Verdict - Apple iPhone 17 Pro review
Even without any real leaps in innovation, the iPhone 17 Pro presents itself as a consistent evolution of its predecessor. Apple's many improved details include the new, brighter, more color-accurate OLED display. On top of this, you get the larger and longer-lasting battery, and the A19 Pro chip, combined with 12 GB of RAM, ensures outstanding system performance. The camera has also been improved, particularly when it comes to the telephoto lens and front camera, which are now more versatile and technically sophisticated. In reality, the smartphone impresses with powerful performance and one of the longest-running batteries in its class.
Nevertheless, we're left with mixed impressions. The switch from titanium to aluminum seems like a backward step, especially since user reports indicate that the surface is more prone to scratches. While the photo quality is top-notch, the ultra-wide angle remains weak, and the zoom sensor finds its limits in low light. The display, as brilliant as it is, still uses low-frequency PWM, which may annoy users sensitive to such issues. There are also small but annoying limitations, such as no high-res audio via Bluetooth, no Auracast, and some new iOS 26 features are still blocked in the EU.
Pros
Cons
Price and availabilty
The iPhone 17 Pro can be purchased in every color and storage variant directly from Apple, as well as all major retailers.
Table of Contents
- Verdict - Apple iPhone 17 Pro review
- Specifications: Apple iPhone 17 Pro
- Case - The iPhone 17 Pro now relies on aluminum
- Features - All you could wish for
- Software - iOS 26 with a version leap and a glass look
- Communication and GNSS - Satelllite messaging only in the USA
- Telephone functions and voice quality - The iPhone has dual eSIM support
- Cameras - The iPhone 17 Pro has a new Center Stage camera on the front
- Accessories and warranty - A streamlined box
- Input devices and operation - The iPhone packs Face ID
- Display - An even brighter OLED and now with pulse smoothing
- Performance - The iPhone 17 Pro packs the A19 Pro and more RAM
- Games - Gaming at 120fps is a piece of cake
- Emissions - The iPhone achieves more stable performance
- Battery runtimes - Bigger, longer, wonderful
- Notebookcheck overall rating
- Possible alternatives compared
The iPhone 17 Pro is the successor to last year's iPhone 16 Pro and now comes with at least 256 GB of internal storage, which brings the starting price to $1,099. The smartphone is also available with 512 GB ($1,299) and 1 TB ($1,499) storage options.
The iPhone 17 Pro's design has been noticeably revised, the battery has been significantly increased in size, and there's a new zoom lens as well as a new front camera. Charging speeds have also increased, the display is brighter, and, of course, the SoC has also been upgraded. Discover all you need to know in the following review.
Specifications: Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Case - The iPhone 17 Pro now relies on aluminum
Titanium is history when it comes to the iPhone Pro and can now only be found in the iPhone Air in the current lineup. Instead, Apple has opted for a completely redesigned aluminum frame that is supposed to be even more durable. However, users are complaining about this very issue with the so-called "Scratchgate." In particular, the camera bump's hard edges are considered vulnerable. We're unable to confirm this, since our review device has been free of any scratches so far.
The aluminum frame is interrupted by a glass surface on the back. This additional design element is not only there for aesthetic reasons but also has a practical purpose in enabling wireless charging. The camera bump is visually very prominent and increases the height of the smartphone to 11.3 mm in this area of the phone. The three lenses protrude an additional 1.95 mm, giving the iPhone 17 Pro a maximum height of 13.25 mm. At its thinnest point, we measured 8.55 mm.
The build quality is really impressive, although the gaps between the embedded glass on the back aren't entirely even upon closer inspection. The iPhone feels truly comfortable in the hand, and the SIM slot sits flush with the identically-colored frame.
The iPhone doesn't emit any sounds when twisted and feels sturdy. It's also dust and water-resistant according to IP68. At 206g, it's comparatively heavy. Colors available include Deep Blue, Cosmic Orange, and Silver.
Features - All you could wish for
The iPhone 17 Pro has a comprehensive range of features: Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi 7, UWB, satellite communication, dual eSIM, MagSafe wireless charging, Qi2, and USB 3.2 (Gen. 2), with the latter achieving high transfer speeds in our test. In the copy test using a Samsung Portable SSD T7, over 600 MB/s was possible. Apple isn't picky about the supported file systems either, but the iPhone doesn't recognize NTFS. Wired video output is possible in Ultra HD with HDR.
That may sound seamless, but Bluetooth in particular still lacks an audio codec for high-res audio, and Auracast support isn't yet available. The action and camera buttons also integrate physical controls, something we already saw in its predecessor.
Software - iOS 26 with a version leap and a glass look
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro comes with iOS 26, including Apple Intelligence and the new Liquid Glass look. However, users in the EU are still faced with limitations, with features such as Visited Places and iPhone Mirroring not (yet) available. Further IOS 26 details can be found here.
Apple hasn't made any concrete statements regarding the update supply, but we can assume that the period will cover at least five years, and if you take the new EU guidelines into account, possibly a minimum of six years.
Sustainability
The iPhone 17 Pro comes in a slim, plastic-free outer packaging. In its sustainability report, Apple provides information concerning, among other things, the proportion of recycled materials (30% in total) and of rare earth and precious metals recycling rates. It also provides a self-repair program, which includes spare parts and instructions.
Communication and GNSS - Satelllite messaging only in the USA
The iPhone 17 Pro supports Wi-Fi 7 with three bands. In conjunction with our reference router, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000, this enabled high and stable data transfers, although data reception in the 6 GHz band could be a bit faster.
The frequency band support for mobile networks is broad and should enable a connection in every country around the world. In a big city environment, the connection characteristics were good, and there were no issues. In general, we haven't observed any connection issues with the communication modules since the update to iOS 26.0.1.
Unlike the USA, satellite communication in Germany is limited to emergency calls. When exactly the service will be expanded to include calling for roadside assistance or sending messages via the satellite system is still uncertain.
| Networking | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Average 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Average of class Smartphone | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
Dual-band GNSS using every global satellite network is available for location services. This generally ensures fast and accurate positioning.
On a bike ride, we compared the iPhone 17 Pro to the Garmin Venu 2, which demonstrated very good route tracking and only a few minor deviations.
Telephone functions and voice quality - The iPhone has dual eSIM support
The iPhone 17 Pro is still equipped with a nano-SIM in Germany and can also use an eSIM. Alternatively, the use of two eSIMs is also possible, and VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling are also supported.
When held to the ear, the Apple smartphone's call quality is good, and even louder background noises are filtered out quite reliably. In speakerphone mode, the user sounds a bit tinny, but this is rarely noticeable.
Cameras - The iPhone 17 Pro has a new Center Stage camera on the front
The new Center Stage front camera on the iPhone 17 Pro has been fundamentally redesigned and now features an 18 MP sensor with an f/1.9 aperture and autofocus. The new square sensor allows the camera to automatically switch between portrait and landscape modes. The Center Stage feature ensures that people always remain the focus, and the camera dynamically zooms and shifts the image as soon as someone moves or additional people enter the frame. The camera also enables 4K HDR video recording with improved stabilization as well as the new Dual Capture mode, in which the front and rear cameras record simultaneously.
The main camera on the back now uses three 48 MP sensors. This represents a significant upgrade, especially for the zoom, which now has a 4x optical zoom (100 mm) that is said to be virtually lossless even at 200 mm. A 40x digital zoom (1049 mm) is possible, and optical image stabilization with 3D sensor shift is also included. The zoom produces good results in daylight, but its small sensor area is noticeable in low light conditions.
The main camera also produces good photos in this area, too. Apple boasts a nearly lossless 2x magnification thanks to the sensor crop. Optical image stabilization with sensor shift (Gen. 2) is also available. This helps the iPhone 17 Pro produce balanced images with a high level of detail and a balanced sharpness ratio, with only details in the depth of field sometimes being a bit blurry. Little has changed regarding the ultra-wide-angle lens, which can still serve as a macro lens. In panoramic shots, the depth of field is not particularly deep, and sharpness also decreases significantly towards the edges. Resolutions of 12, 24 (default), and 48 megapixels are available, and ProRAW can also be used.
Only the main sensor can be used to record videos in their best format of Ultra HD at 120fps with Dolby Vision. Anyone wishing to use all three lenses will have to reduce the frame rate to 60fps. An uncompressed video format, ProRes (HDR or Log), is also available, but anyone aiming to use it at more than 30fps will need to connect an external storage device due to the high data rate.
Image comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main cameraMain cameraUltra-wide angle5x zoomLow light
Under controlled lighting conditions, our test chart was almost consistently sharp, with hardly any blurring even at the edges. However, in the center of the image, details appeared somewhat over-sharpened and exhibited minor aberrations.
The ColorChecker image was very good, with no color exceeding a DeltaE of 10. The highest deviation (dE 9.9) is cyan, which is overly bright.
Accessories and warranty - A streamlined box
The iPhone 17 Pro comes with a USB cable (type-C on both sides) and a SIM ejection tool.
The warranty in Germany only covers 12 months, but the retailer's warranty still applies. With Apple Care+, you can also purchase an insurance package, the price of which varies depending on the coverage. A one-time fee of $139.99 is payable for one year, or a monthly payment of $13.99 is also possible.
Input devices and operation - The iPhone packs Face ID
For biometric security, 3D facial recognition via Face ID is on board, which offers high levels of security, recognition, and speed. The Taptic Engine is once again responsible for haptic feedback and provides crisp feedback.
The capacitive touchscreen is fast and precise. Touch-sensitive typing is also possible on the back, although this must first be enabled in the settings. Apple also hasn't changed the functionality of the action and camera buttons seen in the iPhone 16 Pro.
Display - An even brighter OLED and now with pulse smoothing
The iPhone 17 Pro's OLED display measures 6.3 inches (16 cm) and, thanks to LTPO technology, it operates with a variable refresh rate of 1 to 120 Hz. All common HDR standards are supported, and the brightness is absolutely even.
Compared to its predecessor, the brightness has been further increased. While this remains unchanged when displaying a full white area, it climbs to 3,044 cd/m² (APL18) when displaying a reduced white area, and 2,997 cd/m² when displaying HDR. Anyone wishing to adjust the brightness manually has a maximum of 849 cd/m² at their disposal.
The OLED uses pulse-width modulation (PWM) to control the panel's brightness. At 480 Hz, the frequency isn't particularly high, and the base frequency is only 240 Hz at minimum brightness. Apple has implemented a "Pulse Smoothing" feature in the accessibility settings to protect your eyes, which, in direct comparison, provides a flatter amplitude, at least at low display brightness. Whether this is sufficient to protect sensitive users from any discomfort will likely be on a case-by-case basis. Even with this feature, it can't be completely ruled out.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 99 %
Center on Battery: 1059 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE ColorChecker Calman: 1.3 | ∀{0.5-29.43 Ø4.79}
ΔE Greyscale Calman: 2.1 | ∀{0.09-98 Ø5}
99.7% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.2
CCT: 6542 K
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro OLED, 2622x1206, 6.3" | Google Pixel 10 Pro OLED, 2856x1280, 6.3" | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Super Retina XDR OLED, 2622x1206, 6.3" | Xiaomi 15 OLED, 2670x1200, 6.4" | Honor Magic7 Pro OLED, 2800x1280, 6.8" | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120x1440, 6.9" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 61% | 11% | 1% | 33% | -21% | |
| Brightness middle (cd/m²) | 1059 | 2161 104% | 1034 -2% | 1021 -4% | 1607 52% | 1357 28% |
| Brightness (cd/m²) | 1060 | 2198 107% | 1034 -2% | 1018 -4% | 1609 52% | 1350 27% |
| Brightness Distribution (%) | 99 | 94 -5% | 98 -1% | 98 -1% | 95 -4% | 94 -5% |
| Black Level * (cd/m²) | ||||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.3 | 0.7 46% | 0.98 25% | 1.3 -0% | 0.9 31% | 3.1 -138% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 3.6 | 1.8 50% | 2.76 23% | 2.9 19% | 1.8 50% | 4.7 -31% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.1 | 0.8 62% | 1.6 24% | 2.2 -5% | 1.7 19% | 2.2 -5% |
| Gamma | 2.2 100% | 2.19 100% | 2.17 101% | 2.25 98% | 2.24 98% | 2 110% |
| CCT | 6542 99% | 6646 98% | 6638 98% | 6658 98% | 6346 102% | 6391 102% |
* ... smaller is better
| Display / APL18 Peak Brightness | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Display / HDR Peak Brightness | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 240 Hz Amplitude: 14.89 % Secondary Frequency: 480 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 240 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 240 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8169 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
A series of measurements at a fixed zoom level and different brightness settings (The amplitude curve at minimum brightness appears flat, but this is due to the scaling. The enlarged version of the amplitude at minimum brightness can be seen in the info box.).
A series of measurements at a fixed zoom level with display pulse smoothing activated and different brightness settings.
When it comes to color accuracy, the iPhone 17 Pro proves to be exemplary in the Calman measurements, with a green tint noticeable only in the light grayscale with True Tone deactivated.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1.04 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.476 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.56 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 3 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.3 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 1.13 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.53 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.602 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 4 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (31.7 ms). | ||
Outdoors, the iPhone 17 Pro performs very well due to its brightness reserves, but the anti-reflective coating is barely noticeable and nowhere near the level of the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The Apple smartphone's viewing angle stability is very good, and no color inversions are noticeable, even at very wide viewing angles. At most, the brightness decreases slightly.
Performance - The iPhone 17 Pro packs the A19 Pro and more RAM
The iPhone 17 Pro now houses 12 GB of LPDDR5x memory and is powered by the company’s own Apple A19 Pro SoC.
Especially the CPU performance leaves the competition in the comparison field standing, although the upcoming top Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 smartphones will offer higher multi-core performance.
The iPhone also delivers extremely good system and AI benchmark results, meaning it's currently hard to find snappier devices of any kind.
The integrated A19 Pro's GPU also delivers high performance and supports hardware-based ray tracing. While the Adreno 830-based competition delivers even better results in some benchmarks, the iPhone's customized system gives it the edge in everyday use, as we're about to see in gaming.
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Solar Bay Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Solar Bay Unlimited Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Solar Bay Extreme Unlimited Score | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Solar Bay Extreme Score | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Score | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
When browsing the web, the iPhone is still in a class of its own; whether in everyday use or in benchmarks, the performance remains high.
| Jetstream 2 - 2.0 Total Score | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro (Safari 18) | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro (Safari Mobile 26.0) | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (327 - 329, n=2) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro (Chrome 140) | |
| Xiaomi 15 (Chrome 131.0.6778.104) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (23.8 - 387, n=148, last 2 years) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result 2.0 | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro (Safari Mobile 26.0) | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (598 - 621, n=2) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro (Safari 18) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro (Chrome 140) | |
| Xiaomi 15 (Chrome 131.0.6778.104) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 621, n=129, last 2 years) | |
| Speedometer 3 - Score 3.0 | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro (Safari Mobile 26.0) | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (40.7 - 41.7, n=2) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro (Safari 18) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
| Xiaomi 15 (Chrome 131.0.6778.104) | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro (Chrome 140) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1.03 - 41.7, n=118, last 2 years) | |
| WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro (Safari Mobile 26.0) | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (297 - 302, n=2) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro (Safari 18) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro (Chrome 140) | |
| Xiaomi 15 (Chrome 131.0.6778.104) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (27 - 302, n=142, last 2 years) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro (Safari Mobile 26.0) | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (115463 - 119218, n=2) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro (Safari 18) | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro (Chrome 140) | |
| Xiaomi 15 (Chrome 131.0.6778.104) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 119218, n=195, last 2 years) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Average of class Smartphone (263 - 28190, n=150, last 2 years) | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro (Chrome 140) | |
| Xiaomi 15 (Chrome 131.0.6778.104) | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro (Safari 18) | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (270 - 280, n=2) | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro (Safari Mobile 26.0) | |
* ... smaller is better
Games - Gaming at 120fps is a piece of cake
Gaming on the iPhone 17 Pro is always smooth, and this doesn't come at the cost of heat production. Using GameBench, the tested games generally ran very smoothly, but there were also minor frame drops that manifested themselves as minor stuttering.
Anyone who has owned a larger phone may find the display small, and the dynamic island obscures the displayed content.
Emissions - The iPhone achieves more stable performance
Temperature
The iPhone 17 Pro's surface temperatures remained safe throughout, only occasionally rising above 40°C during stress tests.
This means Apple has indeed made improvements to the cooling system, with performance throttling being significantly reduced under sustained load.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41.2 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 35.2 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 247 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 40.8 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 34 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.3 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 32.9 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Stress Tests
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Solar Bay Extreme Stress Test Stability | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Solar Bay Stress Test Stability | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Steel Nomad Light Stress Test Stability | |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
3DMark Stress Tests
3DMark Unlimited Stress Tests
Speakers
The two speakers deliver comparatively good sound that avoids distortion even at high volumes. As expected, however, there's a slight lack of depth, although this is only really noticeable at higher volumes.
The USB port is on board for wired audio output, and Bluetooth is available for wireless audio output. However, the latter offers very limited codec support.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (88.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.4% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (13.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 1% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 99% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 35%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 15% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 81% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (93 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.5% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (4.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (1.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 1% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 97% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 35%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 18% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 78% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery runtimes - Bigger, longer, wonderful
Power consumption
At maximum display brightness and under load, the iPhone 17 Pro's power consumption is quite high. Especially concerning the former, it's important to remember that the panel can also get very bright in manual mode.
Apple has increased speeds for both wireless (max. 25W) and wired (max. 40W) charging. Using an original power adapter (65W), we fully recharged the iPhone after 71 minutes, and it took 21 minutes to reach 50%.
| Off / Standby |   0.13 / 0.34 Watt |
| Idle |  0.56 / 1.78 / 1.89 Watt |
| Load |
12.36 / 17.69 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro 3988 mAh | Google Pixel 10 Pro 4870 mAh | Apple iPhone 16 Pro 3582 mAh | Xiaomi 15 5400 mAh | Honor Magic7 Pro 5270 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5000 mAh | Average Apple A19 Pro | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -10% | 34% | 33% | 2% | 21% | 12% | 12% | |
| Idle Minimum * (Watt) | 0.56 | 1.01 -80% | 0.4 29% | 0.5 11% | 0.94 -68% | 0.55 2% | 0.56 ? -0% | 0.854 ? -53% |
| Idle Average * (Watt) | 1.78 | 1.65 7% | 0.6 66% | 1.11 38% | 1.5 16% | 0.77 57% | 1.677 ? 6% | 1.435 ? 19% |
| Idle Maximum * (Watt) | 1.89 | 2.05 -8% | 1 47% | 1.13 40% | 1.57 17% | 0.91 52% | 1.823 ? 4% | 1.609 ? 15% |
| Load Average * (Watt) | 12.36 | 7.25 41% | 11 11% | 8.91 28% | 11.03 11% | 13.81 -12% | 7.92 ? 36% | 7.11 ? 42% |
| Load Maximum * (Watt) | 17.69 | 19.78 -12% | 14.4 19% | 9.3 47% | 11.68 34% | 16.69 6% | 15.1 ? 15% | 11.2 ? 37% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power consumption: GFXbench (150 cd/m²)
Battery life
The iPhone 17 Pro's battery has increased to 3,988 mAh in countries such as Germany, where physical SIM support is still available. In the US (eSIM only), the freed-up space is also reserved for the battery, which means the 17 Pros there have 4,252 mAh.
But even the smaller battery achieves incredibly long battery life. Only the Honor Magic7 Pro has its nose narrowly in front in one area, namely, video playback.
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro 3988 mAh | Google Pixel 10 Pro 4870 mAh | Apple iPhone 16 Pro 3582 mAh | Xiaomi 15 5400 mAh | Honor Magic7 Pro 5270 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5000 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery runtime | -38% | -31% | -12% | -26% | -25% | |
| Reader / Idle (h) | 65.9 | 33.1 -50% | 55.3 -16% | 62.7 -5% | 42.1 -36% | 45.8 -31% |
| H.264 (h) | 46.6 | 24 -48% | 26.4 -43% | 29.7 -36% | 30.1 -35% | 32.3 -31% |
| WiFi v1.3 (h) | 24.2 | 21.1 -13% | 16.4 -32% | 22.8 -6% | 24.7 2% | 22.2 -8% |
| Load (h) | 5.4 | 3.3 -39% | 3.6 -33% | 5.4 0% | 3.6 -33% | 3.7 -31% |
Notebookcheck overall rating
The iPhone 17 Pro is a powerful but very expensive premium update that scores highly with a better display, camera, and battery, but disappoints with the switch from titanium to more scratch-prone aluminum, lack of high-res audio support, limited iOS features in the EU, a weaker ultra-wide angle, PWM flickering, and a one-year warranty.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
- 10/17/2025 v8
Daniel Schmidt
Total Sustainability Score: Possible alternatives compared
Image | Model / Review | Price | Weight | Drive | Display |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. 89.9%  | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Apple A19 Pro ⎘ Apple A19 Pro 6-Core GPU ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | Amazon: 1. $37.99 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Silicone... 2. $8.98 Ailun 3 Pack Screen Protecto... 3. $8.98 Ailun 3 Pack Screen Protecto... List Price: 1549€ | 206 g | Apple 512GB NVMe | 6.30" 2622x1206 458 PPI OLED |
2. 88.9%  | Google Pixel 10 Pro Google Tensor G5 ⎘ IMG DXT-48-1536 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 256 GB | Amazon: $1,099.00 List Price: 1199€ | 207 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.30" 2856x1280 497 PPI OLED |
3. 87.9%  | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Apple A18 Pro ⎘ Apple A18 Pro GPU ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 128 GB NVMe | Amazon: 1. $49.00 Apple iPhone 16 Pro Silicone... 2. $39.99 Apple iPhone 16 Pro Silicone... 3. $8.98 Ailun 3 Pack Screen Protecto... List Price: 1200 Euro | 199 g | 128 GB NVMe | 6.30" 2622x1206 460 PPI Super Retina XDR OLED |
4. 88.4%  | Xiaomi 15 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 830 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 512 GB | Amazon: 1. $11.99 Ibywind for Xiaomi 15 Ultra ... 2. $7.99 Suttkue for Xiaomi 15 Screen... 3. $3.31 Natbok Designed for Xiaomi 1... List Price: 760€ | 191 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.36" 2670x1200 460 PPI OLED |
5. 89.2%  | Honor Magic7 Pro Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 830 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 512 GB | Amazon: 1. $11.99 Ibywind for Honor Magic7 Pro... 2. $9.99 Anbzsign (2+2 Pack) for Hono... 3. $11.99 Charger for Honor Magic 7, 7... List Price: 1300€ | 223 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.80" 2800x1280 453 PPI OLED |
6. 89.4%  | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 830 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 256 GB | Amazon: 1. $7.98 firtstnow 3 Pack Glass Scree... 2. $7.98 Ailun Glass Screen Protector... 3. $10.01 Milomdoi 3 Pack Privacy Scre... List Price: 1449€ | 218 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.90" 3120x1440 498 PPI Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
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The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was freely purchased by the author at his/her own expense. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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