When Apple releases a new iPhone, the big question is always the same. Is it actually better, or is it just a small refresh? With the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro, the differences are not dramatic on paper, but real-world use tells a more interesting story.
This comparison focuses on performance, heat management, battery behavior, and how these phones hold up when you actually push them.
Raw Performance Differences
Both phones are fast. There is no getting around that. Everyday tasks like messaging, browsing, and social media feel identical on the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro.
The difference shows up when you start stressing the phone. Things like recording long video clips, exporting footage, or running demanding apps back to back reveal a small but noticeable edge for the iPhone 17 Pro.
Apps load slightly quicker, and the phone feels more responsive under sustained use.
Heat and Thermal Management
Heat has been a concern with recent iPhones, especially for video shooters and creators. This is one area where the iPhone 17 Pro shows improvement.
During extended recording sessions, the 17 Pro stays cooler for longer. It still gets warm, but it takes more time to reach uncomfortable temperatures. The iPhone 16 Pro heats up faster when pushed hard, especially during 4K video recording or long camera sessions.
This matters if you use your phone professionally or rely on it for long shoots.
Battery Behavior Under Load
Battery life between the two phones is similar during light use. Texting, calls, and casual browsing do not show much difference.
Under heavy use, the iPhone 17 Pro pulls ahead. When recording video, navigating, and multitasking throughout the day, the 17 Pro drains more slowly and maintains performance better as the battery drops.
It is not a massive improvement, but it is consistent.
Camera Performance in Real Use
Image quality between the two phones is very close. Photos look sharp, colors are accurate, and Apple’s processing is still strong on both devices.
The difference comes in consistency. The iPhone 17 Pro handles challenging lighting a bit better, especially during longer video clips. Stabilization feels more reliable, and exposure changes are smoother.
For quick clips, social content, or professional backup footage, the 17 Pro is more dependable.
Everyday Experience
If you are using your phone casually, you may not notice much difference between these two models. The iPhone 16 Pro is still an excellent device and feels fast in almost every scenario.
If you regularly push your phone with video work, long recordings, or demanding apps, the iPhone 17 Pro feels more stable and better optimized.
This is a refinement upgrade, not a revolution.
Which One Should You Choose?
If you already own an iPhone 16 Pro, upgrading to the iPhone 17 Pro is not essential. The improvements are real, but they are incremental.
If you are upgrading from an older phone, or if you frequently deal with heat, battery drain, or performance slowdowns, the iPhone 17 Pro is the better long-term choice.
Final Verdict
Apple focused on polish with the iPhone 17 Pro. Better thermal management, slightly improved performance under load, and more consistent camera behavior make it the best version of this design so far.
The iPhone 16 Pro is still a great phone. The iPhone 17 Pro is simply more reliable when it matters most.
The iPhone 17 Pro is a major jump in video quality in three of the areas filmmakers care about most. Compared to the iPhone 15 and 16 Pro, this easily becomes the best iPhone Apple has ever made for video.
In this post, I’m reviewing the iPhone 17 Pro specifically from the perspective of a working filmmaker who regularly uses an iPhone for both personal and professional video work. I’ll walk through the most important video upgrades Apple made and help you decide if it’s worth upgrading.
For transparency, this is not sponsored by Apple. I purchased this iPhone myself. This video is sponsored by my color presets, which work especially well with Apple Log footage and are linked below.
ProRes RAW Comes to iPhone
The biggest and most surprising upgrade to the iPhone 17 Pro is the addition of ProRes RAW video recording. This change affects nearly every other aspect of the camera system.
Since the iPhone 14, Apple has supported ProRes video. The iPhone 15 added Apple Log. Now, with the 17 Pro and Pro Max, Apple finally supports ProRes RAW.
Until recently, ProRes RAW was mostly limited to cameras recording externally to supported monitors. That limitation largely existed because RED held patents around internal RAW recording. After Nikon acquired RED in 2024, we started seeing more devices support internal or semi-internal RAW recording, and now the iPhone joins that list.
Technically, the iPhone 17 Pro cannot record ProRes RAW internally. You must record to an external SSD. While that may sound disappointing, it makes sense. ProRes RAW files are massive.
You’re looking at over 6GB per minute of footage. Even with a 2TB iPhone, internal recording would fill up shockingly fast. External SSD recording is the only practical option here.
ProRes RAW Quirks You Should Know About
When recording ProRes RAW, there are a few details worth keeping in mind.
First, while the Blackmagic Camera app reports 4K recording, it is actually capturing video in a 17:9 aspect ratio at 4224×2240. That’s slightly wider than standard 16:9 UHD.
Second, ProRes RAW maxes out at 4K 60fps. There is no 120fps option.
These quirks aren’t unusual. Many cameras that support ProRes RAW have specific resolution, aspect ratio, and frame rate limitations. Just plan for them when filming.
Apple Log 2 and Open Gate Recording
Alongside ProRes RAW, Apple announced Final Cut Camera 2.0, which introduces Open Gate recording and a new log profile called Apple Log 2.
Apple Log 2 offers a wider color space and improved flexibility when color grading. It is only available on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
While Final Cut Camera 2.0 was not available at launch, the Blackmagic Camera app already supports both Open Gate and Apple Log 2.
Open Gate recording captures the full sensor in a 4:3 aspect ratio at 4032×3024. This is incredibly useful if you want to create both horizontal and vertical video from the same clip.
There are two downsides to Open Gate recording.
First, image stabilization is disabled. Since the phone is using the entire sensor, it no longer has extra pixels available for digital stabilization. You’ll want to use a tripod or stabilize in post.
Second, the Blackmagic Camera app does not currently allow Open Gate recording in Apple Log. You’re limited to Rec.709, which reduces grading flexibility. Hopefully, this is fixed in a future update.
Main Camera Image Quality
The main 48MP camera is unchanged from the iPhone 15 and 16 Pro. It uses the same sensor and lens coatings.
That means it still suffers from small but noticeable lens flares in darker environments or when filming into the sun. This remains my biggest complaint and something I hope Apple addresses in the iPhone 18.
That said, overall image quality is excellent. ProRes RAW does not magically add dynamic range, but it makes it easier to extract the maximum dynamic range the sensor already has.
This is especially useful when matching iPhone footage with cameras like the FX3, Z8, or ZR.
Why This Matters for Filmmakers
It’s wild how far iPhones have come!
Large cameras are often restricted in public spaces, concerts, museums, and venues that require media credentials. Meanwhile, the phone in your pocket can now record ProRes RAW and log video.
Apple already films many of its events on iPhone, and reports suggest more Apple TV productions are being filmed this way as well.
These phones won’t replace cinema cameras, but for run-and-gun filmmakers, they are becoming increasingly powerful tools.
Major Upgrade to the Front Camera
The selfie camera receives one of the biggest upgrades in years.
Apple finally replaced the aging 12MP sensor with a new 18MP square sensor. This allows the front camera to record both vertical and horizontal video without rotating the phone.
Holding the phone vertically while recording horizontal video feels strange at first, but it works incredibly well.
Video quality is noticeably improved. In the past, I avoided the front camera whenever possible. Now, I feel confident using it, even for professional content.
The larger sensor also improves stabilization, making handheld selfie footage look smoother while walking.
Dual Camera Recording Has Potential
The iPhone 17 Pro introduces the ability to record from the front and back cameras simultaneously.
This is useful for reaction-style videos and could be powerful for product reviews or behind-the-scenes content.
However, Apple currently bakes both angles into a single video file. Unlike Samsung, it does not record two separate clips.
A true pro mode with separate files would make this feature far more useful in editing.
Telephoto Camera Gets a Huge Upgrade
The third major video upgrade is the telephoto camera.
Apple upgraded it from 12MP to 48MP and increased the sensor size by 56 percent. This dramatically improves low-light performance, which was a major weakness on previous models.
The telephoto lens shifts from 5x (120mm equivalent) to 4x (100mm equivalent). Thanks to the higher resolution, you can digitally crop to a 200mm equivalent when needed.
Personally, I find the 4x focal length far more usable than the old 5x. It feels more versatile and easier to work with.
Bonus Filmmaker Features
There are several smaller upgrades filmmakers will appreciate.
The new vapor chamber cooling and aluminum body help manage heat much better. In my testing, I was unable to trigger screen dimming due to overheating, even outdoors.
Screen brightness increases to 3000 nits, up from 2000 on the iPhone 16 Pro. Combined with improved anti-reflective coating, outdoor visibility is noticeably better.
The iPhone 17 Pro also adds Genlock and Timecode support. These are niche but powerful tools for multi-camera workflows, video walls, and advanced productions.
To use Genlock and Timecode, Blackmagic is releasing a Camera ProDock that adds HDMI monitoring, audio inputs, SSD support, power, and sync ports. Once it’s available, I’ll be testing it extensively.
Final Thoughts on the iPhone 17 Pro for Video
The iPhone 17 Pro delivers three major video upgrades: ProRes RAW, a dramatically improved selfie camera, and a vastly better telephoto lens.
Add in Open Gate recording, better cooling, brighter displays, and pro-level sync tools, and this is the most filmmaker-focused iPhone Apple has ever made.
Oh, and if you like the colors in the video above, it was graded with my color presets.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next one.
What I Loved, What I Hated, and What I Want From the iPhone 17
After using the iPhone 16 Pro for a full year and filming everything from family moments to sponsored videos, I want to share my honest thoughts on its camera. What did I love? What drove me a little nuts? And what changes am I hoping Apple makes with the iPhone 17?
Alright, let’s get into it.
What I Loved About the iPhone 16 Pro Camera
The biggest win for me is Apple Log.
Yes, Apple Log technically debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro, but it absolutely deserves to be talked about again. Using Apple Log has been a genuinely huge upgrade for me as a filmmaker, and not for the reason you might expect.
It is not just about dynamic range or having more flexibility in color grading. The real magic of Apple Log is that it backs off the aggressive sharpening Apple usually applies to iPhone footage.
That sharpening looks fine on a phone screen, but the second you bring the footage onto a computer, it screams “shot on a phone.” Apple Log fixes that.
The image quality from the iPhone 16 Pro suddenly looks much closer to what you would expect from a mirrorless camera with a larger sensor. It mixes surprisingly well with footage from other cameras without instantly giving itself away. That alone has made me far more comfortable using the iPhone as a serious filmmaking tool.
The Biggest Ongoing Issue: Lens Reflections
That said, there is still room for improvement.
One of the biggest long standing issues with iPhone cameras is lens reflections, especially when filming at night. If you are shooting lights in a dark environment, you will often see tiny reflections and ghosting artifacts in the footage.
Once you notice them, you cannot unsee them, and they are a dead giveaway that the footage came from a phone.
I have watched reviews of Android phones that seem to handle this much better, and I would really love to see Apple reduce these reflections on the iPhone 17 Pro.
Image Quality Across the Lenses
Overall image quality from the main camera is very good. The 10 bit 4K footage looks fantastic and usually holds up well, even in lower light situations.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for all of the lenses.
The ultra wide camera is decent and I do use it fairly often when I want a wider shot. However, once the light drops, it starts to struggle.
The telephoto lens is worse. In low light, it gets noisy very quickly, and zooming in only makes it more obvious. Because of this, I avoid using the telephoto lens unless I am filming in bright daylight. It is a bit of a bummer and really limits when that lens feels usable.
The Front Camera Is Still Behind
The front facing camera has been fine for a while now, especially since Apple upgraded it to 4K. But it still does not come close to matching the quality of the rear cameras.
This is why we are now seeing MagSafe monitors that let you frame yourself while using the back camera. It is a clever workaround, but it also highlights the problem.
I film myself a lot. While the front camera works for Instagram and TikTok, I do not love using it for YouTube. If Apple improved the selfie camera, I would use it far more often.
In a perfect world, Apple would use the same sensor across all cameras and simply pair it with different lenses. They have moved everything toward 48 megapixels, but I am not convinced all of the sensors are truly equal yet. If they were, overall image quality would be much more consistent.
The Camera Control Button: Big Miss
Now we need to talk about the biggest negative by far.
The camera control button.
This was hyped as a massive upgrade to how we use the iPhone camera. After a few weeks, I completely disabled it.
The reason is simple. I kept accidentally pressing it when picking up my phone. The placement is awkward, right around the middle of the device. Grab the phone too low and the camera opens. Because the button is recessed, you often do not even realize you are pressing it until it is already happened.
I have heard plenty of people complain about this, and I agree with them. It feels more like a nuisance than a helpful tool.
Apple talked a lot about future software updates expanding what this button could do, but that never really materialized. Much like Apple Intelligence, it sounded better on paper than it worked in reality. Disabling it made my experience with the phone noticeably better.
The idea is fine. The execution needs a serious rethink, especially the placement.
Software Features I Still Want
There are also several software improvements I would love to see.
First, more control over Apple Log. I would love the option to use Apple Log with the H.265 codec instead of being locked to ProRes. Third party apps like the Blackmagic Camera app already do this.
Second, let us use LUTs in the native camera app. At the very least, give us LUT previews when filming in Apple Log. Even better would be the option to bake them in. And yes, my Apple Log LUTs are linked in the description.
Third, expand Apple Log to more modes. Let us shoot time lapses in Apple Log. And why can we not use cinematic mode with Apple Log? If Apple is already adding artificial bokeh, give us log too. I would use cinematic mode far more often.
Looking Ahead to the iPhone 17 Pro
At the time of writing, the iPhone 17 Pro has not been announced. I would not be surprised if Apple pushes resolution to 6K or even 8K.
As someone who has been filming more in 6K, I can appreciate that. But if it is locked to ProRes, the file sizes are going to be massive. They are already huge in 4K.
Personally, I would rather see Apple focus on improving lens quality and reducing reflections before chasing higher resolutions.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I have been happy with the iPhone 16 Pro, mostly because of the image quality made possible by Apple Log.
That said, many of those gains already arrived with the iPhone 15 Pro. USB-C, external SSD recording, and Apple Log were massive upgrades. The iPhone 16 Pro’s main addition, camera control, feels pretty underwhelming by comparison.
If I could go back, I could have easily stuck with the iPhone 15 Pro without losing much in terms of video quality. But then I would not be making this post, so here we are.
Here is hoping the iPhone 17 Pro brings more meaningful improvements for filmmakers.
Remember, you can download my color presets that work great with Apple Log to get vibrant, true to life colors with just one click.
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