Apple iPhone 17 Hands On A Surprisingly Robust Update for the Mainstream
While the flashy new iPhone Air is grabbing all the headlines from today’s Apple event, the standard iPhone 17 is the phone that will likely find its way into the pockets of most iOS users. This year’s base model might not look like a complete redesign on the surface, but that first impression is deceiving. Apple has delivered a massive internal upgrade that makes this one of the most significant annual updates in recent memory.
The most immediately noticeable improvement is the display. The screen is now slightly larger at 6.3 inches, a welcome step up from the previous 6.1-inch base model that now feels quite small. More importantly, it now features a 120Hz refresh rate with ProMotion support. The difference is stark when compared to last year’s iPhone 16 Plus. The motion is incredibly smooth, colors are more vivid, and everything just looks sharper and more pleasant to use.
Under the hood, Apple has packed in more power to handle all the new capabilities coming with Apple Intelligence and iOS 26. Battery life also gets a major boost with an additional eight hours of usage, and the phone supports faster charging for when you need a quick top-up.
The camera system sees meaningful updates, headlined by the new Center Stage front-facing camera. I had a chance to test this feature briefly and it works impressively well. It automatically adjusts the frame as more people enter the shot during selfies, and it does so quickly and smoothly without any jitter or lag. This is a feature that will genuinely benefit a lot of people in their daily use.
Another new camera feature is Dual Capture, which allows you to record video from both the front and rear cameras simultaneously. This is perfect for capturing reaction videos or vlogging, and I am personally excited to try it out at my kids’ sports games.
With the introduction of the iPhone Air, Apple has decided to discontinue the iPhone Plus model. The lineup now consists of the 6.3-inch iPhone 17, the super-slim 6.5-inch iPhone Air, and the 6.9-inch iPhone 17 Pro Max, along with a 6.3-inch Pro model. The new base iPhone 17 sits in a great spot, offering a screen size that feels modern and spacious without being overly large.
After a first look, the iPhone 17 feels like a winner. It may not have the radical new design of the Air, but it brings a suite of substantial upgrades where it counts most the display, performance, battery life, and cameras. For the majority of users, this looks to be the most compelling and well-rounded iPhone update in years. We look forward to putting it through its paces in a full review soon.
