iPhone 17: The Surprising Value You Can’t Ignore
▼ Summary
– The base iPhone 17 received significant upgrades without a price increase, making it a great value.
– Its display is now larger with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, always-on capability, and improved scratch resistance.
– The phone includes an 18MP front camera with Center Stage and expanded field of view for group shots.
– Storage has doubled to 256GB, and it features new wireless connectivity and improved battery life.
– It lacks some Pro features like a telephoto camera and Ceramic Shield on the back but remains a strong choice for most users.
While Apple’s flashier models like the super-slim iPhone Air and vibrant iPhone 17 Pro have dominated recent headlines, the base iPhone 17 quietly delivers a remarkable package of upgrades, all while keeping its starting price firmly at $799. This model represents a significant leap forward, packing features once reserved for the Pro line and offering outstanding value for everyday users.
One of the most noticeable improvements is the display. The iPhone 17 now features a larger 6.3-inch screen with ProMotion technology, enabling an adaptive refresh rate that reaches up to 120Hz. This enhancement translates to noticeably smoother scrolling and more responsive gameplay. The screen also supports an always-on display and reaches an impressive peak brightness of 3000 nits outdoors, surpassing even last year’s iPhone 16 Pro. Thanks to the new Ceramic Shield 2 with a proprietary coating, Apple claims the display offers three times better scratch resistance. In fact, the screen is identical to the one used on the iPhone 17 Pro.
Photography gets a meaningful upgrade as well. The front-facing camera now uses an 18MP sensor with Center Stage capability, allowing users to capture horizontal selfies without rotating the device. It can also intelligently widen the field of view when multiple people are in the frame, making group shots more inclusive and dynamic.
Storage receives a welcome bump, with the base model now offering 256GB instead of 128GB, matching the starting capacity of Apple’s other new phones. This provides ample room for photos, apps, and media. Under the hood, the iPhone 17 includes the new N1 wireless chip supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity. Battery life sees an improvement too, with Apple advertising up to 30 hours of video playback, an increase from the 27 hours offered by the iPhone 16 Pro.
Naturally, there are some trade-offs compared to the Pro model. The iPhone 17 uses the A19 chip rather than the A19 Pro, lacks Ceramic Shield on the back, and doesn’t include a telephoto lens. Battery life for video streaming is three hours shorter, and there’s no 1TB storage option. Still, for most users, the standard iPhone 17 delivers an experience that closely mirrors the Pro’s, at a much more accessible price. And though it may not come in orange, the classic black finish remains a sharp and timeless choice.
(Source: The Verge)
