Apple iPhone 17 Review: The Best iPhone Apple Has Made
The iPhone 17 launched in September 2025 with a 6.3-inch ProMotion display, A19 chip, 48MP dual camera, and iOS 26. Here's our full review — is it worth buying in 2026?
Apple launched the iPhone 17 on September 19, 2025, alongside the all-new iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Seven months on, the iPhone 17 has proven itself to be the most capable non-Pro iPhone Apple has ever made. Here's our full review.
What's New in the iPhone 17
The iPhone 17 brings several meaningful upgrades over the iPhone 16. The display grows to 6.3 inches with ProMotion 120Hz — the first time this feature has appeared on a non-Pro model. The A19 chip delivers noticeably faster performance and improved Apple Intelligence capabilities. The camera system gets a 48MP ultrawide upgrade. And charging has finally been improved to 40W — a long-overdue change from the 25W on iPhone 16.
Design
The iPhone 17 maintains a familiar design with refined contoured edges and thinner display borders. It ships in five colours: Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White, and Black. The front uses Ceramic Shield 2 which Apple claims is 3x more scratch-resistant than previous glass. At 177g it feels well-balanced and the build quality is excellent. The Camera Control button introduced on iPhone 16 remains and has been refined.
Display
The 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion adaptive 120Hz is genuinely the highlight of the iPhone 17. Peak brightness reaches 3000 nits, making it easily readable outdoors. The 33% reduction in reflections compared to iPhone 16 is noticeable. This is simply the best display ever on a non-Pro iPhone.
A19 Performance
The A19 chip — built on TSMC's 3nm process — delivers a 1.5x CPU speed improvement over the iPhone 13's chip and significant neural engine gains for Apple Intelligence. In daily use the phone is effortlessly fast. App switching, gaming, and photography processing are all instantaneous. The A19's neural engine powers on-device Apple Intelligence features without sending data to servers.
Camera System
The 48MP Dual Fusion system — 48MP main plus 48MP ultrawide — represents the first time both rear cameras on a non-Pro iPhone share the same resolution. The main camera delivers excellent detail and the new Photographic Styles include a Bright option that enhances skin tones. The 18MP front camera with Center Stage is a significant upgrade for video calls and selfies. Low-light performance is excellent for a non-Pro model. Video at 4K 60fps with Dolby Vision remains among the best available.
Battery Life
The iPhone 17 delivers up to 30 hours of video playback — eight more hours than the iPhone 16 thanks to A19 efficiency and iOS 26 power management. In everyday use expect a full day and then some from moderate users. The new 40W charging (with Apple's optional 40W adapter) reaches 50% in 20 minutes — a genuine improvement over previous iPhones.
iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence
The iPhone 17 ships with iOS 26, which introduces the Liquid Glass design language — a significant visual overhaul across the entire system. Apple Intelligence features include writing tools, enhanced Siri with app-level control, Clean Up for photo editing, and Image Playground for AI image creation. These features work on-device and improve with every iOS update.
Pricing
The iPhone 17 starts at $799 USD / £799 / €899 for 256GB — the same price as the 128GB iPhone 16. The 512GB model is $999 USD. This represents exceptional value given the significant upgrades over iPhone 16.
Verdict
The iPhone 17 is the best non-Pro iPhone Apple has made. The ProMotion display, improved cameras, faster charging, and A19 performance make it a compelling choice at $799. If you're on an iPhone 13 or older the upgrade is strongly recommended. If you have an iPhone 15 it's worth considering. iPhone 16 owners should wait for iPhone 18 Pro. Score: 9/10