin, ultra-light device. Almost all of that is the budget iPhone 17e.

The new phones are officially on sale. If you’re thinking about upgrading, which iPhone 17 model should you get? I’ll break down the key differences and similarities between the iPhone 17 lineup, so you can make an informed decision. Don’t forget, these aren’t the only iPhones Apple sells – read our best iPhones guide to learn about all your options. And check out our guide to the best iPhone 17 cases for ways to keep your new phone in its original condition.

Updated March 2026: We’ve added iPhone 17e.

You don’t need to upgrade

If you’ve only had an iPhone for a few years, you probably don’t need to upgrade to the latest version from Apple, unless your device is having issues. Even then, there are things you can do to fix your iPhone, like replacing the battery, or you can try some of these troubleshooting steps. The point is that you shouldn’t feel the need to upgrade just because Apple has a new model.

If you’re determined to buy the iPhone 17 model, we’ve got a guide on how to sell your iPhone so it doesn’t collect dust in the drawer. When your new device arrives, back up your old iPhone before switching to the new one, then follow our guide on factory resetting your device before selling or giving it away. We also have tips on how to set up your new iPhone and what settings to change to get the most out of it.

Which iPhone 17 is right for you?

Let’s quickly talk about the similarities between all the iPhone 17 models this year, and yes, that includes the iPhone Air, even if it doesn’t have “17” in the name.

the offer

Although iPhones vary in screen size, they all feature an OLED display (Apple refers to it as the Super Retina XDR display). All of these devices, except for the iPhone 17e, use ProMotion technology. This is the first time non-Pro models have ProMotion, which is essentially a 120Hz refresh rate.

The high refresh rate has been a popular feature on Android phones for a while, but it means your screen is refreshed 120 times per second instead of 60, like on the iPhone 16, so everything you do will be smoother. (We have a broader explanation here.) These are adaptive refresh rates that can drop to 1Hz when there’s little activity on the screen, which is why the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air now support always-on display. This means that iPhone 17e yes no You have an always-on screen.

Apple also says there’s a new Ceramic Shield 2 front glass that’s three times more scratch-resistant than before, and a new anti-reflective coating to reduce glare. These displays can also reach up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, meaning your iPhone’s screen will be easier to read on sunny days, though the iPhone 17e goes up to 1,200 nits to reach this lower price.