Apple iPhone 17

Dan Seifert from Ars Technica highlights the Apple iPhone 17 as a quietly impressive upgrade that narrows the gap between the regular iPhone and the Pro models more than in recent years. The standout addition is the ProMotion 120 Hz display, previously exclusive to Pro models, now paired with a larger 6.3-inch screen and an always-on feature, delivering a noticeably smoother visual experience. The doubling of base storage to 256GB at the same starting price further enhances its value proposition. While the design remains largely unchanged and unremarkable, the iPhone 17 offers solid performance with the A19 chip and good battery life, often outperforming the pricier iPhone Air due to better heat management. Camera improvements include a higher-resolution ultrawide sensor, though the lack of a true telephoto lens keeps the Pro models distinct. Overall, the iPhone 17 is praised as the best value in Apple’s lineup, appealing to users seeking a reliable, well-rounded phone without the premium Pro price or features.

Abrar Al-Heeti from CNET highlights the Apple iPhone 17 as a surprisingly well-rounded and practical device that narrows the gap between Apple’s entry-level and Pro models. Praising its long-overdue 120Hz display, improved brightness, and durable Ceramic Shield 2, the review emphasizes how these subtle yet meaningful upgrades enhance everyday usability without a price increase from last year. The dual 48MP rear cameras and features like Cinematic mode and Dual Capture make it a more versatile choice than the iPhone Air, especially for photography enthusiasts. Battery life impresses with solid endurance, and iOS 26 adds useful customization and translation features, though some new software quirks and missing advanced AI capabilities temper enthusiasm. While the iPhone 17 lacks the Pro’s premium processor and telephoto lens, it delivers excellent performance and value for $829, making it a compelling option for most users—particularly those upgrading from older models—without feeling like a compromise.

Eric Zeman from PCMag highlights the Apple iPhone 17 as the best iPhone for most users, praising its blend of pro-level display, robust battery life, and strong performance at a competitive $799 price point. He emphasizes the significant upgrades to the base model, including the adoption of the ProMotion display with always-on functionality, improved ultra-wide camera, and increased base storage, which narrow the gap with the pricier Pro models. While noting the iPhone 17 lacks some of the Air’s slim design and the Pro’s advanced camera features, Zeman appreciates its balanced size, solid build, and familiar controls. He also points out minor drawbacks such as the slower USB 2.0 port and less AI power compared to some Android rivals. Overall, the review conveys a very positive, confident tone, recommending the iPhone 17 especially for those upgrading from older models, while suggesting recent iPhone 15 or 16 owners might wait for future releases.

John Velasco from Tom’s Guide highlights the Apple iPhone 17 as a compelling upgrade to the base iPhone line, delivering significant improvements without a price increase. He praises the introduction of a smooth 120Hz OLED display, doubled storage at 256GB, faster charging speeds, and the powerful A19 chip, all while maintaining the familiar, comfortable design. The iPhone 17’s camera system impresses with a beefed-up ultrawide sensor and a versatile new 18MP Center Stage front camera, though its telephoto zoom lags behind competitors like the Pixel 10. Velasco also notes the iOS 26 visual refresh and useful software features but criticizes the lack of meaningful new Apple Intelligence capabilities, which puts it at a disadvantage against rivals with stronger AI integration. Overall, he views the iPhone 17 as a robust, well-rounded phone offering excellent value for $799, especially compared to the cheaper iPhone 16e, despite some shortcomings in zoom and AI features.

Julian Chokkattu from WIRED highlights the Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max as powerful, thoughtfully engineered smartphones that excel in performance, battery life, and camera capabilities. He praises the new vapor chamber cooling system for significantly improving heat dissipation during intensive gaming, resulting in smoother gameplay and more comfortable handling compared to previous models. The beefier batteries impress with real-world endurance, potentially eliminating daily charging for many users. Chokkattu admires the refined design, especially the two-tone glass and aluminum finish, and the innovative square-shaped selfie sensor that enhances grip and usability. While the cameras remain top-tier, delivering sharp photos and unparalleled video stabilization, he notes minor shortcomings in low-light portrait mode and skin tone accuracy compared to competitors like the Pixel 10 Pro. Overall, the review conveys genuine enthusiasm tempered with measured critique, positioning the iPhone 17 Pro models as the current leaders in the smartphone market, especially for users upgrading from older devices.

Samuel Gibbs from The Guardian highlights the Apple iPhone 17 as a meaningful upgrade to the standard iPhone lineup, primarily due to the inclusion of a super-smooth 120Hz ProMotion display and doubled base storage at no extra cost. While the design remains largely unchanged and slightly taller to accommodate the bigger screen, the phone offers a bright, durable display and the previously Pro-exclusive always-on feature, enhancing everyday usability. Powered by the rapid A19 chip, the iPhone 17 delivers excellent performance and solid battery life, lasting about two days under typical use. The dual rear cameras perform well, especially the improved ultrawide and macro modes, though the absence of a telephoto lens limits zoom capabilities compared to Pro models. Sustainability efforts and repairability are notable positives. Overall, Gibbs regards the iPhone 17 as the best choice for Apple buyers who want a compact, powerful phone with flagship features without paying Pro prices, despite minor drawbacks like a familiar design and lack of telephoto zoom.

Mike Andronico from CNN Underscored highlights the Apple iPhone 17 as a major leap forward for Apple’s base model, delivering many Pro-level features at a more accessible price. He enthusiastically praises the long-overdue addition of the 120Hz ProMotion display, improved battery life that rivals pricier models, and new camera perks like Center Stage and Dual Capture available across the lineup. The review emphasizes the phone’s smooth performance, vibrant and durable screen, and versatile camera system that excels in most scenarios, making it an excellent choice for everyday users and content creators alike. However, Andronico candidly notes the iPhone 17’s one significant shortcoming: its limited zoom capabilities due to the absence of a telephoto lens, which may disappoint photography enthusiasts who value distant shots. Despite this, he considers the iPhone 17 the most complete $800 iPhone ever made and strongly recommends it as the best smartphone for most people, especially those upgrading from older models.

Jason Hiner from ZDNET highlights the Apple iPhone 17 lineup as a year of significant shifts and surprising value, especially praising the base iPhone 17 for its major screen and camera upgrades that rival last year’s Pro models at a lower price point. He notes the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s thoughtful redesign addressing previous overheating and zoom camera quality issues, with promising improvements in thermal management and an innovative 8x optical-quality zoom. The iPhone Air impresses with its ultra-thin, futuristic design, appealing to early adopters despite compromises in battery life and camera performance. Hiner’s nuanced take reflects both enthusiasm for Apple’s engineering achievements and cautious recommendations tailored to different user needs, marking 2025 as a year where the traditional upgrade advice evolves. His insights into real-world usability and detailed comparisons offer a balanced, forward-looking perspective on the iPhone 17 series.

Britta O’Boyle from The Telegraph highlights the Apple iPhone 17 as the standout choice among Apple’s late-2025 lineup, praising its excellent balance of value, features, and performance. Despite minimal design changes from the iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 boasts significant upgrades including a brighter, smoother 120Hz ProMotion display, improved battery life lasting up to 30 hours of video playback, and a clever new front camera with innovative features like Centre Stage and dual capture mode. The reviewer appreciates the enhanced ultrawide rear camera and the inclusion of the customizable Action and Camera Control buttons, which add to everyday usability. While the lack of a zoom camera and unchanged design are noted as drawbacks, these are framed as minor given the phone’s overall strengths. Tested extensively in real-world scenarios, the iPhone 17 delivers smooth performance powered by the A19 chip and runs iOS 26 with useful AI features. Overall, it is recommended as the best value iPhone for most users in 2025.