iPhone 17

The iPhone 17 Is the Everyday Phone We've Been Waiting For

Honestly, the iPhone 17 feels like the phone Apple should have made last year. It's not flashy or revolutionary, but it's genuinely good at the things you actually do every day.

Let's talk about that display first because it's a real standout. Reviewers rave about the 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR screen with its 120Hz refresh rate making everything feel smooth and responsive. The contrast is noticeably improved, and the 3,000-nit peak brightness means you can actually see it when you're scrolling through Instagram at the park or checking messages during carpool. It's the kind of screen that makes you want to use your phone more, which sounds silly but matters.

The cameras are where this phone really shines for families. The new 48MP main camera and 48MP ultrawide capture sharp, naturally colored photos without you having to fiddle with settings. Reviewers specifically praise how it handles bright sunlight, keeping shadows and highlights balanced, and the portrait mode adds nice depth to those quick kid shots. The ultrawide is a huge upgrade from previous models, giving you way more flexibility for group photos. The only real miss is no telephoto camera, so if you love zooming in, you'll notice that.

Battery life is genuinely impressive. Reviewers report it lasting over a day with regular use and up to 30 hours of video playback. That means during a busy day of texts, photos, scrolling, and calls, you're not stressing about finding a charger. The faster 30W charging tops you up in about an hour, which is convenient when you need a quick boost.

What I appreciate about the design is how it balances premium feel with practicality. The matte finish looks great and doesn't show fingerprints like glossy phones do. It's compact and comfortable to hold. The IP68 rating means it survives splashes and spills, which if you have kids, is basically essential.

Now the real talk: this doesn't feel like a huge leap from the iPhone 16. The design is basically the same, and while that's not necessarily bad, you're not getting a "wow" moment. Apple Intelligence is still kind of half-baked and doesn't feel as integrated as competitors are doing it. And honestly, the USB-C port being stuck at USB 2.0 speeds feels cheap when the Pro models get USB 3.0.

But here's the thing: at $829, you're getting a phone that looks beautiful, takes gorgeous photos, lasts all day, and feels premium without costing a thousand dollars. For busy people who just want something that works reliably and doesn't require a tech degree to use, that's actually perfect.

A Competent Upgrade That Doesn't Justify the Price

The iPhone 17 is a textbook case of iterative improvement masquerading as innovation. Apple has made genuine gains in three areas: battery endurance, display quality, and camera resolution. But the business case for upgrading from the iPhone 16 is weak, and the software story actively works against the hardware.

Let's start with what works. Battery life is legitimately impressive. PCMag measured 24 hours and 31 minutes under video streaming, while What Hi-Fi reports up to 30 hours of video playback. That's the kind of all-day performance you can actually rely on, and the 30W wired charging reaching full battery in one hour is convenient. CNET confirms this isn't a fluke, noting the device lasts over a day with regular use. This is the phone's strongest technical achievement.

The display is also worth attention. The 1-120Hz ProMotion with 3,000-nit peak brightness and variable refresh rate delivers genuine visual improvements over the iPhone 16. What Hi-Fi specifically highlights improved contrast and sharper images, with balanced yet rich colors. This is a pro-level screen at a non-pro price, which matters.

Here's where the problems start. The dual 48MP camera system is a resolution upgrade, not a capability upgrade. You get sharper images and the ultrawide now matches the main camera in megapixel count, which is fine. But the complete absence of telephoto on a flagship phone is inexcusable. Apple's offering a 2x portrait mode through digital cropping, but that's not a substitute for optical zoom. The iPhone 16 had this problem too, and it's still a problem here.

The real issue is Apple Intelligence. Multiple reviewers describe it as "half-baked" and "a work in progress." What Hi-Fi notes it lacks the integration seen in competitors' offerings. At $829, you're paying flagship prices for software features that feel like beta releases. Samsung and Google have moved faster here, and it shows.

Design-wise, there's almost nothing new. The matte finish and compact form factor are fine, but this is now the second year with minimal visual changes. The industrial design feels stale. Meanwhile, Apple still ships with USB 2.0 speeds on the port, which is unforgivable when Pro models offer USB 3.0. That's a cost-cutting measure that's visible to anyone who tries to transfer data.

The pricing math doesn't work either. The iPhone 16 remains available at lower cost, and the feature differences don't justify the $100+ gap. CNET calls this the "best value among iPhone 17 models," but that's a low bar when the entire lineup is expensive. At $829, you're competing directly with the Galaxy S25 and Pixel 10, both of which offer better AI integration and more thoughtful feature sets.

Bottom line: the iPhone 17 is a competent phone that improves on its predecessor in measurable ways. Battery life is excellent, the display is genuinely good, and performance is solid. But the lack of design evolution, incomplete software features, and missing telephoto make this feel like a phone that's coasting on brand loyalty rather than pushing forward. It's a good phone for people already committed to Apple. For everyone else, the upgrade math is unconvincing.