The wait for the iPhone 17 is over. Although it’s Apple’s new base-model handset, the latest version includes features previously preserved for pricier models, including a larger, always-on ProMotion (120Hz) screen. Plus, the front-facing camera got Center Stage and a resolution boost.
“iPhone 17 is a big upgrade with powerful features that make iPhone even more useful in your day-to-day life, from the bigger and brighter ProMotion display with 3x better scratch resistance, to all-day battery life with faster charging, the A19 chip for powerful performance, a fantastic 48MP Dual Fusion camera system, and the innovative Center Stage front camera — our best front camera yet,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing. “iPhone 17 is a fantastic choice for customers looking for the latest features and the confidence in knowing their iPhone is built to last.”
Both popular and overlooked
Apple’s base-model iPhone is always among its most popular, even though it never generates the kind of excitement that surrounds the Pro or Pro Max variants. The iPhone 17 isn’t likely to break that trend. It’s an upgrade from previous models, but without a redesign. Nevertheless, it brings in so many enhancements that it’s likely to end up in the pockets of millions around the world.
The launch came at Apple’s Awe Dropping event, which also included the debut of the super-slim iPhone Air as well as the redesigned iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max.
iPhone 17 screen: Larger, ProMotion and always-on
Perhaps the most noticeable change about the iPhone 17 is that the display grows to 6.3 inches, up from the 6.1-inch LCD in the iPhone 16. This is possible thanks to slimmer bezels, not by enlarging the whole chassis.
Even better, this is a ProMotion screen, so the refresh rate varies from 120Hz down to 10Hz, depending on what’s being viewed, from games to still images. Previous versions topped out at 60Hz.
Another feature previously reserved for iPhone Pro models is an always-on display. This makes glancing at the handset for the time or the latest notifications easy.
And iPhone 17 is the first with Ceramic Shield 2, a new Apple-designed coating for 3x better scratch resistance and improved anti-reflection to reduce glare. The display is also easier to see outside thanks to 3000 nits peak outdoor brightness — the highest ever on iPhone — and outdoor contrast is twice as good.
iPhone 17 is a selfie machine
Photo: Apple
Fans of selfies are going to love the iPhone 17. The front-facing camera is now 18MP, up from 12MP, so you can capture more details in pictures. Plus, it’s no longer necessary to rotate the iPhone to take a landscape selfie.
And the camera supports Center Stage, so the focus stays centered on the person taking the picture even as they move around. For group shots, Center Stage uses AI to automatically expand the field of view and can rotate from portrait to landscape to include everyone in the frame. This is a feature iPad users have enjoyed for years, and now it’s in the iPhone.
As for the main camera, the iPhone 17 features a 48MP Fusion Main camera, and this includes an integrated optical-quality 2x Telephoto.
Plus, a new 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera captures up to 4x the resolution than the previous generation. It’s intended for wider-angle shots and macro photography.
For storing all those images, the base model iPhone 17 comes with 256GB of capacity. That’s double the earlier model.
Better for Apple Intelligence
Chart: Apple
The iPhone 17 runs an Apple A19 processor, a jump up from the A18 in the 2024 handsets. Apple promises that the new chip is 20% faster than last year’s model, while it’s double the speed of an iPhone 13. The 5-core GPU is more than two times faster than the A15 Bionic. The amount of RAM has not yet been revealed .
For those upgrading from an older model, this could be their first with the Apple Intelligence suite of AI tools. These are fairly basic now, but Apple committed itself to an AI-enhanced version of Siri that’s expected in spring 2026, making the voice assistant considerably more useful. A recent iPhone will be required, though.
So colorful
Image: Apple
iPhone colors are critical to many buyers. Apple said Tuesday that the 2025 base-model comes in lavender, mist blue, sage, white or black.
Additional battery life
Apple doesn’t reveal the exact capacity of any iPhone battery. Instead, it says the iPhone 17 delivers up to 30 hours of video playback, or up to 27 hours if the video is streamed. For comparison, Apple also says the iPhone 16 offers up to 22 hours of video playback.
A new Adaptive Power Mode in iOS 26 is intended to intelligently conserve power by learning the user’s routine to help get them through their day.
With a a strong enough USB-C charger, the iPhone 17’s battery level can go up 50% in 20 minutes.
iPhone 17 launch date and price
The base model iPhone 17 price is $799, the same as all the earlier versions going back to the iPhone 14. That’s despite the storage capacity in the latest model increasing to 256GB.
Apple will start taking pre-orders on September 12 for the iPhone 17. The smartphone begins reaching customers and store shelves on September 19.
Pre-order from: Apple
It’s one of many products introduced during Tuesday’s Awe Dropping event, along with the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max.
Graphic: Apple
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
