Switching from the iPhone 15 to the iPhone 17 provides a clearly noticeable leap in quality. The new model finally has a 120 Hz ProMotion display in all versions, larger and brighter screens, much better battery life, and faster charging.
The cameras are more versatile – in every model, we find dual or triple 48 MP modules, and the front camera has gained Center Stage functionality and 4K recording from both sides simultaneously.
Additionally, the iPhone 17 is more powerful, heats up less, and introduces local AI features, such as live conversation translation and on-screen content recognition.
For owners of the iPhone 15 or 15 Plus, the difference is huge – primarily a smoother display and better battery. For users of the 15 Pro/Pro Max, it mainly means a better telephoto lens, a larger screen, and longer battery life.
📊 iPhone 15 vs iPhone 17 – Comparison Table
| Feature | iPhone 15 (2023) | iPhone 17 (2025) |
| Processor & RAM | A16 Bionic (15/15 Plus), A17 Pro (15 Pro/Max) • 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU • 6–8 GB RAM | A19 (17/Air), A19 Pro (17 Pro/Max) • +40% faster CPU • GPU with AI accelerators • 8 GB RAM (17) • 12 GB RAM (Air/Pro/Max) |
| Performance | ~2500 points single-core (A16) • Top performance in 2023 | ~3800 points single-core (A19 Pro) • Multi-core ~9700 points • GPU +35% vs A18 Pro |
| Display | 6.1″ / 6.7″ OLED 60 Hz (ProMotion only in Pro) • 2000 nits (peak) • AoD only in Pro | 6.3″ / 6.5″ / 6.9″ OLED LTPO 120 Hz (everywhere) • 3000 nits (record) • AoD in every model |
| Rear Cameras | 15/Plus: 48 + 12 MP • no tele (2× crop) 15 Pro: 48 + 12 + 12 MP (tele 3×) 15 Pro Max: tele 5× (periscope) | 17: 48 + 48 MP (ultra-wide also 48) Air: single 48 MP 17 Pro/Max: 48 + 48 + 48 MP • tele 4× 100 mm (crop to ~8× “optical quality”) |
| Front Camera | 12 MP • static frame | 18 MP Center Stage • auto-framing • 4K HDR recording + Dual Capture |
| Video | 4K@60 HDR • Cinematic 4K@30 (Pro) • ProRes 4K@30 (Pro) • Spatial Video (announced for 15 Pro) | 4K@120 (slow-mo) • ProRes 4K@60 RAW (Pro) • Genlock (multi-cam sync) • Spatial Video (available for the entire series) |
| Battery | 15: up to 20 h • 15 Plus: 26 h • 15 Pro: 23 h • 15 Pro Max: 29 h | 17: 30 h • 17 Air: 27 h • 17 Pro: 33 h • 17 Pro Max: 39 h (1.5–2 days of use) |
| Charging | USB-C 2.0 (15) • USB-C 3 (Pro) • 50% in 30 min (20W) • MagSafe 15W | USB-C 3 in Air/Pro (DisplayPort) • 50% in 20 min (40W charger) • MagSafe/Qi2 25W • reverse charging for accessories |
| Design & Materials | Aluminum frame (15) or titanium (Pro) • Dynamic Island • mute button (Pro: Action Button) | Aluminum unibody (better cooling) • Ceramic Shield 2 (3× more resistant) • Action Button in all models • new ultra-thin Air model (5.6 mm) |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6 (Pro: 6E), BT 5.3, UWB gen. 2 | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, BT 6 (LE Audio), UWB gen. 3, Thread (Smart Home), chip N1 (faster AirDrop/Hotspot) |
| Software | iOS 17 • StandBy, NameDrop, SOS satellite | iOS 26 • Apple Intelligence (AI offline), Live Translation, Visual Intelligence, Memory Integrity Enforcement |
| Variants and Prices | 15 / 15 Plus / 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max • from 128 GB • 15 from 4699 PLN | 17 / 17 Air / 17 Pro / 17 Pro Max • starting from 256 GB • 17 from 3999 PLN • new colors (lavender, cosmic orange) |
Design and Ergonomics
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 15 – what has changed in appearance and construction?
Switching from the iPhone 15 to the 17 starts with the first impression. The phone looks and feels different – more modern and more “fitted” to the hand.
Apple has narrowed the bezels by about 15%, so even the iPhone 17 Pro Max with a 6.9″ screen has almost the same dimensions as the 15 Pro Max with a 6.7″ screen. This means:
- Larger screen in the same body – perfect for watching videos and working on a split screen.
- More immersive experiences – fewer visible bezels mean more enjoyment from gaming and watching movies.
- More comfortable one-handed operation – despite the larger display, you don’t feel that the phone is less handy.
The Pro versions received a new unibody aluminum casing, which not only looks better than titanium in the 15 Pro, but also dissipates heat better.
In practice, this means less heating of the phone when recording video or during long gaming sessions.
The back is covered with matte glass with a new texture – less slippery and less prone to fingerprints.
New colors (lavender, cosmic orange) add freshness to the line and distinguish the phone from previous generations.
💡 Everyday difference: the iPhone 17 fits better in the hand, heats up less, and the Air model is record-thin and lightweight – ideal for those who previously chose the 15 Plus but would like something more portable.
Cameras and Video
The biggest leap in photo and video quality in years
This is where the generational leap is truly visible.
In the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, we had a main 48 MP camera and a 12 MP ultra-wide. The telephoto lens was missing, and zoom was done digitally.
The iPhone 17 introduces:
- two 48 MP cameras already in the base model – main and ultra-wide,
- full set of 48+48+48 MP in Pro and Pro Max – including a 4× 100 mm telephoto lens, with the ability to crop up to 8× without losing quality.
The effect in practice:
- ultra-wide photos are sharper and more detailed,
- zoom is suitable for photographing concerts, architecture, and distant objects,
- night mode is faster and provides brighter shots than in the 15.
The front camera now has 18 MP and Center Stage functionality – the frame follows you during video calls, which was previously reserved for the iPad.
Video:
- from 4K/60 in 15 you switch to 4K/120 in Dolby Vision,
- you can record in ProRes RAW 4K/60,
- you have the ability to synchronize multiple iPhones (Genlock) – a feature useful for video creators.
💡 Everyday difference: the 15 Pro offered ProRes, but without RAW and without 4K/120. The 17 Pro is practically a miniature film camera that can replace professional equipment in many scenarios.
Display
finally 120 Hz for everyone
This is the biggest “wow effect” when switching from the iPhone 15 or 15 Plus.
In the previous generation, only the Pro versions had ProMotion 120 Hz and Always-On Display.
Now:
- every iPhone 17 has an LTPO 1–120 Hz display,
- Always-On Display is available for everyone,
- brightness has increased to 3000 nits – 50% more than in the 15.
💡 Everyday difference: scrolling, animations, and games are ultra-smooth even in the base model. The display is readable in full sunlight, making it more convenient to use the phone outdoors than ever before.
🔋 Battery and Charging – realistically longer
Apple has increased the cells and optimized energy consumption thanks to the A19 and LTPO panels.
The effect:
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: up to 39 h of video playback (15 Pro Max – 29 h),
- iPhone 17 Pro: up to 33 h,
- iPhone 17 Air: about 27 h despite the thinnest construction.
Charging:
- 50% in 20 minutes using a 40 W charger,
- MagSafe/Qi2 up to 25 W – finally fast wireless charging,
- reverse charging for AirPods and Apple Watch.
💡 Everyday difference: the iPhone 15 needed to be charged almost daily. The iPhone 17 lasts up to 2 days without a charger under normal use.
⚡ Performance and Cooling – power without throttling
The iPhone 15 used A16 (15/Plus) or A17 Pro (Pro/Max).
In the 17, the entire line received A19/A19 Pro with AI accelerators.
In practice:
- apps open faster,
- video export is shorter by 20–30%,
- in AAA games, the phone maintains a stable framerate longer.
Thanks to the unibody casing and vapor chamber, the iPhone 17 Pro heats up less and does not throttle as quickly as the 15 Pro.
🌐 System and Software – iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence
The iPhone 15 launched with iOS 17, which performed most AI functions in the cloud.
The iPhone 17 introduces:
- Apple Intelligence offline – faster and more private operation,
- Live Translation – real-time conversation translation,
- Visual Intelligence – recognizes objects and text on the screen with one touch,
- Faster Siri, which understands context and operates locally.
💡 Everyday difference: less waiting and less dependence on the internet. The phone becomes more of a “smart assistant” than in the 15.
📶 Connectivity – faster and more stable
The iPhone 15 offered Wi-Fi 6/6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
The iPhone 17 transitions to:
- Wi-Fi 7 – more stable connection and lower latency,
- Bluetooth 6 with LE Audio – better sound quality and less lag in games,
- UWB gen. 3 – more accurate locating of AirTags and digital keys,
- Thread – faster smart home automation.
💡 Everyday difference: AirDrop is faster, Hotspot works more stably, and the smart home reacts instantly.
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