iPhone 17 review: chasing Pro-fection

The iPhone 17 is easily Apple’s best base iPhone in years. It gives you more than a couple of reasons to be the default iPhone choice from the new lineup. I say this knowing full well that the series also includes a pair of Pro models with new designs, a vapour chamber, and upgraded cameras. And I say this knowing that there’s a brand-new iPhone Air, which is Apple’s thinnest and lightest iPhone ever. It’s interesting that Apple has given people so much of what they’ve been asking for on the base iPhone, even if it might tempt buyers away from the pricier Pro models. But the fact remains: for most people, the iPhone 17 is the one to buy.

This probably isn’t the first iPhone 17 review you’ve read. So, I decided to write mine based on what you, our readers, wanted answered most in the polls from my first impressions article. Unsurprisingly, the display and camera upgrades drew the most attention, so let’s start there.

Pro-grade display at long last

For years, Apple reserved high-refresh-rate screens for its Pro models, while the base iPhones used 60Hz panels, even as mid-range Android phones had moved far ahead. With the iPhone 17, that finally changes. The switch to a 120Hz ProMotion display is instantly noticeable if you are coming from an older iPhone, and it immediately puts an end to one of the more common Android versus iPhone jabs. Scrolling through apps and pages at up to 120Hz feels so good that it will make you wonder why you were settling for less all these years. It was a long time coming, and it works beautifully now that it’s here.

The higher refresh rate makes scrolling and animations feel buttery smooth, making it easy for me to transition from the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which I have been using daily. Not only is the display smoother, but it is also slightly bigger and brighter this year. Apple has trimmed the bezels to increase the screen size from 6.1 to 6.3 inches without changing the overall footprint. The larger display without added bulk is instantly noticeable and very welcome.

Peak brightness has increased from 2000 nits to 3000 nits, improving visibility under harsh sunlight. In practice, you will not hit those numbers, as the display typically hovers around 1000 nits in everyday use, but I never found it lacking in brightness during my testing. Some Android phones still offer higher sustained peak brightness, but the iPhone 17’s display feels balanced, vivid, and reliable across lighting conditions.

Design-wise, the iPhone 17 looks nearly identical to the iPhone 16, whether viewed from a distance or up close. The only real indicators of change are the new Sage, Lavender, and Mist Blue finishes. The White variant I am reviewing makes it especially difficult to distinguish the two models, as does the Black colourway.

Several readers also asked about the in-hand feel, and I will say this: moving from the iPhone 16 Pro Max to the iPhone 17 has been refreshing. It is compact, comfortable to use one-handed, and does not strain the wrist after extended use. Despite being a few grams heavier than its predecessor, the iPhone 17 still feels light at 177 grams. In fact, this form factor paired with the larger 6.3-inch display has made me seriously consider not switching back to the Pro Max, and I am fine giving up that extra telephoto lens for it. You will see why in a bit.

Excellent portraits without a dedicated telephoto lens

The iPhone 17 features a 48MP Fusion primary camera and a 48MP Fusion ultra-wide sensor — a notable upgrade from the 12MP ultra-wide lens on the iPhone 16. This brings the base iPhone closer to the Pro models in imaging capability. Having two 48MP sensors also means more consistency in detail and colour between regular and wide-angle photos.

The primary camera captures excellent photos in both daylight and low-light conditions. The default 24MP shots retain plenty of detail and showcase accurate colour reproduction and contrast. You can switch to 48MP mode when you want extra detail, but it’s best reserved for specific scenes since those photos eat up storage. In low light, shots remain bright and usable, though lens flare can sometimes be a problem, especially with streetlights or reflections.

Remember when I said I was fine letting go of the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s telephoto lens for the iPhone 17? That’s because the iPhone 17 captures stunning portraits even without getting a dedicated telephoto lens. The 2x portraits rely on digital zoom, and the animal portraits below speak for themselves.

Portraits look great, with excellent subject separation, natural-looking background blur and accurate colours. Even close-up portraits retain fine detail at 12MP resolution. For someone like me, who prefers 2x portraits over long-zoom shots, I didn’t find myself missing the Pro Max’s telephoto lens at all.

Our readers wanted to know how much of an upgrade the iPhone 17’s cameras are over the iPhone 16. Here you go!

Daylight

The iPhone 17 captures more vibrant photos with better contrast and colour balance. The difference is especially visible in buildings and greenery, where the iPhone 16 looks slightly washed out.

Ultrawide

The new 48MP ultra-wide lens leans toward warmer tones, improving colours and contrast, though sharpness isn’t dramatically higher than the iPhone 16’s 12MP shooter. Lens flare persists in both cases.

Portrait

Both phones deliver good portraits, but the iPhone 17 edges ahead with improved subject separation and better facial definition when you zoom in.

Low-light

Both the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 capture very similar-looking low-light photos. They both capture images with decent clarity and low noise, but lack the sort of dynamic range offered by some Android rivals today.

Selfie

At first glance, selfies from both phones appear identical, too. But a closer inspection reveals that the iPhone 17’s images benefit from better contrast, white balance, and sharpness, thanks to the new 18MP sensor.

Upgraded front camera makes all the difference

The new 18MP front camera is one of the iPhone 17’s most underrated upgrades. Its square sensor is cleverly designed to capture full-resolution horizontal selfies even when holding the phone vertically. Pair this with Centre Stage, which automatically pans and zooms out as more people enter the frame, and you get an effortless group photo experience.

The selfie camera with Centre Stage is a quality-of-life improvement I didn’t know I needed.

I genuinely enjoyed using this camera more than any other selfie setup I’ve tried recently. The 18MP sensor captures sharper selfies with accurate skin tones and pleasing colours, improving on the iPhone 16’s already solid output. The seamless way Centre Stage switches from vertical to horizontal framing makes taking group selfies intuitive. No awkward horizontal holds or off-angle glances at the camera anymore. It’s a small but meaningful upgrade that makes the iPhone 17 feel smarter and more polished.

Near pro-grade chipset

The new A19 chipset powers the iPhone 17, while the Air and Pro models get the A19 Pro. But you are unlikely to notice a meaningful difference in performance between the base and Pro models in day-to-day use. The A19 is a 3nm chip that is both powerful and efficient, breezing through anything you throw at it. App load times are quick, animations are fluid, and I never experienced lag during my usage. A welcome upgrade this year is that the base model now starts with 256GB of storage, double what the iPhone 16 offered last year.

In benchmarks, the A19 holds its own. It performs nearly on par with the A19 Pro in AnTuTu, Geekbench, and GFXBench, even managing to edge past the iPhone Air’s A19 Pro on AnTuTu. Readers asked how it compares to the Snapdragon 8 Elite and MediaTek Dimensity 9400. While the A19 may not top those chips in raw benchmark scores, it remains one of the most balanced and well-optimised processors around. The iPhone 17 felt fast, fluid, and consistent, which is what matters in real-world use.

Even without a vapour chamber, the iPhone 17 stayed impressively cool during testing. It could be partly due to Delhi’s cooler weather at the moment (as of writing this review in mid-October), but even during extended gaming sessions, the device only warmed up slightly. In 30-minute sessions of Call of Duty Mobile, Real Racing 3, and BGMI, the phone’s temperature rose by just 2.2 degrees Celsius on average. Interestingly, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, despite having a vapour chamber, rose by 4.6 degrees Celsius under similar conditions.

I’ve spoken at great length about iOS 26 in my hands-on, which you can read to understand some of the biggest new features Apple’s latest software version brings. Liquid Glass is at the heart of this redesign, and it does take a little getting used to if you’re moving from iOS 18. Once you do, it feels quite good to look at in some places. Notifications can still be harder to read than before, but I like the clean and unified look of apps like Calls and Photos. Now, I found iOS 26 to be quite stable on the iPhone 17, with little to no app crashes or lag, but my colleague found it buggier while reviewing the iPhone Air.

Modest battery gains, better charging speeds

The iPhone 17 gets a slightly larger 3,692mAh battery compared to the 3,561mAh unit in the iPhone 16. These figures might look modest to Android users familiar with 5,000mAh or even 6,000mAh phones, but they are respectable for a compact iPhone. On a full charge, the iPhone 17 comfortably lasted a full day of use, ending with about 20 to 30 percent left and roughly 4 to 5 hours of screen-on time. That’s about the same endurance as the iPhone 16, suggesting that the extra capacity is being balanced out by the new 120Hz display and slightly larger screen.

What has improved, however, is charging speed. Apple claims the iPhone 17 series can charge up to 50 percent in 20 minutes, and in our tests using a 65W PD GaN charger, the phone went from 20 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. Charging slows down after that, taking around 1 hour and 10 minutes to reach 100 percent. It’s not the fastest charging phone out there, but it’s noticeably better than before and finally feels up to modern standards.

Verdict: The iPhone most people should buy

The iPhone 17 finally feels like the base model Apple should have delivered years ago. The 120Hz ProMotion display makes it as smooth and premium as its Pro siblings, the dual 48MP cameras deliver consistent results across lighting conditions, and the new 18MP selfie camera is genuinely delightful to use. The A19 chip continues Apple’s streak of class-leading performance, and despite only modest battery gains, efficiency remains solid with faster charging to sweeten the deal.

More importantly, the iPhone 17 doesn’t feel like a compromise anymore. It’s no longer the “entry-level” iPhone you buy because the Pro is too expensive. It’s the iPhone most people should buy. Unless you absolutely need a telephoto lens, titanium frame, or the Air’s ultra-thin profile, this is the most well-rounded iPhone for everyday users. If you’re using an iPhone 16 or older base model, the iPhone 17 is worth upgrading to.

Editor’s rating: 8.3 / 10

Reasons to buy:

• The 120Hz ProMotion display finally puts the base iPhone on par with flagship rivals.
• Both 48MP rear cameras produce sharp, consistent, and colour-accurate results, making it a versatile shooter across lighting conditions.
• The new 18MP selfie camera is a genuine upgrade, capturing sharper details and making group selfies effortless with Centre Stage.
• The A19 chipset offers reliable, sustained performance that handles gaming, multitasking, and daily use without breaking a sweat.

Reasons not to buy:

• Battery life, while dependable, hasn’t seen any real improvement over last year’s model.
• The cameras continue to struggle with lens flare in low-light scenarios.
• The design looks nearly identical to the iPhone 16, making it hard to tell the difference unless you pick one of the new colour options.