iPhone 17 Pro iPhone 15 ProMax here, should I upgrade?

[GrandeLatte]

I'm a stay at home mom, and I only care about camera on my phone as I take a ton of photos and videos of my baby. I don't get to use the other fancy features on my current phone. The 15ProMax is working fine, but the weight is killing me. Should I upgrade to the Pro (love the Cosmic Orange color) or to the Air?

Please advise. Thank you in advance!

 

[Gix1k]

Go with the Air. Sounds like you have enough you're carrying around. Lessen the load. It'll do great taking pics of your kid.

 

[MacDevil7334]

Do you use any of the other lenses aside from the 1x when you take pictures? If not, the Air might be a good choice for the weight reduction. The sensor on the Air’s camera is slightly smaller than the 1x lens on the 15-17 Pros. But I doubt you will notice a loss of quality.

If you use the other lenses (especially the telephoto) with any regularity though, the Pros are the only game in town right now. Downsizing to the Pro from the Max will save a bit of weight, but don’t expect a dramatic difference. It’s still a dense, heavy phone. And the 15 generation was the lightest set of pro phones we had in a long time. The weight increased with the 16 generation and then has increased again with the 17 generation. So the gap between the 17 Pro and the 15 Pro Max is not as large as you might think. It comes down to whether you want a substantial weight reduction or better cameras.

 

[Paddle1]

The base iPhone 17 has better cameras than the Air and is much lighter than the Pro.

 

[cardfan]

On the 15 pm I only use the main camera. The other two suck. The air is basically a 15 pm with its lone main camera and thin and lighter. In terms of fancy features. What are those. lol.

If you take lots of pics go for your orange phone. First time all 3 cameras are upgraded

 

[GrandeLatte]

Still cannot decide, and now add in the regular 17 into the mix. Hahaha.
I can take some time. No need for me to pre-order, I will likely go into my local store and "feel" these phones in my hands then decide.

Thank you for all your candid advice. This forum is awesome!

 

[GrandeLatte]

It seems like a tradeoff between camera and weight. If the 17 Pro is not much lighter than my 15 ProMax, I really don't see the point. I usually upgrade every 3-4 years.

And as much as I love the atheistic of the Air, I cannot get over the fact that it only has one camera. No, I don't use telephoto much but on holidays, I do take lots of photos/ videos of landscapes, fireworks, and anything artistic.

It seems like I have a perfectly fine phone in my hands, the only problem being that it is big and bulky, but the screen real estate is something I enjoy and makes photography easier......

 

[MacManiac76]

I think waiting to try the weight and size of the iPhone options you have is the best route to go.

 

[grovertdog]

The 17pro doesn't make sense given weight is your primary complaint with the 15PM. I'm tired of lugging my 15PM around, but I bought an Air today. We shall see how that goes. I think the base 17 will be the least risk replacement for you that likely won't disappoint. It also is a bargain, if a cell phone for $800 is a bargain. Apple is giving me $520 for my 15PM, and will for you, too. That's a pretty sweet deal regardless what you choose. You should post what you decide and how it works out for you. A lot of folks who need very little "Pro" (I loathe that word) features end up with mammoth phones to get the best lenses/sensors and large screens and come to regret it.

 

[Yuuuki]

I would suggest to stick to your plan and go to the store and feel them in your hand if you not in a hurry to pre order. I think feeling it will actually give you the best answer you looking for. I'm sure you will make the right choice for yourself! 😊

 

[Fiona FTW]

Yes, get the 17 Pro if you value the camera. The Air’s camera doesn’t come close to the Pro’s optical reach and abilities. The Air has a digital zoom, but digital zoom is trash. Only take photos and videos with the optical zoom.

 

[krspkbl]

Just keep your 15 Pro Max.

If all you care about is the camera then it's not worth upgrading. The Pro models have the best cameras but if the weight is "killing" you then don't bother. The Air is smaller/lighter but it won't have as good a camera.

15 Pro Max takes good enough photos and seriously the phone isn't even that heavy. People exaggerate how "heavy" phones are.

 

[MacDevil7334]

It seems like a tradeoff between camera and weight. If the 17 Pro is not much lighter than my 15 ProMax, I really don't see the point. I usually upgrade every 3-4 years.

And as much as I love the atheistic of the Air, I cannot get over the fact that it only has one camera. No, I don't use telephoto much but on holidays, I do take lots of photos/ videos of landscapes, fireworks, and anything artistic.

It seems like I have a perfectly fine phone in my hands, the only problem being that it is big and bulky, but the screen real estate is something I enjoy and makes photography easier......

One thing you might consider is how often do you go on holiday. If it’s only once a year for example, would you be better off buying a small dedicated camera for your trips (which will take better pictures than even the pro iPhone in almost all situations) and then getting a phone you will be happier using the rest of the year? Obviously, this is a more expensive proposition than just buying an iPhone by itself. But if you mainly care about the Pro’s camera system while traveling, it might be worth considering.