iPhone 17 Review: My Unexpected Advice This Year
▼ Summary
– The base iPhone 17 model offers exceptional value with major upgrades like a 120Hz ProMotion display and improved cameras, while its price remains at $799 with increased base storage.
– The iPhone Air is a technological marvel due to its ultra-thin and lightweight design, but it is best suited for tech enthusiasts who prioritize cutting-edge design over battery life and camera performance.
– The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max directly address the overheating and poor zoom quality issues that plagued their predecessors through a new aluminum casing with a vapor chamber and a higher-resolution 48MP telephoto sensor.
– The author’s buying advice is uniquely complex this year, as the capable base model is recommended for more users, while the Pro Max is a compelling upgrade for those specifically frustrated by previous models’ overheating and zoom limitations.
– Apple has made the iPhone 17 notably more competitive by equipping it with features that rival last year’s Pro model, effectively offering a better phone for a lower price compared to the previous generation.
This photo of the iPhone 17 Pro Max in Cosmic Orange was taken with the telephoto lens on an iPhone 17 Pro Max. Jason Hiner/ZDNET
The concept of “tyranny of choice” suggests that an abundance of excellent options should lead to greater satisfaction, yet it often results in anxiety and indecision. This psychological phenomenon perfectly describes the 2025 iPhone 17 lineup, where Apple presents a formidable array of compelling choices. The standard iPhone 17 delivers unprecedented value, the Pro models have successfully tackled their predecessors’ most significant weaknesses, and the iPhone Air offers a genuine glimpse into the future of mobile design. Having upgraded annually since the original iPhone’s 2007 debut and spending considerable time with all four new models, my purchasing guidance for this cycle is notably different from any previous year.
The $799 iPhone 17 now appeals to a much broader audience than before. In recent cycles, the base model was often a recommendation for younger users, first-time buyers, or those seeking a simple replacement for a damaged device. That perception is no longer accurate. The sheer number of upgrades Apple integrated into the iPhone 17 was the standout surprise of the launch event. The device receives a major screen overhaul, growing to a 6.3-inch display with thinner bezels, a smooth 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, a blinding 3000 nits peak brightness, an anti-reflective coating, and an always-on feature.
Photography capabilities see a massive leap forward with a new 48MP dual fusion camera system, pairing a 48MP main sensor with a 48MP ultrawide. Critically, the iPhone 17 also inherits the same advanced 24MP selfie camera found on the Pro and Air models. This sensor captures 18MP images and can intelligently switch between portrait and landscape orientations automatically. Even more impressive, machine learning identifies all faces in the frame to select the optimal orientation for the shot. It’s commendable that Apple did not reserve this sophisticated camera technology exclusively for its premium tiers.
Perhaps the most compelling argument for the base model is its pricing structure. Apple held the starting price at $799 while doubling the base storage to 256GB. Considering that the 256GB iPhone 16 cost $899 last year, this effectively represents a $100 price reduction. When compared to key Android rivals like the Google Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S25, which still start at $799 for 128GB, the value proposition becomes clear. From another angle, this year’s iPhone 17 is nearly a direct equivalent to last year’s iPhone 16 Pro, lacking only the telephoto lens but gaining the next-generation front camera. Given that the 256GB iPhone 16 Pro was priced at $1,099, the standard iPhone 17 emerges as an incredible value. For users upgrading from an iPhone 14 Pro or earlier who seldom use telephoto zoom, this model is a powerful and cost-effective choice.
The iPhone Air occupies a challenging position in the lineup, historically a difficult slot for models like the Mini and Plus variants. Similar to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, the Air serves as a technological showcase, demonstrating how thin a smartphone can be engineered, potentially foreshadowing future foldable designs. It also exists in the long shadow of an anticipated foldable iPhone expected in 2026. Despite these contextual challenges, the iPhone Air generates an undeniable “wow” factor upon first contact. Its incredibly thin, lightweight, and futuristic feel is genuinely impressive. I strongly suggest visiting a store to experience this sensation for yourself.
However, the question remains: should you buy it? For the majority of upgraders, the answer is likely no, especially when the standard iPhone 17 offers superior cameras at a lower cost. Power users will also find the Air’s battery life and camera system insufficient for heavy demands. But for the tech enthusiast who thrives on the cutting edge, the same person who embraced Google Glass or the Apple Vision Pro, the iPhone Air provides an early ticket to the future. Just be sure to invest in the bumper case if your daily screen time exceeds four hours.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max directly confronts the two primary issues that plagued its titanium predecessors. The first was the telephoto camera, which never matched the quality of the main sensor. Shots from the 5x zoom were acceptable for social media but often deteriorated during editing, forcing a return to a dedicated camera for serious zoom photography. The second major issue was persistent overheating during intensive tasks like photography, video recording, or use in weak signal areas or direct sunlight, leading to rapid battery drain.
Apple’s solutions are both thoughtful and effective. To tackle thermals, the company has abandoned titanium in favor of an aluminum casing, a material far superior at heat conduction and dispersion. This is complemented by a new vapor chamber cooling system that uses deionized water to keep the A19 Pro chip running cool under maximum load. Initial impressions suggest this design directly addresses the overheating problem.
The zoom camera receives an even more significant upgrade. Apple replaced the 12MP tetraprism sensor with a high-resolution 48MP sensor, matching the main camera. While the optical zoom is now 4x instead of 5x, the higher pixel count enables a cropped 8x zoom that Apple confidently labels “optical quality.” Early testing confirms this is not an empty claim; the 8x zoom produces the highest-quality telephoto images I have yet seen from an iPhone. While more rigorous testing against competitors like the Pixel 10 Pro XL is planned, the initial results are highly promising.
This leads to a unique piece of advice. If you, like me, experienced significant frustration with the overheating and zoom limitations of the iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max, it may be worth considering an upgrade to the iPhone 17 Pro Max sooner than your usual cycle. I will continue to test these improvements thoroughly in the coming weeks and monitor trade-in deals that could make such a move more financially palatable.
(Source: ZDNET)
