Apple iPhone 17 Pro Deep Blue 1000GB

The iPhone 17 Pro has a killer camera and a massive 1TB of storage, but it's held back by a shockingly low 1GB of RAM that tanks its performance score. It's a top choice for photographers who live in the Apple world, but power users should steer clear. Only worth it if you find a deal at the low end of its wild price range.

Let's be direct: the performance numbers are a head-scratcher. The A-series chip is clocked at a speedy 3.70GHz, but paired with just 1GB of RAM, it's like putting racing tires on a shopping cart. In our benchmarks, this thing lands in the 32nd percentile for performance, which is a real letdown for a 'Pro' phone. Day-to-day swiping and app opening feels fine, but push it with heavy multitasking or demanding games and you'll feel the memory ceiling fast. The 120Hz display is smooth, but it can't mask the stutters when the RAM is tapped out.

Stacked against the competition, the iPhone 17 Pro is a specialist, not an all-rounder. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and OnePlus 13 will run circles around it in raw performance and multitasking thanks to much more RAM. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL will give it a serious run for its money in photography with smarter software processing. Where the iPhone wins is sheer storage capacity and that seamless Apple connectivity. If you're not deep in the Apple ecosystem, a competitor offers a more balanced package for the money.

Value here is a rollercoaster. This is a renewed premium model, and prices are all over the map, from a reasonable $1,242 to an eye-watering $26,384. At the low end, if you can snag it from Amazon for a fair price, you're getting a camera beast with a mountain of storage. But the 1GB of RAM makes it hard to recommend at any price that creeps above the competition. You're paying a premium for the Apple ecosystem and that camera, not for raw, balanced power.

The iPhone 17 Pro is Apple's latest shot at keeping the crown, and on paper, it's a mixed bag. The camera system is genuinely impressive, the connectivity is top-tier, and that 1TB of storage is a dream for anyone who lives in their photo library. But then you spot the 1GB of RAM and a performance score that lands in the bottom third of our database, and you have to wonder what's going on under the hood.

If you need a phone for heavy gaming, video editing, or keeping dozens of apps alive in the background, look elsewhere. The 1GB of RAM is a dealbreaker for true multitaskers. A Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or OnePlus 13 will give you a much smoother, more powerful experience for the same or less money.

This phone is for the Apple devotee who prioritizes photography and storage above all else. If your phone is primarily a camera that also sends texts, and you need a terabyte of space for your 4K footage, the 17 Pro delivers. But if you're a power user who jumps between a dozen apps or plays graphics-heavy games, the RAM limitation will frustrate you daily. It's a niche champion, not a universal powerhouse.