Review: A Week With the iPhone 17

[EugW]

my personal take on this is Apple's engineering and design department had a split and instead of compromising. They allowed them to go down their own paths .

so we get a nice robust durable feature packed pro phone and then we get the super slick Apple design air.

I would not put it past some people who have the means to buy both just like having multiple pairs of shoes or watches.

For other folks they might just prefer Apple design over the function of the other.

I disagree. I think this design language is something Apple will push more into going forward. They often do this - release one model with a new design, with other models to follow.

1. The Air will improve, and may get a second camera.
2. Some of the other models will get thinner with an Air-like design.*
3. The Fold will look somewhat like the Air x 2.

*I'm not sure what's going to happen with the Pros in the near term, but for the base iPhone (excluding the e series), I wouldn't be surprised if it looks more like an iPhone Air than an iPhone 17 in the near future.

Why is this being advertised as a $799 phone? If you buy unlocked from Apple it's $829, and the carriers charge an activation fee. Am I missing something?

You make a valid point, but FWIW, those carriers provide a $30 activation fee discount.

It does explain our Canadian $1129 pricing though, instead of $1099 pricing. CA$1129 is US$819, whereas CA$1099 would be US$796.

 

[jouster]

I’m headed in to the Apple Store after work, and I still have *no idea* what I’ll walk out with. I like all the options, including the Air. I don’t really need a Pro but I also don’t mind paying more for one—especially as I tend to keep my phones for years. I guess it’ll be a game time decision!

 

[azentropy]

The display size increase is not due to physical size increase, more due to thinning of the bezels.
It's 0.08 inches taller
0.01 inches wider
has almost the same depth
and it's 7 grams heavier

I think you're complaining for the sake of complaining.

View attachment 2552940

When they keep taking their smallest phone which you think is already too big and increasing the size and weight every year it adds up. Plenty of other options for people who want bigger phones, nothing for those who want or need them smaller.

 

[NVDA]

I disagree. I think this design language is something Apple will push more into going forward. They often do this - release one model with a new design, with other models to follow.

1. The Air will improve, and may get a second camera.
2. Some of the other models will get thinner with an Air-like design.*
3. The Fold will look somewhat like the Air x 2.

*I'm not sure what's going to happen with the Pros in the near term, but for the base iPhone (excluding the e series), I wouldn't be surprised if it looks more like an iPhone Air than an iPhone 17 in the near future.


You make a valid point, but FWIW, those carriers provide a $30 activation fee discount.

It does explain our Canadian $1129 pricing though, instead of $1099 pricing. CA$1129 is US$819, whereas CA$1099 would be US$796.

I'm also confused why there isn't an activation fee for the unlocked Pro. That now makes the difference in price between them at $270, not $300.

 

[Timpetus]

This just makes me even sadder that the mini line ended. I'd love the features of the 17 (but I agree with Dan, tele is better than ultrawide) in a mini phone.

 

[porscherain]

Make it 5.8" and its perfect

 

[Moonlight]

If only it came in a good color

 

[g35]

It does explain our Canadian $1129 pricing though, instead of $1099 pricing. CA$1129 is US$819, whereas CA$1099 would be US$796.

This is making me realize Apple is profiting off the exchange rate for Canadian Air/Pro/Max models (1.45 CAD = 1 USD) but not the regular 17 (1.37 CAD = 1 USD, same as today's market rate)

Apple collects an $75 CAD for funsies on every base model Pro Max sold in Canada lol

 

[Sir_Macs_A_Lot]

Let's drop the bit that 8 GB isn't PLENTY of RAM, now and for the next few years. The 3 year old iPhone 14 Pro has only 6 GB of RAM and I've yet to hear anyone complaining about it.

My 4 year old iPhone 13 only has 4GB or RAM, so I hope iPhone 17's 8GB means no more app reloading during multitasking.

 

[hoxuantu]

The worst review ever. It is nothing than repeating the published specs.

 

[hoxuantu]

30 hours is for offline video though. If you're streaming, advertised battery life is 27 hours which is still good.

Curiously, the Air show 27 hours offline and 22 hours streamed so a 5-hour reduction compared to the 17's 3-hour reduction.

It also depends on the screen brightness. I guess Apple tested with 0% brightness, which is a joke for watching video.

 

[Leon Nash]

I hope it’s just the new phone/os first day indexing or whatever but my 17 does this annoying little stuttering and flashing when scrolling on Safari. My iPhone 13Pro on ios18 is perfectly smooth.

 

[nymphe]

If there was a plus model, I would have upgraded from my 13 pro max to 17 plus. Of course they knew that and kept the largest display for pro max

 

[svish]

Good video. The 17 base model is a great one. With ProMotion, slightly bigger screen, better camera and battery life, double the storage at $799 makes it a fantastic purchase. Can easily recommend one. And for $100 difference between the 16 and 17, it is definitely better to go for the 17.

 

[OliOliOliOli]

Unless you have conducted a survey you don't know what 98% of the people would do. You only know what you would do.

I have eyes…

 

[Anaxarxes]

When they keep taking their smallest phone which you think is already too big and increasing the size and weight every year it adds up. Plenty of other options for people who want bigger phones, nothing for those who want or need them smaller.

Apple is not an organization that has any obligation to serve the total population.

They segment their products and try to come up with a sensiable choice for most people.

Some people would find their offering not meeting their needs and that’s ok.

They are not required to serve the entirety of the users.

They tried to create the mini version of the iPhone, it did not sell well, the pulled the plug and that’s it.

They most likely have a great market research data that shows the need for such mini phones, and if it’s not growing and there is not enough pull from the market, they will not develop a product that serves that segment.

Very easy to understand actually.

 

[klasma]

I think this statement "and this is the first time the iPhone 17 has had two 48-megapixel lenses" meant to say something like "this is the first time the base model of an iPhone has had two 48-megapixel lenses" since, of course, there never was an iPhone 17 before this release.

The statement isn’t wrong, however.