Overview

• After more than a month of daily use, Tom’s Guide says the iPhone 17 offers the best bang-for-the-buck in Apple’s lineup, praising the 120Hz display and low-light photography while faulting Apple Intelligence and the limited Camera Control button.
• Mashable calls the iPhone 17 the most sensible standard model in years, noting Pro-like smoothness from ProMotion with Always On and StandBy, strong battery life, and camera results that approach the Pros without a dedicated telephoto.
• Key hardware includes Apple’s A19 chip, a base 256GB of storage, and a 48MP wide plus ultra‑wide rear setup that enables macro photography, with reviewers reporting little real‑world performance gap versus pricier models.
• Apple rates the phone for up to 30 hours of video playback versus 22 hours on the iPhone 16, and reviewers report reliable all‑day endurance that can stretch into a second day with lighter use.
• Buyers weighing the lineup face the iPhone Air’s thinner design at a higher price and shorter battery with no ultra‑wide, while the $799 iPhone 17 also differs from Pro models by lacking telephoto and, per teardowns, carrying 8GB of RAM versus 12GB.