Tested: The iPhone 17 is the low-key MVP of this year’s Apple line-up

Price Upon Review

Starting at $799

Best Current Prices: Apple iPhone 17

Not every iPhone generation is on par. For those who don’t upgrade annually, some models are less consequential, while others provide outstanding value.

The forthcoming iPhone 16, for instance, wasn’t particularly notable. Although there was a minor camera improvement, the emphasis on AI features—many of which still lack substance—resulted in innovations like Camera Control and Action buttons that haven’t won universal acclaim.

Conversely, 2025’s base model iPhone is set to be remarkable. With the appealing redesigns of the Pro models and the slender new iPhone Air, Apple has equipped the base model with plentiful upgrades, confident that avid Apple fans will still be drawn to the more expensive variants.

If you prioritize understated quality, the iPhone 17 will certainly offer great value for your £799/$799.

Design & Build Quality

• Retains dimensions, yet features a slightly larger screen than its predecessor
• Enhanced screen durability
• Choice of five color options

Realistically, the iPhone 17 resembles the iPhone 16 quite closely. Anyone who’s stepped outside in the last year will find it very familiar.

However, Apple has refined its base model design for good reason; it’s sleek, simple, and aesthetically pleasing. This year, it’s offered in five tasteful colors: black, white, mist blue, lavender, and the fan-favorite sage green.

I’ve been testing the white version, which is visually striking. My only critique—largely for review purposes—is that it does not photograph well; its matte, color-infused glass back tends to appear ghostly in pictures.

Measuring the same as last year’s model (149.6mm x 71.5mm x 7.95mm) with the same matte aluminum frame and rounded edges, the screen size has increased slightly from 6.1 to 6.3 inches, leading to a narrower bezel. Although this is a subtle tweak, it aligns it more closely with Android competitors like the Pixel 10.

Apple claims that the ceramic shield on the screen is three times more scratch-resistant than the previous model, so I’m confidently going without a screen protector. Despite some bumps, it remains in immaculate condition.

Do keep in mind that the back glass does not have a ceramic shield, which is one reason we always advocate using a case. I’m currently utilizing an official Apple silicone case with MagSafe in a vibrant neon yellow, feeling it is a bit overpriced at £49.99/$49.99 for what it offers.

Additionally, the back glass can be quite slippery—unless you wish to grip your phone tightly, it’s easy to drop. Fortunately, the phone is lightweight at 177g, making it almost the perfect size unless you’re particularly fond of larger devices.

It’s compact enough for an evening bag or most pockets, yet large enough to enjoy video content comfortably, and small enough not to cause injury if it falls on your face while scrolling.

One might argue there are more buttons than necessary

Apple claims the iPhone 17 is water-resistant up to 6 meters for 30 minutes, though I don’t intend to personally test that. With an IP68 rating, it guarantees dunking in up to 1.5m of freshwater while being fully dustproof.

There are five physical buttons on the side. The left features two volume buttons and an Action button, which can be customized to enter silent mode, engage focus mode, Shazam a tune, translate instantly, and more.

The right side contains the Side button to power the device down or summon Siri, paired with the Camera Control button for capturing images quickly.

I’m not particularly fond of the camera button as its position isn’t ideal for me, being left-handed. However, my right-handed colleagues haven’t been thrilled with it either. There’s a valid case to be made that there may be more buttons than strictly necessary—especially with programmable accessibility functions such as back taps—but you can disable features you don’t use.

Meanwhile, I keep haptic feedback off; if you prefer it for notifications and alarms, you’ll find it suitably responsive and powerful enough to alert you from your pocket or sitting on a desk.

Display & Speakers

• Always-On Display feature
• 3,000 nits peak brightness
• 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

This year’s notable upgrades center significantly on the display technology and user experience.

Keeping its identity, the iPhone 17 boasts a Super Retina XDR display, an advanced OLED panel delivering vibrant visuals and remarkable color accuracy.

While it maintains typical (1,000 nits) and HDR (1,600 nits) brightness levels, along with a minimum brightness of 1 nit for nighttime use, it now peaks at 3,000 nits for outdoor visibility. This enhancement is particularly significant for outdoor usage.

Having previously owned an iPhone 14 that peaked at 1,200 nits—a brightness insufficient for reading outside under sunlight—this upgrade is a welcomed change for me.

Another noteworthy change is the refresh rate. For the first time, Apple has implemented ProMotion technology in its base model, resulting in adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz.

For those upgrading from a 60Hz device, this translates to an experience with enhanced smoothness and responsiveness in display interactions. The difference is most noticeable during gaming, minimizing lag and stuttering, while scrolling also feels noticeably smoother.

This essentially defends the iPhone’s reputation against rivals, especially with 120Hz being a standard in flagship and mid-range Android models.

It now peaks at 3,000 nits for outdoor visibility—this is a significant improvement.

ProMotion technology also enables the new Always-On Display feature, allowing you to see time and notifications constantly. Yet, from my perspective, it can be distracting; I find myself picking it up more often—even during films or conversations. Thankfully, if you wish to disable it, you can easily do so in Settings, a feature I intend to utilize soon.

Finally, the integration of Dynamic Island introduced last year enhances usability—positioned at the top of the display, it provides controls and information for native apps, including timers, music, and phone calls.

Dynamic Island’s best aspect is its intuitive accessibility, addressed effortlessly without having to navigate your phone’s menus—making it simpler to switch between applications.

On the audio front, the iPhone 17 also boasts improved speakers that deliver clear sound for calls and video watching.

While they are competent enough for casual music listening, expect a lack of deep bass and some distortion at higher volumes. It used to be customary for me to carry a Bluetooth speaker for shower music, but with the iPhone 17, I can simply use my phone.

Specifications & Performance

• Powered by the Apple A19 chip
• Available in 256GB and 512GB storage options

Apple has upgraded the iPhone’s processor to the A19 chip this year, manufactured using a 3nm process and featuring a 5-core Apple-designed GPU.

The A19 outperforms Apple’s A18 Pro chip utilized in the previous Pro models, reinforcing the iPhone’s exceptional value proposition—considering the 16 Pro started at £999/$999 last September.

The Air and Pro models this year operate on the A19 Pro, solidifying consistent performance across the entire lineup.

This device excels at multitasking, providing a seamless experience.

Flipping through functions on the iPhone 17 feels fluid—scrolling remains consistent and gaming deliveries effortless performance. Although demanding games like Genshin Impact may warm up the device slightly, it remains well within acceptable operating temperatures, while casual games run without issues.

The A19 chip also supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing capabilities, allowing graphically intensive games to display more depth and minimizing potential stutters.

This device shines at multitasking. My workflow often involves opening various apps concurrently—copying from Safari to Slack, uploading photos, jotting down meeting notes, and drafting articles in Pages—without any crashes or performance issues, even with over a dozen applications running.

With storage options featuring 256GB as the standard and an extended 512GB for £999/$999.

iPhone 17 Benchmark Testing

Camera Capabilities

• 48Mp primary and 48Mp ultrawide rear cameras
• 18Mp front-facing camera
• Includes Centre Stage and Dual Capture modes

The camera layout remains unchanged from last year, with its two lenses positioned at the upper-left corner—this setup is tidier than the diagonal spacing on the iPhone 15. However, it does lead to a slight wobble if you place it on a flat surface without a case.

On the spec front, the iPhone’s camera receives some upgrades. The main 48Mp camera remains intact, while the ultrawide has benefited from an increase from 12Mp to 48Mp. This enhancement allows for capturing significantly more detail, making macro shots richer and benefitting those who desire to print their images.

The ultrawide lens boasts a 120° field of view with a 13mm focal length, compared to the primary 48Mp Fusion lens, which has a 26mm focal length. Accessing this is simple—just select 0.5x within the options or pinch the screen.

Reflecting on last year’s review of the iPhone 16, my colleague Chris Martin emphasized issues with the default camera settings being difficult to access from the camera app.

However, the iPhone camera suits users more like myself, who are casual photographers expecting decent images with minimal effort.

Overall, the iPhone 17 delivers impressive color accuracy, with photographs generally appearing natural instead of overly edited.

Selecting Portrait mode yields pleasing results for portraits. If there’s insufficient contrast in the background bokeh, adjustments can be made afterward via depth editing.

Close-in flower shots activate macro mode to yield nuanced close-ups of petals and stems.

For someone like me, adept photography isn’t a necessity.

Low-light performance still leaves some desire for improvement. While a noticeable enhancement over the iPhone 14’s consistently grainy shots has been made, city photography suffers from light pollution—often leading to washed-out night photography. Nevertheless, clarity and detail have significantly improved compared to earlier models.

Zoom quality, however, remains lackluster. The iPhone 17 offers a 4x optical zoom, from 0.5x to 2x on the main lens, with its low-light images falling short of appreciation.

In addition, it provides a digital zoom of up to 10x, achieved through cropping and enlarging images (typical of many camera phones lacking telephoto functionality). Thus, if you’re a concert-goer wishing to photograph distant performers, the iPhone 17 Pro may be worth your investment—or view our recommendations for top camera phones.

<pApple has added two appealing new features to enhance selfie photography.

First, it brings Centre Stage functionality to the front camera, utilizing a larger square sensor. This allows the software to adjust framing dynamically to keep you and your companions centered.

As a result, you don’t need to rotate your phone for group shots; after testing, I found it effective, albeit not as dynamic as Apple’s promotional content suggests.

The second feature is called Dual Capture, enabling simultaneous recording of what you’re observing and your personal reaction—ideal for events like gigs.

While I personally may not use it often, I have seen several Dual Capture videos shared on Instagram and TikTok. Well played, Apple.

Battery Life & Charging Speed

• Up to 30 hours of video playback
• Supports MagSafe charging

Apple highlights that the iPhone 17 offers up to 30 hours of video playback, a notable increase from the previous generation’s 22 hours.

As a frequent user, my daily routine involves reading, having Slack open all day, enjoying continuous music while working, and incorporating my phone for music and fitness tracking during evening exercise. A bit of nighttime scrolling often follows as well.

Over weekends, I can sometimes go nearly two days without charging.

Given this usage, I can still navigate an entire day without needing to recharge the iPhone 17.

During lighter-use weekends, I typically make it through almost two days before needing a plug. The device comes with a USB-C charging cable, but like usual, there’s no adapter included.

Transitioning from Lightning to USB-C charging has been a pleasant update. While I usually view Apple’s proprietary tech favorably, it has to exceed alternatives that previously fell short, which the Lightning cable certainly did.

Moreover, with MagSafe compatibility and wider Qi2 support, the iPhone 17 is at the forefront of wireless charging options—something Android is just beginning to embrace fully.

According to Apple, you can achieve a 50% charge in 20 minutes with a 40W adapter or greater—30W wireless charging can also deliver a similar result in half an hour.
Testing revealed I lacked a fast charger—however, I was able to charge around 48% in 30 minutes with an older adapter. I will update this review with performance metrics using a new 40W charger once I acquire one.

My colleague David Price from Macworld confirmed this 50% in 20-minute claim in his review of the iPhone 17.

Software & Applications

• Operational built on iOS 26
• Mixed AI features

The iPhone 17 runs on the newly unveiled iOS 26, featuring a Liquid Glass design overhaul. Despite being touted as Apple’s most substantial software redesign since iOS 7 in 2013, its fresh nature has quickly faded into familiarity.

To some extent, this is advantageous; nobody desires an interface that commands constant attention, although I’ve encountered some overly engineered third-party applications taking advantage of the new design—Slack being a prime example with a text box that glows annoyingly upon activation.

I generally don’t interact much with Siri anymore. Our current dynamic works much better that way.

Both lock screen and home screen customizations offer functional enhancements, though most users likely will leave their icons as they are without tinting.

Other minor, but helpful upgrades include the capacity to modify the default snooze timer.

AI functionalities, however, have yielded inconsistent experiences. Initially, I enjoyed Apple Music’s AutoMix feature, which eliminates silence between songs while exercising, but I had to disable it after encountering numerous disjointed mixes.

Image Clean Up proved useful, though if held to high expectations, might underperform. Voicemail transcribing has been a mix of correctness and mischievous errors, while my engagement with Siri lately remains minimal—our relationship is much less complicated this way.

Apple pledges extensive software supports for the iPhone 17, ensuring updates and security patches for a minimum of five years, potentially extending to seven.

Cost and Availability

Yet again, Apple has maintained the iPhone 17’s pricing akin to its predecessor, while actually enhancing its value.

At £799/$799, you receive 256GB of storage, with 512GB available for £999/$999. This pricing structure is significantly better than last year, as £799/$799 provided only 128GB, whereas 256GB and 512GB options cost £899/$899 and £1,099/$1,099, respectively.

This pricing framework positions it directly against the Google Pixel 10. For those torn between these two options, our comparison specs may assist you. The Pixel 10 stands out if zoom capabilities and robust AI features are your priorities; otherwise, your operating system preference may be the deciding factor.

In the UK, the iPhone 17 is available from retailers, including Apple, Currys, and Amazon, along with carriers such as EE, O2, and Vodafone, and more providers.

In the US, the iPhone 17 can be purchased from a variety of retailers, including Apple itself.

Explore more alternatives in our comprehensive guide to the top phones available.

Is the iPhone 17 Worth Buying?

For the majority of iPhone users, the concern isn’t if you should upgrade, but when. Let’s be candid: we are entrenched within the ecosystem and eventually, we will purchase another iPhone. Enthusiastic Apple fans and spenders will revel in the Pro models, while those seeking dapper pocket devices may prefer the Air.

However, for the rest of us, who may have an old model and are weighing whether to choose the new iPhone 17 or seek discounts on last year’s version, I’d assert that this is the year to invest in an upgrade. Unless you already own an iPhone 16, transitioning to the 17 will undoubtedly be a refreshing experience.

Specifications

• Operating System: iOS 26
• Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR
• Chipset: A19
• Storage Capacities: 256GB/512GB
• Rear Cameras: 48Mp f/1.6 main camera, 48Mp f/2.2 ultrawide camera
• Front Camera: 18Mp f/1.9 Centre Stage
• Charging Options: USB-C fast PD 2.0, 25W MagSafe, 25W Qi 2, and 4.5W reverse wired
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, 5G, NFC
• Water Resistance: IP68
• Dimensions: 149.6mm x 71.5mm x 7.95mm
• Weight: 177g
• Available Colors: Black, White, Mist Blue, Lavender, Sage