Apple iPhone 17 Review

By Lewis Painter

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Introduction

The iPhone 17 might look the same as the iPhone 16, but it actually represents one of Apple’s biggest year-on-year upgrades in years. 

Sure, it misses out on the updated look of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, but in its place, we’ve seen genuine improvements to key areas of the iPhone experience, from display tech to camera hardware, that not only help close the gap between the base-level and Pro-level iPhones, but make the iPhone 17 the easiest entry-level model to recommend in years.

Design

• Same look, but still iconic
• Great colour options
• Durable and lightweight

Apple had an absolute corker of a year where iPhone design is concerned; not only did we see a totally redesigned iPhone 17 Pro with new colourful finishes, but we were treated to the ultra-slim, impressively light iPhone Air. The iPhone 17, on the other hand? That’s business as usual.

Unlike others in the most recent iPhone collection, the iPhone 17 looks a lot like the iPhone 16 – though I don’t mean that as a criticism. 

I love the look of the base-level iPhone; the flat edges and rounded corners imitated by the rest of the smartphone industry still look just as iconic as when it debuted on the iPhone 12, with nice touches like a frosted glass panel that adds a bit of depth to the rear of the phone without any kind of in-your-face patterns or finishes. 

That’s especially true of the iPhone 17 in colourways like Sage and Mist Blue – these shades just look great, and it’d be a shame to hide it behind a case, even if that’s what literally everyone will do when they get their new iPhone. If you’re devoid of joy in your life and prefer subtler shades, the matte black finish has a premium feel about it without being too in-your-face – but hey, live a little. 

Really, though, it’s a familiar design. You’ll find the programmable Action button on the left side of the phone, sitting just above the volume rockers, with the power button and the infamous Camera Control on the right. 

I’d have loved for Apple to tweak the placement of the Camera Control, as it still sits just too far from my finger to be comfortable enough to use to swipe to change settings or even take a photo, but it’s handy enough to squeeze to access the Camera app quickly. But, then again, you could also do that with the Action button… Hm.

Apple has also upped the durability of this year’s entry-level iPhone with the use of Ceramic Shield 2 protection on both the front and back, which should help protect the glass from micro-scratches as well as shattering from falls – though I’m not about to drop the iPhone from a balcony to test that. I’ll leave that to the YouTubers and TikTokers.

Elsewhere, IP68 dust and water resistance make a return for added peace of mind at the pool, at the beach, or in my case, in a dust-ridden room I’m redecorating. You can even dunk the phone to wash it off – though I should probably also mention that Apple won’t replace a water-damaged iPhone, so do that at your own risk. 

You’ve no doubt seen upgraded IP69 and even IP69K ratings appear on some of the best Android phones, but I’m of the opinion that it’s more of a marketing ploy than genuinely useful; why would my phone need protection from high-pressure hot water jets, anyway? IP68 is all you really need, and that’s what you get here. 

Screen

• 120Hz ProMotion is finally here
• Bigger 6.3-inch screen but still nice to use
• Super bright

The iPhone 17 has fixed the one big issue I’ve had with entry-level iPhones for years; it finally features a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. 

The ProMotion tech that was once exclusive to the Pro models is now available across the range, and it’s the same LTPO-enabled tech, allowing it to drop down to 1Hz – unlike some 120Hz phones that don’t drop far below 60Hz. It’s more power efficient, which is a massive boon for battery life, and it just feels much smoother in day-to-day use.  

It might not sound like a big change, but apps feel more responsive, games feel faster and scrolling is completely jitter-free – and I haven’t ever been able to say that about the base-level iPhone. In fact, since its debut on the iPhone 13 Pro, ProMotion tech has been one of the biggest drivers behind my decision to opt for Apple’s Pro models. With the iPhone 17, I no longer feel that need. 

It’s not just a much slicker panel; it’s actually a little bigger at 6.3 inches compared to 6.1 inches, though with the same physical footprint as its predecessor, thanks to shrunken-down bezels that also help it look premium without stepping on the toes of the Pro models too much. 

As such, the 6.3-inch screen is a joy to use in day-to-day life, offering the ease of one-handed use associated with smaller panels while still being big enough to enjoy a spot of Monument Valley 3 or an hour-long TikTok binge without feeling like I need a bigger screen. 

It’s also packed with other high-end tech as you’d expect from a flagship iPhone, with a boosted 3000nits peak brightness (1600nits HBM) that makes outdoor viewing a doddle while also making HDR-compatible videos truly pop on-screen. The OLED nature of the screen means it’s vivid and colourful while maintaining dark, inky blacks that lends itself well to most everyday smartphone tasks. 

Frankly, it’s the best screen yet on an entry-level iPhone, and an upgrade that I’m confident that everyone – even the high refresh rate nay-sayers – will appreciate. 

Cameras

• New 48MP ultrawide alongside 48MP main
• Innovative 18MP selfie camera
• Consistently solid performance across the board

I’ll get this out of the way early; if you’re serious about photography, the iPhone 17 Pro is the model to go for – the high-res tetraprism telephoto sensor adds serious versatility to the shooting experience, along with pro-level video recording capabilities that content creators will appreciate. 

That said, I think the iPhone 17’s dual camera setup is pretty solid for most people. 

The headline act is, of course, the main 48MP sensor. It delivers a consistently sharp, colour-accurate image with the kind of “always good” processing that Apple is known for. Skin tones look great, and there’s very rarely a hint of overprocessing – even in more complex lighting situations – that you sometimes see from Android alternatives. 

Of course, a dedicated telephoto would be preferable, but the 2x in-sensor zoom delivers good quality shots at a tighter angle. In good light, you can push it to around 4x before things look a little spotty, and for most people, that’s more than enough. 

The main sensor really helps narrow the gap between the regular and Pro models, delivering a simple point-and-shoot premise with generally solid results, even once light levels begin to drop. 

This year’s upgraded 48MP ultrawide shouldn’t be sniffed at though. The jump from 12MP to 48MP on the secondary sensor is as big a jump as it sounds, not only in terms of overall resolution but also in the quality of images captured from the lens, especially in low-light, one of the weak points of the lower-res alternative. 

I’ll admit, I’m not usually one to use an ultrawide lens in shots – I much prefer getting closer to the action with zoom lenses – but even I’ve been tempted to use the iPhone 17’s ultrawide more often. It matches the main sensor both in terms of overall detail and colour, even when light levels are less than ideal.