The iPhone Air may get most of the attention at today's Apple event, but the "regular" iPhone 17 is the one a lot of the iOS faithful will buy. This year's new model may not look like a massive overhaul since the design is mostly the same, but don't let that fool you. The company has massively upgraded the display to include ProMotion and a 120Hz refresh rate. There's more power under the hood, ready to harness all of the features that Apple Intelligence and iOS 26 provide. Plus, there's eight more hours of battery life and faster charging when you need it. And I haven't even mentioned the camera updates yet, which are highlighted by the Center Stage front camera.
With the introduction of the iPhone Air, Apple nixed the iPhone 17 Plus. Now you're left to decide between the 6.3-inch iPhone 17, 6.5-inch iPhone Air or the 6.9-inch iPhone 17 Pro Max (and 6.3-inch Pro) — if you're primarily concerned with size. I was worried the company would leave us with a 6.1-inch base iPhone, a handset that feels incredibly small after I finally got used to the iPhone 16 Plus. I'm happy to report that the iPhone 17 bridges the gap nicely, and I don't think the smaller "regular" model will be a strain on my delicate sensibilities.
Billy Steele for Engadget
On first glance, the real star of the show this year is the majorly upgraded display on the iPhone 17. Not only is it slightly larger, but it now has a 120Hz refresh rate and supports Apple's ProMotion tech. The difference between this new model and my iPhone 16 Plus was immediately apparent. Colors are more vivid, details are sharper and it's just more pleasant to look at. Of course, I wasn't able to dive into the finer points of what the upgrade provides in a quick demo, but I walked away impressed after my first glance at the phone.
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I was also able to briefly try the new Center Stage front camera in the lobby outside the Steve Jobs Theater. There are other camera updates on the iPhone 17, but this one will be what is most beneficial to most people. It automatically changes orientation as more people enter the frame for selfies, and most importantly, it does so quickly without any jitters or lag. It worked well on multiple attempts I observed, and it's one of the few new features I'm looking forward to testing further.
Additionally, Dual Capture, the ability to record footage from both the rear and front-facing cameras at the same time, will be great for recording reaction videos. A busy demo area outside of an Apple keynote isn't the most exciting spot for this, but what I was able to see excited me for my upcoming afternoons of youth sports.
We'll have to wait for our full review for a deep dive on the rest of the new features on the iPhone 17, but after my first introduction, I anticipate that this could be the most robust annual update in several years.
"Awe dropping" event has concluded after the company announced new iPhones, Apple Watch and AirPods models, as expected. The full rundown of new releases: the iPhone 17, iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max; the AirPods Pro 3 (with live translation and a heart rate sensor); and the Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. The company also confirmed that all of its new operating system upgrades including iOS 26 will be available as free upgrades on September 15. Stay with Engadget for continued live coverage of the iPhone 17 launch.