Apple iPhone 17 review

The competition

The base Apple iPhone 17, which now comes with 256 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM, costs USD 799/EUR 949/GBP 799/INR 82,900/CNY 5,999/JPY 129,800. That's not cheap by any means, but it is also not more expensive than last year. There are numerous good alternatives to consider.

First, let's look into Apple's own lineup. While supplies last for roughly the same money, the iPhone 16 Pro offers a more premium titanium build, faster USB 3.2 wired data, LiDAR, and, crucially, a dedicated 5x periscope telephoto camera. It also matches the 17's 120Hz LTPO panel and adds Pro-grade video options. On the other hand, it's heavier and has a smaller battery, and its A18 Pro is a generation behind the A19. The iPhone 17 counters with a lighter body, faster charging and twice the storage at the same price.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Samsung's compact Galaxy S25 flagship is lighter, cheaper, and still delivers a 120Hz LTPO OLED panel, a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with 12GB RAM, and a 3x telephoto lens - plus DeX and an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint reader. The iPhone 17 fires back with better battery life, more impressive video capture, and Apple's ecosystem niceties (UWB, satellite messaging), as well as that innovative stabilized selfie camera.

Samsung Galaxy S25 • Google Pixel 10 • OnePlus 13s • vivo X200 FE

The Google Pixel 10 gives you a 5x telephoto lens, a clean Android experience, long software support, and competitive pricing. It's a strong stills shooter out of the box and offers Google conveniences like Circle to Search and on-device AI features. The iPhone 17 remains the more competent video tool (Dolby Vision up to 4K60 on all cams) and benefits from Apple's faster NVMe storage and the upgraded ultrawide/selfie hardware. If you value zoom and Google's photo look, the Pixel 10 wins; if you capture a lot of video and want longer battery life, the iPhone 17 is the safer pick.

The OnePlus 13s gives you headline performance (Snapdragon 8 Elite, 12 GB RAM), a slick 120Hz LTPO panel and outstanding stamina from a 5,850mAh cell with 80W charging-at a price that's typically well below the iPhone's. You even get a 2x tele camera, but the iPhone's digital zoom is arguably working better than that. iPhone 17 comes with IP68, MagSafe/Qi2 wireless charging (and a better accessory ecosystem), more versatile ultrawide and selfie cameras and stronger video capabilities.

The vivo X200 FE is a compact powerhouse with an impressive 6,500mAh battery with 90W charging. It also manages to fit in a periscope 3x telephoto lens, IP68/IP69-certified body, and a bright 120Hz LTPO display. It also offers ample RAM options and an IR blaster. It has slightly slower storage, a basic 8 MP ultrawide and no Qi2 charging or MagSafe accessories.

Our verdict

Apple finally gave the vanilla iPhone the two upgrades that matter most day-to-day: a premium 120 Hz LTPO display (with thin bezels) and usable base storage. A meaningfully better selfie camera, an upgraded 48 MP ultrawide (with AF for macro) and finally some progress in terms of charging speed make this the best rounded vanilla model Apple has ever made. It is also by far the easiest iPhone to recommend in the 2025 lineup.

It's not like it's flawless, but none of the downsides are actually deal-breakers. The A19's lack of a vapor chamber means noticeable heat and throttling under sustained load, but how often are you even going to push it that hard. The stereo speakers are quieter than last year's, the USB port still operates at 2.0 speeds, and Apple has effectively capped the brightness to 1,000 nits in what we assume is an attempt to extend battery life. iOS 26 brings Liquid Glass, but lacks polish.

Thus the overall package is very compelling: a phone with traditional Apple aesthetics, Pro-grade screen and performance, a capable camera and usable storage capacity was never this cheap. We'd be amazed if it's not by far the most popular option in Apple's 2025 lineup.

Pros

• 6.3" LTPO 120Hz OLED with Always-On, HDR10 & Dolby Vision support.
• 256 GB base storage (NVMe) at unchanged starting price.
• PD3.2/AVS wired charging and up to 25W Qi2/MagSafe wireless; reverse wired supported.
• Light, comfortable build with thinner bezels and IP68 protection.
• Great battery life for the size; efficient A19 platform.
• Excellent video quality and stabilization across all cameras; Dolby Vision up to 4K60.
• Dependable main and ultrawide cameras.
• 18MP selfie with OIS & PDAF delivers outstanding results; flexible multi-aspect capture.
• Modern connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, UWB (gen2), satellite SOS/Find My, Video output over USB-C.

Cons

• No dedicated telephoto camera.
• Gets hot and throttles under sustained load.
• Display reaches max brightness only for a very short time.

Pricing

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256GB 8GB RAM	$ 740.00	£ 620.00
512GB 8GB RAM	$ 852.00	£ 879.99
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