Pros
Upgraded 1-120Hz display
New camera features
Longer battery life
Faster charging
Cons
Minimal design updates to last year
Apple Intelligence can still feel like a work in progress
For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been carrying two phones: the iPhone 17 and the iPhone Air. And while the latter has drummed up more fanfare among my curious friends and colleagues, it’s the iPhone 17 that strikes me as the more all-encompassing device, ticking the key boxes without costing a fortune — at least compared with the rest of Apple’s new lineup.
It’s easy to overlook the iPhone 17, especially in a year when the ultra-slim iPhone Air and vivid orange iPhone 17 Pro have stolen the spotlight. But advancements in the iPhone 17’s display, cameras and battery have helped this entry-level device feel like it’s narrowing the chasm separating it from its pricey Pro counterparts. These subtle upgrades add up to notable improvements that make the baseline model well worth your attention.
Watch this: iPhone Air Review: A Joy to Hold, at a Cost
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The iPhone 17 starts at $829 (or $799 if you activate with a carrier), which means there hasn’t been a price increase over last year’s model. In fact, you’re technically getting more bang for your buck with the iPhone 17 since it starts with a higher 256GB storage option, replacing the 128GB starting point on the iPhone 16.
Here’s how the iPhone 17 held up over several days of my scrolling, snapping and yapping (I’m getting that trademarked). The phone is available to buy now, and you can also check out my in-depth review of the $999 iPhone Air.
At last: 120Hz displays on the baseline iPhones.
CNET
iPhone 17 (finally) gets big display upgrades
The design updates this year are (once again) minimal. Despite the similar appearance of the iPhone 17 and 16, the newer model has a slightly larger frame and a 6.3-inch display, compared with the 6.1-inch display on last year’s phone. The bezels are impressively thin, especially when compared with a phone like the Google Pixel 10, which helps content viewing feel more immersive.
I’ve never been more excited about the arrival of a 1-120Hz display, but I audibly exclaimed “Yes, finally!” when Apple announced it’s extending that functionality to its non-Pro phones. At long last, I can enable the always-on display on a baseline iPhone and peer at the time and my notifications without waking the screen. It’s a feature I frequently use to check on my arriving DoorDash orders or Uber rides, and to quickly see if I’ve missed any calls or texts. Better late than never, I suppose.
The iPhone 17 also gets a higher 3,000-nit peak brightness and an anti-reflective coating that makes it easier to see in the bright outdoors. I didn’t have any issues looking at my screen even in the glaring sunlight.
Altogether, these display upgrades help the iPhone 17 feel less like a step down from the top-of-the-line iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max and bring it on par with its baseline counterparts that have long featured that adaptive refresh rate, like the Google Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S25.
Here is the iPhone 17 in sage (left) and lavender.
CNET
iPhone 17 is more durable — and colorful
The iPhone 17’s aluminum frame has a satisfying matte texture. It carries over the color on the phone’s back glass all along the sides for a cohesive appearance. I have the iPhone 17 in lavender, which may be one of my favorite hues of any phone I’ve used. It’s a gentle shade that’s easy on the eyes, with a cloudy-white soft undertone. I checked out the other colors — black, white, sage and mist blue — at Apple Park during the fall iPhone event, and each was just as pleasing to the eye.
A Ceramic Shield 2 display offers three times better scratch resistance, according to Apple. That’s welcome news for me, as I somehow have a tendency to etch into my phones’ displays. So far, though, I’m happy to report no scuffs or scratches, even without a case or screen protector.
One key advantage the iPhone 17 has over the pricier iPhone Air is its dual-speaker system, which delivers more balanced sound. The Air, by contrast, has just a single top speaker, which can make for a somewhat lopsided listening experience. It’s one way the baseline model outshines the flashier Air, and one reason why I prefer reaching for the iPhone 17 when I want to watch something, despite the slightly smaller display.
But, as per usual, the iPhone 17 packs a less powerful processor than its counterparts: an A19 chip, rather than the A19 Pro on the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. In my experience, that hasn’t led to any noticeable differences in how videos or games look on the baseline 17 versus the iPhone Air.
Benchmark tests for the CPU in Geekbench 6 place the iPhone 17 above the iPhone 16 Pro Max, as well as the full iPhone 15 lineup. In a graphics test using 3DMark’s Wild Life Extreme, the iPhone 17 exceeded the performance of the entire iPhone 16 series, but was topped by the Galaxy S25 lineup.
Check out the graphs below for more specifics. (It’s worth noting that these scores are largely indicative of future performance and longevity.)
Geekbench v.6.0
Apple iPhone 17 3,612 9,180Apple iPhone Air 3,554 9,057Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 3,450 8,460Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 2,947 7,364Samsung Galaxy S25 2,999 9,604Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 3,053 9,707
Note: Longer bars indicate better performance
3DMark Wild Life Extreme
Apple iPhone 17 4,885Apple iPhone Air 4,295Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 4,547Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 4,193Samsung Galaxy S25 6,496Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 6,950
Note: Longer bars indicate better performance
iOS 26 brings more customization
The iPhone 17 comes with iOS 26 on board, which includes the new Liquid Glass design. After a bit of adjustment, I’ve grown fond of how clean the interface looks. The more translucent controls let you see more content across the screen. You can go all-in on the new look and make your app icons clear as well, but that’s a step too far for me.
Group texts get an upgrade with the option to add fun backgrounds, and you can conduct polls to simplify planning hangouts. Old habits die hard, though, and it may take some time for me and all my friends to remember there’s an easier way to decide where to grab dinner.
It’s a minor detail, but I’m enjoying the option to expand the height of the time on the lock screen and watch it squish as notifications roll in. The Spatial Scene setting gives your wallpaper a three-dimensional effect as you move your phone — so my Hogwarts lock screen looks a little more alive.
I don’t often find myself on calls or text threads with people who don’t speak languages I know, but if the need arises, especially during travels, Live Translation will automatically translate what someone is saying over voice calling, FaceTime and iMessage. There’s a slight lag when I use the automated voice translation on calls, and it can be a bit awkward to hear it speak over the person on the other line, but it’s still a neat capability. The feature isn’t quite as advanced as a similar capability on the Pixel 10, which uses AI to mimic the speaker’s voice.
And while I’m still bummed Google’s Circle to Search has yet to arrive on iPhones, an update to Apple’s Visual Intelligence feature introduces a similar capability. When you take a screenshot, you can now ask ChatGPT for more information about what’s on your screen, or you can squiggle on something to see relevant links and more information from platforms such as Google, Etsy and Poshmark.
I’m glad there’s a feature on the iPhone that’s somewhat reminiscent of Circle to Search, but it’s still not as intuitive. It seems odd to have to take a screenshot to learn more about something in a social media post, rather than simply holding down the home button to trigger Circle to Search. Plus, there are one too many steps to save a screenshot, now that iOS 26 defaults to also having you tick a box in a new preview screen to add something to your Photos. (I took the liberty of going into Settings > General > Screen Capture and turning off Full-Screen Previews, so I can go back to the old ways of saving screenshots instantaneously.)
The iPhone 17 has a wide and ultrawide camera, which are both 48 megapixels.
Abrar Al-Heeti/Zooey Liao/CNET
iPhone 17 camera gets sharper
Unlike the iPhone Air’s solo rear camera, the iPhone 17 packs two rear cameras: a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 48-megapixel ultrawide. That’s an upgrade over the 12-megapixel ultrawide camera on the iPhone 16. It’s interesting to have more photo-taking flexibility on a less expensive iPhone model, since the iPhone Air can’t take 0.5x photos or Cinematic mode videos. It’s another way this baseline device makes a case for itself.
The lack of a telephoto camera on the baseline iPhone is to be expected, though Google adding one to the entry-level Pixel 10 now has me adding that to my “dream big” iPhone wish list. (Anything’s possible, right?)
There’s a nice amount of detail in the bricks and carved wooden door.
Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
The many greens of Filoli gardens in Woodside, California, come alive in this shot. This was taken at noon when the sun was working its hardest, but the shadows and highlights are well-balanced.
Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
I love taking 2x portrait shots to add a little depth and added focus.
Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
This portrait photo does a great job showing all the details and twisting lines in this tree.
Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
The iPhone 17’s ultrawide camera at work in this 0.5x shot.
Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
A standard 1x image.
Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
And here, the piano takes center stage at 2x zoom. Like the iPhone Air, the iPhone 17 takes 12-megapixel 2x telephoto images, which maintain a solid level of detail as you punch in.
Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
The camera defaults to 24-megapixel images, and I don’t really feel the need to adjust to the full 48 megapixels, since the differences seem pretty minimal (and I’d rather save on storage space). But bumping to 48 megapixels does add a bit more texture and brightness.
Here’s a globe shot at 24 megapixels. There’s a good amount of texture and the colors are balanced, even without resorting to a 48-megapixel image.
Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
It’s subtle, but the 48-megapixel photo brightens up shadows throughout and makes the text a bit sharper.
Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
Like the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup, the entry-level model includes an 18-megapixel selfie camera with Center Stage, which automatically — or manually, if you prefer — shifts your shot from portrait to landscape as more people enter the frame, so you don’t have to rotate your phone. As an added perk, everyone’s gaze will also look more centered because the camera isn’t so far off to the side. You can set this to work automatically, but since it can be a little hit-or-miss, I usually just tap the dedicated button above the shutter instead.
Center Stage flipped this selfie into a horizontal image — without me having to turn the phone.
Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
Dual Capture is a fun feature that lets you simultaneously record from both your front and back cameras. The end result resembles a FaceTime call, complete with a picture-in-picture rectangle of footage captured by the selfie camera. Concert videos are about to get a lot more interesting.
iPhone 17 battery
Apple doesn’t share specific battery specs for its phones, but says the iPhone 17 has up to 30 hours of video playback, and recommends using up to a 40-watt charger.
The iPhone 17 can easily last a little over a day, even after snapping photos, scrolling through social media, listening to audiobooks and music, texting and watching videos. (Apple says the iPhone 17 has up to 8 hours more of video playback compared to the iPhone 16.) Over several days, I would start with a full battery between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. and still have around 44% to 47% battery 12 hours later. If I didn’t charge my phone overnight, I’d still have around 30% to spare in the morning, which is reassuring.
In CNET’s 45-minute endurance test, which includes streaming, scrolling through social media, joining a video call and playing games, the iPhone 17’s battery went from full to 98%. Impressively, that matches the results of the iPhone 17 Pro. (And for added comparison, the iPhone Air finished off at 95%, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max ended at 99%.)
In a 3-hour streaming test over Wi-Fi, in which I watched a YouTube video in full-screen mode at full brightness (and at 1080p), the iPhone 17’s battery dropped from 100% to 89%. For reference, the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro dropped to 85%, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max reached 91%.
An iOS 26 feature called Adaptive Power Mode is designed to help extend battery life even more by automatically adjusting your iPhone’s performance based on how you’re using it at that moment. That might mean lowering your display’s brightness, scaling back on CPU speeds and turning off some background activities. It could also activate low power mode. It takes about a week for Adaptive Power Mode to learn your habits and kick in, and even though that timeframe has passed, I have yet to trigger it. But it’s good to know it’s there, and I hope it does come in clutch when I need a little extra juice.
Updates like an always-on display help the baseline iPhone feel like less of a step down from Apple’s Pro models.
Abrar Al-Heeti/ Zooey Liao/ CNET
Final thoughts: Should you buy the iPhone 17?
The baseline iPhone is never really meant to turn heads when stacked against the rest of Apple’s lineup. But a handful of notable upgrades on the iPhone 17 make it a worthy contender if you’re in the market for a new device that ticks the basics. Improvements to the display and camera help the iPhone 17 feel like it’s really worth that $829 price, and can make it an enticing option if you don’t want to spend upwards of $1,100 on a Pro model. The dual rear camera system also makes it feel like more of a practical option if you take a lot of photos and videos than the iPhone Air, which has only one rear camera. (Unlike the Air, the iPhone 17 also supports Cinematic Videos, which I use pretty heavily.)
Many of the newest features, such as Center Stage and Dual Capture, are available across Apple’s latest lineup — you won’t have to cough up more cash and upgrade to the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max to tap into them. While Apple tends to debut new features like Dynamic Island, the Action button and the Camera Control button on Pro models before extending them to the baseline devices, the differences between the iPhone 17 and its Pro counterparts feel a little less glaring this year.
If you have an iPhone 14 device or a non-Pro iPhone 15, jumping to the iPhone 17 might be a worthwhile upgrade, since you’ll be able to tap into Apple Intelligence and newer hardware features such as the Camera Control button, along with the latest batch of features like Center Stage and Dual Capture. But if you’re using an iPhone 16, you can probably hang tight to that a little longer.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone Air vs. iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 17Apple iPhone AirApple iPhone 17 ProApple iPhone 17 Pro Max Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate 6.3-inch OLED; 2,622 x 1,206 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate6.5-inch OLED; 2,736 x 1,260 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate6.3-inch OLED; 2,622 x 1,206 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate6.9-inch OLED; 2,868 x 1,320 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh ratePixel density 460ppi460ppi460ppi460ppiDimensions (inches) 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.31 in6.15 x 2.94 x 0.22 in5.91 x 2.83 x 0.34 in6.43 x 3.07 x 0.34 inDimensions (millimeters) 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm156.2 x 74.7 x 5.64 mm150.0 x 71.9 x 8.75 mm163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mmWeight (grams, ounces) 177 g (6.24 oz)165 g (5.82 oz)206 g (7.27 oz)233 g (8.22 oz)Mobile software iOS 26iOS 26iOS 26iOS 26Camera 48-megapixel (wide) 48-megapixel (ultrawide)48-megapixel (wide)48-megapixel (wide) 48-megapixel (ultrawide) 48-megapixel (4x, 8x telephoto)48-megapixel (wide) 48-megapixel (ultrawide) 48-megapixel (4x, 8x telephoto)Front-facing camera 18-megapixel18-megapixel18-megapixel18-megapixelVideo capture 4K4K4K4KProcessor Apple A19Apple A19 ProApple A19 ProApple A19 ProRAM + storage RAM N/A + 256GB, 512GBRAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB, 1TBRAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB, 1TBRAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TBExpandable storage NoneNoneNoneNoneBattery Up to 30 hours video playback; up to 27 hours video playback (streamed)Up to 27 hours video playback; up to 22 hours video playback (streamed). Up to 40 hours video playback, up to 35 hours video playback (streamed) with iPhone Air MagSafe BatteryUp to 33 hours video playback; up to 30 hours video playback (streamed).Up to 39 hours video playback; up to 35 hours video playback (streamed).Fingerprint sensor None (Face ID)None (Face ID)None (Face ID)None (Face ID)Connector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoneNoneNoneNoneSpecial features Apple N1 wireless networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Action button. Camera Control button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence. Dual eSIM. 1 to 3,000 nits brightness display range. IP68 resistance. Colors: black, white, mist blue, sage, lavender. Fast charge up to 50% in 20 minutes using 40W adapter or higher via charging cable. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 30W adapter or higher via MagSafe Charger.Apple N1 wireless networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Action button. Apple C1X cellular modem. Camera Control button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence. Dual eSIM. 1 to 3,000 nits brightness display range. IP68 resistance. Colors: space black, cloud white, light gold, sky blue. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 20W adapter or higher via charging cable. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 30W adapter or higher via MagSafe Charger.Apple N1 wireless networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Action button. Camera Control button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence. Dual eSIM. ProRes Raw video recording. Genlock video support. 1 to 3,000 nits brightness display range. IP68 resistance. Colors: silver, cosmic orange, deep blue. Fast charge up to 50% in 20 minutes using 40W adapter or higher via charging cable. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 30W adapter or higher via MagSafe Charger.Apple N1 wireless networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Action button. Camera Control button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence. Dual eSIM. ProRes Raw video recording. Genlock video support. 1 to 3,000 nits brightness display range. IP68 resistance. Colors: silver, cosmic orange, deep blue. Fast charge up to 50% in 20 minutes using 40W adapter or higher via charging cable. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 30W adapter or higher via MagSafe Charger.US price starts at $829 (256GB)$999 (256GB)$1,099 (256GB)$1,199 (256GB)
How we test phones
Every phone CNET’s reviews team tests is used in the real world. We test a phone’s features, play games and take photos. We examine the display to see if it’s bright, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and build to see how it is to hold and whether it has an IP rating for water resistance. We push the processor’s performance to the extremes using standardized benchmark tools like GeekBench and 3DMark, along with our own anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution videos and playing graphically intense games at high refresh rates.
All the cameras are tested in a variety of conditions, from bright sunlight to dark indoor scenes. We try out special features like night mode and portrait mode and compare our findings against similarly priced competing phones. We also check out the battery life by using it daily, as well as running a series of battery drain tests.
We take into account additional features like support for 5G, satellite connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus support, fast charging speeds and foldable displays, among others that can be useful. We balance all of this against the price to give you the verdict on whether that phone, whatever its price, actually represents good value. While these tests may not always be reflected in CNET’s initial review, we conduct follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.
