The next iPhone is confirmed, so consumers should consider if they really need to upgrade.
The latest iPhone arrives with modest but meaningful improvements.
The iPhone 17 was unveiled at Apple’s recent September event, along with the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the all-new iPhone 17 Air. Although the Pro models and the Air received more significant upgrades this year, the standard iPhone 17 still offers notable improvements.
In terms of design, the iPhone 17 maintains a similar look to the iPhone 16 with its vertical dual-camera arrangement, but the display has been updated. It now has a 6.3-inch OLED screen with Ceramic Shield, an increase from the iPhone 16’s 6.1-inch screen. Thanks to narrower bezels, the overall size is nearly the same, despite the larger screen.
The display now features ProMotion, which is Apple's term for a 120Hz refresh rate. Additionally, the display's peak brightness has been increased to 3000 nits.
Available colors include:
Lavender
Mist Blue
Sage
Black
White
The phone retains its IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. It also features the Action Button, customizable for functions such as launching the camera or muting the phone, and the Camera Control Button, introduced in the previous year, for easier camera operation.
While the rear cameras are the same as last year, the front camera has been improved. The camera configuration is as follows:
48 MP main camera
12 MP telephoto camera
24 MP selfie camera
The main upgrade is the 24 MP selfie camera, which should provide sharper quality for FaceTime calls, video chats, and selfies.
The front sensor is now square, enabling high-resolution shots regardless of how the phone is held and providing four composition options. The device no longer needs to be rotated for landscape shots. AI enhances the view automatically, which is useful for group photos.
Apple has not disclosed the exact battery size, but it is likely the same 3,600 mAh capacity as the iPhone 16. This should still provide a full day of moderate use or longer. Apple claims the iPhone 17 now provides 8 more hours of video streaming due to ProMotion. Charging is also quicker, reaching 50% in 20 minutes, according to Apple.
The iPhone 17 is powered by the A19 chipset, providing the power for the new Apple Intelligence features. However, it still has 8 GB of RAM, even though many hoped for at least 12 GB. Storage options include:
256 GB
512 GB
The iPhone 17 comes with iOS 26, providing access to Apple's AI tools, such as:
Writing tools: for proofreading or rewriting text.
Transcript summaries: for condensing notes.
Priority messages in Mail: for highlighting important emails.
Image Playground: for creating custom images.
Clean Up: for removing background objects from photos.
Visual Intelligence allows users to search and take action from what they see. Live translation facilitates real-time conversations.
Users can expect at least six years of OS updates and additional years of less frequent security updates.
Visual Intelligence enables action from searches. Live translation simplifies conversations.
Pricing for the iPhone 17 series has not yet been announced, but the article will be updated when this information becomes available.
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