iPhone 17 review: Small upgrades that make a daily difference

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The iPhone 17 came out in September, and I've spent months putting the new device to the test. It didn't make any wild promises about upgrades — overall, it was a pretty light addition to the iPhone lineup. But what it does offer has the potential to make a big difference in people's daily use.

Upon its release, the most notable features added to the iPhone 17 included a new 18MP selfie camera with Center Stage capabilities, refresh rates up to 120Hz, an improved Ceramic Shield 2 display, a slight increase in screen size, and the Always-On display previously exclusive to Pro iPhones. Carried over from the last generation are the Action button, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and macro photography.

Though it's been a while since Apple has blown anyone away with an iPhone keynote, I would say that the iPhone 17 at least didn't disappoint — especially with the implementation of ProMotion display technology for up to 120Hz. Here's how the device performed as my daily device over the last few months, and whether it's worth the upgrade.

Design

Unlike the Pro, the iPhone 17 looks very similar to the last generation. Upgrades include a marginally larger screen, the Always-On display that used to be limited to the Pro line, and ProMotion technology. The Action button is back for easy camera access, and the Ceramic Shield 2 screen is even more scratch-resistant than its predecessor.

In hand, the iPhone 17 feels solid without being too heavy, and if you're coming from the 16, you won't notice any major differences. After months of using it, I'd say the greatest improvement is the Ceramic Shield 2 — even without a screen protector, the device hasn't sustained any damage. That's despite numerous drops, slides, and dog paws on the surface.

The Action button is nothing new, but it provides a bit of extra utility for frequent selfie-takers and family photographers. It can feel a bit awkward with its placement on the phone's side, but if you get used to it, the button can be a great way to catch moments you might have missed otherwise. As someone constantly catching funny animal moments, this is invaluable.

Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence has a lot to compete with, given the vast array of AI-powered resources users can choose from. This is the main reason it falls short, and in general, the features it brings to iPhone usage are unnecessary and forgettable.

The brand's AI is integrated throughout the phone's processes, but most of the time, it is disruptive, slow, or useless. Notification summaries might seem helpful for users with an overwhelming number of notifications, but their accuracy isn't exact, and they can even be unnecessarily alarming. Rather than catching my family's texts word-for-word on my lockscreen, I might find an AI summary with something like "car sale went wrong." This would cause me to rush to the actual messages to find out that a funny mishap occurred, but otherwise, all is well. The summaries are often dense, too, with several subjects crammed into a mass of semicolons and words — for most users, it would be easier to read the notifications themselves.

Genmoji, Apple's AI-powered emoji generator, is slow. It takes a while to actually churn out a result, which is rarely all that noteworthy. It's a novelty the first time, but afterward, it's pretty useless.

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Performance

Immediately out of the box, the iPhone 17 operates like butter compared to my old iPhone 15. Though you may not notice the jitters and lag of a device a couple of generations old, swiping around on the 17 quickly raises the bar. Finally, with this generation, iPhones support refresh rates up to 120Hz. Videos are crisp and flawless, and mobile games I've played (including system-intensive Gacha games like Wild Rift or the newly released Endfield) run without a hitch.

When it comes to evaluating performance, the better it is, the less you notice it. The iPhone 17 excels at this, serving as a great rig for gaming, streaming, and more without cursing at your phone.

Battery life is impressive, too. Charging is almost an afterthought, since daily use of TikTok, Instagram, Gmail, and iMessage doesn't drain much battery. If I kick off the day fully charged, I typically only reach 85% by bedtime.

Cameras

One of the major selling points of the iPhone 17 was the new 18MP Center Stage feature on the selfie camera, along with 48MP rear cameras. That's an all-around improvement on the 16 in terms of photo quality and features, but how did they do in practice?

I take a lot of selfies with my friends and family. I like capturing these moments because I tend to forget them without photo evidence. Center Stage is designed for folks like me who often cram several warm bodies into the frame for a quick pic. It works pretty seamlessly, moving the camera to focus on a subject and sparing users the pain of adjusting the group's position for composition. The landscape rotation is also a great feature, if you remember to use it. It instantly makes it easier to squeeze more faces into one picture — no one left behind.

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In FaceTime, Center Stage can be a little funny; it keeps the person centered, so trying to show your dog or cat on camera may result in the camera zooming away from them and back onto your face in the corner. It's not a dealbreaker, but if you, too, love showing your mom her furry grandchild over FaceTime, you might need to pull some interesting maneuvers to do so. Of course, you can always flip the camera to the rear lenses and show pets, inanimate objects, and scenery without risking Center Stage taking the reins.

Speaking of the rear camera, the iPhone 17's photos are beautiful, and the zoom is powerful. I've tested it out in a handful of scenarios: moving cars, live concerts, dark rooms, and more. What I've noticed is that the 17's photos are always crisper and better at adjusting contrast, resulting in more parseable images. While I used to avoid zooming in photos as much as possible to preserve quality, now I can get in close without compromising much at all.

Despite my distance from concerts, the iPhone 17's photos clearly capture the performers' faces, along with details that would have been lost on previous iPhone generations. I've also never been able to get pictures of my fish tank with this level of detail. I wouldn't recommend it as a photographer's main rig, but for capturing moments you want to look back on with clarity, it's an excellent companion.

Should you buy the iPhone 17?

For years now, my stance on upgrading iPhones has stayed the same, and after months of testing the iPhone 17, that hasn't changed. To keep it simple: it's a nice device, but not one worth dumping your savings into, especially if you're only a year or two behind in iPhones.

Now, if the 17 is your first iPhone and your overall entry point into the ecosystem, it's a great contender and won't disappoint. However, if you spent $800 or more on an iPhone 16 last year, you probably don't need to spend another $800 on this phone. It's good, but not that good.

If you'd like to take a look at a more powerful iPhone, with even better cameras, check out Lillian's full iPhone 17 Pro review.

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