Apple’s mainstream iPhone just got a lot more Pro. iPhone 17 brings a bigger 6.3-inch 120Hz display, revamped cameras, and the new A19 chip for a clear jump in speed and battery life.
While camera obsessives will still be tempted by the iPhone 17 Pro for its best-in-class camera system, iPhone 17 narrows the gap in all the right places – ProMotion, brighter outdoor viewing, bigger battery gains, and a front camera that actually changes how you shoot. For many people, this will be the sweet-spot upgrade. Let’s take a look at the details.
Speed and Intelligence
Apple says the 6-core CPU in its new A19 chip is up to 1.5x faster than A15, a stat which sounds impressive but is only relevant if you’re upgrading from the years-old iPhone 13. Either way, A19 is no slouch, also boasting a chunky 5-core GPU with neural accelerators in every core fine-tuned for Apple Intelligence. All that jargon translates to snappier photo processing, smoother high-end games, and quicker on-device AI. This chip should hold up for years to come if you like to hang onto your devices for the long haul.
Battery and efficiency
Thanks to A19 and smarter power management in iOS 26, Apple rates iPhone 17 for up to 30 hours of video playback – that’s eight hours more than last year. A new Adaptive Power Mode learns your usage to help you reach the end of the day, and fast charging hits about 50% in 20 minutes with a high-watt USB-C adapter.
A bigger, smoother, tougher display
The Super Retina XDR screen is slightly bigger than last year at 6.3 inches and finally adds ProMotion to the non-Pro line, scaling up to 120Hz for silky scrolling and down to 1Hz for the Always-On display. Outdoor visibility gets a serious boost with 3000-nit peak brightness and 2x better outdoor contrast, while a new coating called Ceramic Shield 2 provides 3x better scratch resistance and reduced glare. Very nice.
A smarter front camera
Apple’s most interesting camera change is on the front, with plenty of improvements aimed at selfie lovers and content creators. The new Center Stage selfie camera uses an all-new square sensor to capture up to 18MP with a wider field of view. Hold the phone vertically and tap a button to switch between shooting portrait or landscape, meaning you can reframe your shot without physically rotating the iPhone. Meanwhile, AI can widen the frame for group shots. It stabilizes 4K HDR video and supports Dual Capture so you can record with front and rear cameras at once. On video calls, Center Stage keeps you framed as you move.
A new Fusion camera system on the back
iPhone 17 moves the two-piece rear system to 48MP sensors: a 48MP Fusion Main with optical-quality 2x Telephoto, plus a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide that’s sharper for landscapes and detailed macro shots. New and improved Photographic Styles tweak color, highlights, and shadows in real time, while video capture gains 4K60 Dolby Vision, Spatial Audio capture, wind-noise reduction, and spatial photos and videos for Apple Vision Pro.
Bells and whistles
Modern connectivity gets a lift from the new N1 wireless chip, enabling Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread – and improving the reliability of Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. About time. An eSIM-only variant rolls out in select countries and regions, which simplifies travel and boosts security since a SIM can’t be physically removed. As you’d expect, you also get USB-C, MagSafe, IP68 water resistance, and the latest iOS 26 design with Liquid Glass.
Price and availability
Storage finally starts at 256GB, with a 512GB option for those who need a bit more space. Colors are black, lavender, mist blue, sage, and white. iPhone 17 starts at $799, with pre-orders from Friday, September 12 and availability from Friday, September 19.