Apple wrapped it its ‘Awe dropping’ launch event for the new iPhone models, Apple Watches, and AirPods Pro 3 yesterday. While the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro are much more interesting – I think the base model iPhone 17 will actually end up being a sleeper hit. Here’s why.
iPhone 17 inherits the ‘Pro’ display experience
In many ways, the iPhone 17 is an iPhone 16 Pro without a telephoto camera, but $300 cheaper. An iPhone 16 Pro 256GB would cost $1099, and now an iPhone 17 256GB costs just $799.
At that price, you get the same great 6.3″ OLED display with ProMotion as the iPhone 16 Pro. You also get incredibly thin display borders, which has previously been a compromise on non-Pro iPhones.
Plus, you get things like an Always-On Display, up to 3000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. In pretty much every meaningful way, you aren’t losing out on display features with the standard iPhone 17.
Other great iPhone 17 upgrades
Obviously, iPhone 17 is the least flashy new phone out of the lineup, but it still inherits everything great about the new phones.
Battery life takes a pretty massive leap with the iPhone 17, with it now offering 30 hours of video playback. That’s a big step-up from 22 hours on iPhone 16 and 27 hours on iPhone 16 Pro.
You also get Apple’s incredible new selfie camera with Center Stage, which in my opinion is going to be this year’s killer feature.
Outside of display, battery life, and selfie cameras – you also get Apple’s latest A19 chip, its new Ceramic Shield 2 display cover, and a new 48MP Ultra Wide sensor (up from last year’s 12MP).
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