The next major iPhone upgrade may not be the iPhone 17 Pro.

The iPhone Air is a completely new model. Some say it has replaced the iPhone Plus, which has not sold well in recent years. The Air has a unique design and is very thin.

However, one iPhone model has become one of the best options and possibly the best deal in the iPhone 17 series: the standard iPhone 17.

The iPhone 17 retains its $799 starting price, despite rumors of a potential increase due to tariffs, economic issues, inflation, and other factors.

Apple may have hurt itself by pricing the regular iPhone 17 so close to the smaller Pro model in terms of specifications. Many people may not see the need to spend an additional $300 for the more expensive upper model.

The iPhone 17 now starts with 256GB of base storage. While Apple used this to justify the Pro's price increase, the company avoided raising the price of the standard model.

Getting a 256GB flagship for $799 is impressive, as Samsung and Google charge the same price for their 128GB models, the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25. Apple's generosity with storage is unusual, but welcome.

This upgrade was overdue, but it is still significant and could convince many people to upgrade to the iPhone 17.

Apple's comparison tool shows that the iPhone 17 has the same screen as the Pro model. The size, resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, and peak brightness are identical. The screen technology was a major differentiator between the Pro and non-Pro iPhones for a long time, making this change surprising.

The iPhone 17 embraces the smartphone display future, as even budget phones now have 120 Hz displays. Still, it's an impressive upgrade.

The iPhone 17 may be Apple's biggest overall upgrade in years, with improvements across the board.

The ultrawide camera is now 48MP, matching the Pro models. Apple lists both as "Fusion" Ultra Wide cameras, further blurring the line between the Pro and the standard iPhone 17. Additionally, the standard model now supports macro photography for the first time.

The selfie camera has been upgraded on all iPhone 17 models with a new 18MP square sensor that can take portrait and landscape selfies without rotating the phone.

The only camera difference between the iPhone 17 and the Pro is the telephoto lens (and the $300 price difference). If you don't need the 4x optical zoom and can use 2x crops from the main sensor, you can save $300.

The iPhone 17 comes in more colors, including the classic Jet Black and White, which are not available on the Pro models. The iPhone 17 is also the only model that retains the previous generation's design, making it a safer choice for those unsure about Apple's new design direction.

The standard iPhone 17 is also lighter than the Pro, and its weight is likely distributed more evenly, as the "Extended Plateau" camera housing appears heavy on the Pro.

The vertical dual-camera arrangement on the back is reminiscent of older models like the iPhone X. However, the Pro is the only option for those who want an orange iPhone, while the standard model is required for a black iPhone.

The exact battery capacities of the iPhone 17 series models are unknown, but the charging situation suggests another major upgrade. Both the iPhone 17 Pro and the standard model can charge to 50% in 20 minutes using 40W wired chargers.

Charging speed has increased compared to the previous non-Pro model, and the current iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 have the same charging speeds. This eliminates another point of differentiation.

Both phones support MagSafe wireless charging, providing up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with a 30W adapter or higher, representing another upgrade for the non-Pro model without raising the $799 starting price.

The iPhone 17 Pro is still superior in terms of specifications, with an additional telephoto camera and a faster A19 Pro chipset. However, these differences may not justify the $300 price difference.

The iPhone 17 is the better deal and one of the best iPhone deals in years.

What are your thoughts? Will you choose the Pro or the base model? Share your opinions and vote in the poll.