The iPhone 17: An Affordable and Compelling Choice
The iPhone 17 stands out as the most budget-friendly option among the four new iPhones Apple unveiled during the “Awe Dropping” event in September 2025. Its apparent simplicity makes it particularly fascinating. Contrary to first impressions, especially in a comparison with the iPhone Air that I detailed earlier, this device may actually represent the most suitable new iPhone for the average user. It combines a reasonable price with an array of impressive new features, such as a 120Hz ProMotion display, and includes many functionalities typically found in premium models. Here’s an in-depth look at the iPhone 17 and reasons to consider upgrading.
Body, Display, and Weight of iPhone 17
Credit: Apple
In terms of color, the iPhone 17 offers the most options among the four models released in September 2025. Customers can select from five vibrant finishes: Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White, and Black.
Equipped with a 120Hz ProMotion display, smooth navigation and animations enhance the user experience. This feature, previously exclusive to higher-tier Pro models, now extends to the iPhone 17. Whether gaming or streaming, users can enjoy this advanced display technology while also experiencing battery conservation with the ability to reduce the refresh rate to 1Hz during idle periods.
Furthermore, the iPhone 17 boasts a more expansive 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display utilizing Ceramic Shield 2 for better scratch resistance. The addition of 1Hz support enhances compatibility with Apple’s Always-On Display, allowing users to quickly glance at the time without activating the main screen.
Apple asserts that the device is water-resistant up to 6 meters for a duration of 30 minutes, meaning it can endure accidental drops into water without damage if confined to these limits.
It weighs in at a modest 6.24 ounces (177 grams), making it heavier than the iPhone Air (5.82 ounces or 165 grams) but still lightweight and manageable.
Processor of the iPhone 17
Credit: Apple
Powered by Apple’s latest A19 chip, the iPhone 17 is unique in using this processor among the new launches, while the other models feature the A19 Pro chip. The A19 processor includes a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU, complemented by Neural Accelerators. According to preliminary Geekbench scores, performance benchmarks suggest improvements of 7 to 8 percent over the previous A18 chip found in the iPhone 16. It is purported that this model comes with 8GB of RAM, although Apple does not disclose RAM specs publicly; convenient benchmarking tools often provide a clear indication of such specifications.
This model can manage two eSIMs and lacks physical SIM slots in the US; however, other regions like India include one physical SIM slot along with an eSIM. In contrast, in China, it is offered with dual physical SIM slots without eSIM support.
Cameras of the iPhone 17
Credit: Apple
The iPhone 17 incorporates a dual rear camera system alongside a Center Stage front camera. A notable feature is the ability to snap landscape selfies without tilting your phone. The front camera is equipped with an 18-megapixel sensor and utilizes AI to enhance framing for group shots, providing both portrait and landscape options.
On the rear, the phone boasts a sophisticated dual camera setup consisting of a 48-megapixel main camera and another 48-megapixel ultrawide lens. This allows for versatility in capturing images in 0.5x, 1x, and 2x modes. Additionally, iPhone 17 supports Dual Capture, enabling simultaneous video recording from both front and back cameras while also catering to macro photography and Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60fps.
Battery Life of the iPhone 17
Credit: Apple
The battery life is designed to meet daily needs comfortably, with Apple claiming it can deliver up to 30 hours of continuous video playback. This surpasses the endurance of the iPhone Air and the iPhone 16 Plus, both rated at 27 hours. Users can conveniently utilize Apple’s MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging capabilities; a 30W or higher adapter allows the phone to charge from 0 to 50% in just 30 minutes, while a 40W adapter provides a kickstart to 50% within 20 minutes.
Although the device now features a USB-C port, it is limited to USB 2 standards, which means slower data transfer rates compared to the iPhone 17 Pro, notably faster with USB 3 capabilities offering speeds of up to 10Gb/s.
A Smart Choice at an Attractive Price
Credit: Apple
Overall, the iPhone 17 presents itself as a substantial improvement featuring enhanced display, battery life, and camera quality. Though it does not revolutionize the iPhone experience, it remains an impressive choice for anyone upgrading from an earlier device. Users currently satisfied with their iPhone 16 may continue to use their phones for some time, but those with older models like the iPhone 12 Pro Max or any device from the iPhone 15 series would find the iPhone 17 an appealing upgrade.
With a price tag of $799 for the 256GB model, the value proposition of the iPhone 17 is impressive considering its array of features. For those in need of more storage, the 512GB variant is available for $999, ensuring ample room for all essentials.
