Word on the street is that Apple’s new iPhone lineup is getting appreciation for its vanilla variant. While the iPhone 17 Pro models pack all the heavy tech, the iPhone 17 manages to steal the show with its incremental upgrades. When it landed in our test lab, I had to put it through its paces, and I have things to tell!
iPhone 17 Review: It’s been ages since Apple has been teasing fans by packing all the good stuff into its Pro models. The base iPhones, for the longest time, were mostly about a rich experience, a sleek UI, and let’s be honest, a little bit of show-off. Every year in our reviews, we had the same question: when will the base models get their fair share?
Things started to change with the iPhone 16 series. For the first time, Apple brought parity on the software front, as vanilla iPhone 16 users got all the latest iOS 18 features, including Apple Intelligence, just like the Pros. And now, with the iPhone 17, Apple is finally going after what we have been craving: hardware upgrades. You are basically getting the same 120Hz display as the iPhone 17 Pro, better battery and performance than the iPhone Air, and all this at a price way lower than the other models.
But along with that, the vanilla iPhone doesn’t come for Rs 79,900 anymore; it demands Rs 82,900 now. So, with all the new claims, prices, and features, I had to test the iPhone 17 to come out with an opinion on ‘Is iPhone 17 really the most sensible iPhone this year?’ And here’s what I found out!
Small, handy, and premium
Before I switched to the iPhone 17, I used the iPhone 16 for a long time. I really loved the pocket-friendly form factor of that smartphone with just the right size and weight. And the iPhone 17 doesn’t feel like a big change. This phone is also small, handy, and premium. The curved edges give you a nice grip on the smartphone, and the matte finish on the back just completes the overall in-hand feel. Apple is offering the iPhone 17 in five colours: Lavender, Sage (the one I am using), Mist Blue, Black, and White. If you ask me, I really liked the Lavender one, and in fact, the Sage variant also feels minimal and clean.
Yes, it did put on some weight – 0.2mm thicker and 7 grams heavier compared to the iPhone 16, but it’s very hard to differentiate if we forget about numbers.
In terms of looks, the iPhone 17 is not much of a departure from its predecessor. You get an aluminium body, a camera control button on the right side of the frame, which I am still trying to get a hang of, two camera rings on the back just like the iPhone 16, and of course, the Dynamic Island.
On the left side of the frame, you get the same action button and volume rockers. At the bottom, there are two speaker grills and a USB-C 2.0 port. Now, for some people, the USB-C 2.0 could be a problem because it only offers 480Mbps of data transfer, while the Pro models get faster USB 3.0 (up to 10Gbps).
Now, about the durability, we all know iPhones have become tough, yet we all don’t want to use them without back covers. With all that great weight distribution and balance, the iPhone 17 features Ceramic Shield 2 on the front, Ceramic Shield on the back, and an IP68 rating. The phone sounds tough, and I am sure it is, but still using it with a back cover on would be my suggestion, as Apple’s repairs are still way overpriced. For example, the most basic fix, cracked back, will cost you Rs 14,900 on the iPhone 17. Yes, the smartphone gets a little bulky when you put a back cover, but psychologically, you’d be chill about your phone, which is any day over the sleekness of the phone.
iPhone 17’s display is such a GEM
This 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display is one of the biggest flexes of the iPhone 17, and almost every one of you knows why. For the first time ever, the base iPhone now comes with a 120Hz refresh rate, something that should have happened way earlier, but here we go. Last year, we all loved the display of the iPhone 16, except that it was only a 60Hz panel. Now this time, it’s even a better display, with one con that has been acknowledged. Oh, also, the iPhone 17 now features Always On display as well, which was exclusive to Pro models till now.
Watching HDR content is bliss with deep blacks, so your Netflix binge sessions are sorted. The colours are vivid and pleasing to the eye. With this display, Apple delivers what you would expect from a display on the iPhone 17.
Coming to the brightness, in our tests, the iPhone 17 peaked at 1820 nits of peak brightness on auto mode in daylight. Indoors, this brightness level works perfectly well, but outdoor visibility, under harsh sunlight, does take a hit. And to keep up with the demand and provide enough brightness, the phone consumes a lot of battery. So, if you have a long day on the road, don’t leave without a battery backup. Now, that doesn’t mean it has a bad battery backup. I’ll come to that part in a while.
At last, all I want to say is that iPhone 17’s display is a gem. You are getting the exact same display on this one as the iPhone 17 Pro: A 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display that supports a 120Hz refresh rate and comes with 2622 x 1206 pixels resolution.
Plenty of power, thanks to A19 chip!
On the performance front as well, we have noted a good bump. The iPhone 17 is equipped with a powerful A19 chip, which is capable of handling on-device AI, day-to-day use, and heavy usage like editing and gaming very smoothly.
In our testing, the iPhone 17 has scored well, even better than the iPhone 16 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S25, and Pixel 10. In AnTuTu, the phone has scored over 2.1 million points, and the Geekbench scores are also really promising, reflecting more than enough power and balanced distribution of it. Yes, we couldn’t run CPU Throttling on it, but Apple is known for its optimisation, which means it keeps that power consistent.
Although throttling isn’t completely gone. The iPhone 17 still gets warm while running benchmarks or using its cameras, the usual iPhone thing. This year, it’s the Pro models with the bigger vapour chamber, maybe next year, the base models will get it too.
One good thing happened. This year, the base model of the iPhone 17 starts with a 256GB storage variant. So, I think now that the Rs 3000 price hike would start making sense to you.
Now, if you want the iPhone 17 for gaming, which I won’t suggest, here’s what our testing revealed. In BGMI, the iPhone 17 only supports up to 60 FPS, which is crazy stable, but still 60 FPS? Even with the A19 chip and 120Hz refresh rate? That doesn’t make sense to me. So, let’s wait because there are possibilities that it will start supporting at least 90 FPS gameplay on BGMI.
Now, this is not the reason why I won’t suggest this phone for gaming; it’s the form factor that feels too small for gaming (even smaller if you have big hands). The iPhone 17 is not a gaming phone; it’s a daily driver that can fit in your pocket comfortably and handle all your daily tasks as well as intensive tasks without breaking a sweat. While gaming, the compact form factor wasn’t ideal.
What’s cooking with iOS 26?
The iPhone 17 lineup runs on iOS 26 out of the box. The standout change is the new Liquid Glass interface, which reimagines the entire look and feel of iOS. It’s striking and modern, though it may take some getting used to. Thankfully, Apple has built in plenty of customisation options, so you can tweak the experience to suit your style. And honestly, it is pretty fun.
I have been customising and changing my lock screen every other day, and the spatial wallpaper looks good. Although it does drain a lot of battery, and sometimes, it stops working too. Hoping that Apple will fix that with the next iOS 26 update.
As expected, software support remains a strong point, offering at least seven years of updates. That’s reliable and also challenging for the seven-year promise from Google’s Pixel phones and Samsung’s Galaxy series.
Feature-wise, iOS 26 refines a lot of the essentials. The Photos app feels cleaner, unlike iOS 18, Messages now has interactive tools like polls, and Apple Intelligence continues to evolve. Live Translation makes multilingual conversations more natural, Visual Intelligence does a better job of recognising what you point your camera at, and the Image Playground offers creative ways to generate visuals.
And leave all the numbers, benefits, and features aside, I just love it when Apple makes visual changes to its software. And with iOS 26, it was a long time coming.
But still, Apple Intelligence is not as accurate as Google’s Gemini and Samsung’s Galaxy AI. For example, you must have seen a lot of Image eraser comparison reels between Apple and Samsung, where Apple Intelligence didn’t do a very good job. So, if cutting-edge AI is your priority, Samsung might be a better choice.
Much improved cameras, but still 2x
The iPhone 17 still sticks with two cameras on the back, but with a refreshed secondary sensor and selfie shooter upfront. Apple also reworked the Camera app in iOS 26. It looks cleaner when you first open it, but some of the advanced stuff is now hidden away. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.
The 48-megapixel Fusion sensor does what iPhones usually do best and offers clean, balanced photos with solid detail. If we compare it with the iPhone 16’s camera, the pictures look vibrant, more natural, and detailed. However, like last year, I still wish Apple had given us more than just 2x telephoto zoom on the vanilla iPhones.
Low-light shots have gotten better with less grain and more consistent sharpness than before. The iPhone 17 does not try to over-brighten the scene, just keeps things clear and natural, which feels more true to how our eyes see it.
Portrait mode feels smoother this year with beautiful bokeh in the background. The edges on portrait shots are tight with background blur that looks less artificial. Apple has also worked on skin tones to make pictures look more natural, even under bad lighting.
Big win here is the ultrawide sensor. Apple finally upgraded the ultrawide camera to a 48-megapixel lens. Pictures that it clicks are pretty much like pictures you like with the main camera, but with a bigger FOV. Corners are sharper, detail is better, and low-light shots don’t fall apart like they used to.
And lastly, the new 18-megapixel selfie shooter with Centre Stage. It takes good, high-quality selfies with true-to-eye skin tone. While Center Stage comes in handy for selfies, it also makes video calls feel more dynamic. Oh, and yes, iPhones finally get Dual Capture. Android had it for years, but hey, better late than never.
22 hours on loop, 6–7 hours on daily use
The majority of iPhone users, or even interested buyers, have one common concern: battery. And with a 120Hz panel, Always On display, and on-device AI, how much can a 3692 mAh battery do? Turns out, enough.
I put the iPhone 17’s battery to a drain test. A Full HD+ video was kept on loop, and the smartphone lasted for about 22 hours. On moderate to heavy usage, you can expect around 6–7 hours of continuous screen time if you’ve charged the phone up to 80%. And if you are okay with compromising Always On display and 120Hz refresh rate, you can always opt for the Low Battery mode, which will effectively give you a better screen time.
Why is iPhone 17 the most sensible iPhone of 2025?
The iPhone 17 is not flashy, but it is practical, and that is its biggest strength. You are getting a Pro-level display, excellent performance, better cameras, and a good battery life, all at a price lower than the Pro models. Yes, compared to last year, the price is Rs 3,000 higher. But you are also getting a 256GB variant at this price, so I think that balances things out.
If you have an unlimited budget, sure, you can go grab the iPhone 17 Pro Max. But if you want the smartest, most sensible iPhone in 2025, the iPhone 17 is the one to buy.
Apple iPhone 17 Key Specs, Price and Launch Date
| Release Date: | 09 Sep, 2025 |
| Market Status: | Launched |
Key Specifications
Follow Us
Mustafa Khan
Mustafa is a young tech journalist who tells it like it is, cutting through buzzwords to deliver straightforward smartphone reviews. He’s the office go-to for insider tips and quick demos, and his video content doesn’t waste anyone’s time. When he’s off the clock, he geeks out over cars, photography, and hunting down the best spot for Indian food. View Full Profile
