Apple put an always-on screen in the iPhone 17 and improved the display’s refresh rate to 120 Hz. Plus, the selfie cam got a brilliant new feature. There are plenty of other enhancements too — including double the storage capacity! — which all combine to make Apple’s new base-model iPhone a welcome upgrade for those ready to move up from an aging device.
This is the first time I’ve regularly used a basic iOS model in almost a decade. I’m impressed with what Apple offers for $799. It’s really made me question the need for a Pro model. Here’s why.
![Screen and camera upgrades make iPhone 17 Apple’s best base model ever [Review] ★★★★★ iPhone 17 review](https://www.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/iPhone-17-review-1020x574.jpg)
September 20, 1989: Apple releases the Macintosh Portable, the first battery-powered Mac you could take on the road.
![Super-solid Uplift Standing Desk V3 makes all the difference [Review] ★★★★★ Uplift Standing Desk V3 review](https://www.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/UpLift-Standing-Desk-V3-with-setup-1020x765.jpg)
September 19, 2014: The iPhone undergoes its biggest upgrade — both figuratively and literally — since the original, with the release date of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handsets. The iPhone 6 design brings a new 4.7-inch form factor, while the iPhone 6 Plus expands to a massive 5.5 inches.
September 18, 2013: iOS 7 launches with a radical redesign that divides the tech world. The biggest overhaul Apple’s mobile operating system has seen in years, iOS 7 ditches the skeuomorphic objects, dials and textures of previous iterations.
September 17, 2012: On the back of
September 16, 1985 and 1997: Twice on this day, Apple co-founder