When I first got my hands on the iPhone 17, I instantly noticed how Apple managed to make this device feel both new and familiar at once. The model sits proudly in the lineup, with the Pro versions grabbing the spotlight, yet the baseline iPhone still packs enough advancements and improvements to make it worth your attention. From its ultra-slim design to the vivid orange display, the screen feels almost alive—technically narrowing the chasm separating it from its pricey counterparts.
What’s truly notable is how Apple’s upgrades go beyond just cameras and battery life; the performance and storage options like 128GB and 256GB finally give users the bang for their buck. Sure, the price starts at around ₹82,900 and goes up to ₹1,02,900 depending on your carrier and activation option, but compared to the rest of the market, it still feels like an all-encompassing package that ticks key boxes.
This year’s iPhone might not be the most revolutionary Apple phone, but the subtle, striking touches—like that vivid orange finish—make it hard to overlook. Even my friends and colleagues who usually skip the baseline models are curious, and honestly, I can’t blame them. The iPhone 17 is more than just another entry-level option; it’s Apple’s way of replacing predictability with a hint of fanfare and a sense that you’re getting a fortune’s worth in one sleek package.
iPhone 17 Display Upgrades: A Fresh Look
The iPhone 17 brings a larger frame and a 6.3-inch display, making content viewing far more immersive compared to the iPhone 16 with its 6.1-inch display. Apple has kept the bezels thin, giving the screen a sleek feel similar to the Google Pixel 10, and the always-on display is now available even on non-Pro and baseline iPhone models. I personally found it exciting to see the notifications, calls, texts, and DoorDash or Uber orders without unlocking the phone, making everyday functionality feel smoother and more intuitive. The 1-120Hz display truly enhances the fluidity, and the feature of extending this to the baseline counterparts feels like Apple is bridging the gap between Pro phones and the entry-level models.
Bigger, Brighter, and Easier to See
Beyond just size, the iPhone 17 display upgrades include a 3,000-nit peak brightness and anti-reflective coating, making it easy to see under bright outdoors sunlight.
Performance Close to Pro Models
Compared to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, the adaptive refresh rate ensures smooth visuals without a step down, keeping it top-of-the-line in terms of performance alongside devices like the infinix note 10 pro and Samsung Galaxy a31.
Daily Use Made Simpler
The appearance is newer, excitedly welcomed this year, and the display makes content viewing feel easier, more responsive, and technically on par with high-end phones, letting me bring the full experience to my rides, orders, and daily notifications without compromise.
iPhone 17: Durable and Colorful Design
The iPhone 17 stands out with its aluminum frame and matte texture, giving the phone a premium feel while remaining tough for everyday use. Its back glass extends across the sides for a cohesive appearance, and the colors are simply eye-catching. I personally love the lavender, which is a gentle shade with a cloudy-white soft undertone, and other options like black, white, sage, and mist blue make it easy on the eyes. Seeing all these shades at Apple Park during the fall iPhone event was pleasing, and I can confidently say that Apple has made the iPhone 17 not just durable but also stylish.
Ceramic Shield and Scratch Protection
The Ceramic Shield 2 display brings scratch resistance three times better than previous models, making phones’ displays more secure from scuffs and scratches, even without a case or screen protector. For those upgrading from the pricier iPhone Air, the dual-speaker system delivers balanced sound, unlike the single top speaker of the Air, which can feel lopsided.
While the baseline model may have a less powerful processor than counterparts like the iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max, its performance in videos, games, and benchmarks like Geekbench 6, 3DMark, and Wild Life Extreme keeps it competitive with the iPhone 16 series, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 lineup, and even Galaxy S25 lineup. The iPhone 17 is a solid combination of durability, color, and reliable performance for daily use.
iPhone 17: iOS 26 Customization Made Easy
The iPhone 17 with iOS 26 introduces the Liquid Glass design, giving the interface a clean, modern look. The translucent controls make content on the screen feel lighter and easier to focus on, while app icons can now be arranged in a way that suits your personal style. With small adjustments, the new design lets you take a step toward a more intuitive experience, making your phone feel both familiar and fresh at the same time.
Enhanced Messaging and Lock Screen Features
Group texts now come with the ability to upgrade with fun backgrounds and polls, helping you plan hangouts with friends in an easier way. It’s simpler to decide where to grab dinner or organize social plans. The Lock screen also gets smarter with options to expand height for time display and watch notifications squish across the screen. The Spatial Scene setting adds a three-dimensional effect to your wallpaper, bringing your Hogwarts lock screen or favorite backgrounds to life.
Live Translation and Visual Intelligence
Live Translation makes voice calling, FaceTime, and iMessage more versatile, as automated voice translation can mimic a speaker’s voice across calls, though a slight lag may occur. Apple’s Visual Intelligence feature works with Google, Circle to Search, and platforms like Etsy and Poshmark, letting you squiggle on a screenshot or screen to get relevant links and information. Combined with ChatGPT, Photos, and Screen Capture settings like Full-Screen Previews, defaults, and tick box options, iOS 26 ensures saving screenshots is instantaneous, making it easy to take action and learn new ways to use your iPhone 17 every day.
iPhone 17 Camera: Sharper and Smarter
The iPhone 17 takes photography to a new level with two rear cameras, including a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 48-megapixel ultrawide, offering much more photo-taking flexibility than the solo rear camera on the iPhone Air. Compared to the 12-megapixel ultrawide camera on the iPhone 16, the upgrade gives sharper texture, better brightness, and the option for 0.5x photos or Cinematic mode videos. Even the baseline device feels more capable, making it easy to save on storage space without sacrificing quality. For those dreaming big, this entry-level model competes well with the entry-level Pixel 10 and other less expensive iPhone models, proving that a case for outstanding camera performance can be made without paying for Pro models.
Selfie and Dual Capture Features
On the front, the 18-megapixel selfie camera with Center Stage adjusts automatically between portrait and landscape as more people enter the frame, so you don’t have to rotate the phone manually. Dual Capture allows recording from both the front camera and back camera at the same time, producing picture-in-picture footage similar to a FaceTime call. This makes concert videos and other dynamic moments more interesting and versatile, letting you capture both perspectives without missing a beat. The iPhone 17 lineup clearly balances professional-grade features with everyday usability, making photography effortless and fun.
iPhone 17 Battery: Long-Lasting and Smart
The iPhone 17 impresses with its battery life, offering up to 30 hours of video playback and support for a 40-watt charger. Even with heavy use like taking photos, browsing social media, listening to audiobooks and music, texting, or watching videos, the full battery easily lasts over a day. In my experience, starting with a full charge around 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., I still had between 44% to 47% left after 12 hours, and around 30% the next morning, which is reassuring. In 45-minute endurance tests with streaming, video calls, and games, the iPhone 17 matched the iPhone 17 Pro and even outperformed the iPhone Air, showing how reliable the iPhone 17 Pro Max is as well.
Adaptive Power and Smart Management
With iOS 26, the iPhone 17 includes Adaptive Power Mode, which automatically adjusts battery life by lowering display brightness, scaling CPU speeds, and managing background activities. This low power mode learns your habits over a week and can trigger at the right time to give you extra juice when needed. During 3-hour streaming over Wi-Fi, watching a YouTube video in full-screen mode at full brightness and 1080p, the battery dropped from 100% to 89%, while the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro reached 85% and the iPhone 17 Pro Max went to 91%, proving that iPhone 17 balances performance and long-lasting battery perfectly.
Should You Buy the iPhone 17?
If you’re looking for a baseline iPhone that still feels like a worthy upgrade, the iPhone 17 from Apple is a strong contender in the market. With notable upgrades to the display and camera, including a dual rear camera system, Cinematic Videos, Center Stage, and Dual Capture, it handles photos and videos better than the iPhone Air and many baseline devices.
While the Pro model, iPhone 17 Pro, or Pro Max offers extra features like Dynamic Island and the Action button, the iPhone 17 still delivers practical hardware features, Apple Intelligence, and Camera Control button functionality at an ₹82,900 price, compared to ₹1,02,900 for the Pro model. For users coming from iPhone 14, non-Pro iPhone 15, or even iPhone 16, it’s an enticing option that ticks all the basics without glaring compromises, making this device a worthwhile choice this year.
