By Kevin Tran
Nearly every September, Apple drops a new iPhone, with each release promising groundbreaking features. But does the newly released iPhone 17 truly live up to that promise?
On Sept. 19, Apple released the iPhone 17, demonstrating its improved durability, 120 Hz ProMotion Display, more advanced cameras and longer battery life.
After getting my hands on the Deep Blue iPhone 17 Pro, I wanted to share my thoughts on the new device, especially how it compares to my older iPhone 14 Pro.
APPEARANCE
The iPhone 17 Pro looks much different from its previous models, switching from a titanium frame to a forged aluminum unibody. This change helps improve heat dissipation, allowing for better performance and a longer battery life.
The most noticeable change is the rear camera bump, which is now larger and more noticeable than on the iPhone 16 Pro. Apple redesigned this area with a new “camera plateau.’’ This design change also affects the camera bump, making it more noticeable than the iPhone 16 Pro.
The iPhone 17 Pro also offers a peak outdoor brightness of 3,000 nits, an improvement over the 2,000 nits in the iPhone 16 Pro, improving the visibility under bright light conditions.
Comparing this to my iPhone 14 Pro, the 17 is a step up in display performance and durability (which is especially good for me because I always drop my phone by accident).
A new phone has new color options; the iPhone 17 includes Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue and Silver. Notably, it no longer offers the black or gray colors in previous models.
PERFORMANCE
The iPhone 17 Pro is powered by an A19 chip, Apple’s latest and most powerful processor. Apple’s official website states, “The A19 chip powers everything you do on iPhone, including Apple Intelligence features like Live Translation and Image Playground, and ProMotion for playing advanced AAA games.”
This demonstrates how the new chip gives users smoother multitasking, enhanced graphics, and seamless gaming, providing a better experience.
Furthermore, the iPhone 17 Pro features a 48MP periscope telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom, an upgrade from the 5x zoom in the iPhone 16 Pro. The change improves low-light performance and produces more natural color in photos.
And for those moments when you need a quick charge, the iPhone 17 supports fast charging. Apple claims, “Just 10 minutes of charge gives you up to 8 hours of video playback with a high-wattage adapter.” This quick feature can be handy when you’re in a hurry.
In contrast to Apple’s prior model, the iPhone 16 Pro, while still a good device, the iPhone 17’s A19 chip offers 37% better GPU performance and more efficient cooling.
THE IPHONE 17’S ONE DOWNFALL
Although the anodized aluminum finish on the iPhone 17 Pro improves the heat dispersion and provides more resistance to damage from impacts, there are some downsides to having this new material. This aluminum material is more likely to be open to scratches, especially around the sharp edges of the camera plate. Some items, such as coins or keys, can cause visible damage to the device’s surface.
In contrast, while titanium is heavier and a poorer conductor than aluminum, it is highly resistant to surface scratches and dents compared to aluminum.
However, these issues can easily be fixed using a durable case to protect the phone from potential damage.
SHOULD YOU UPGRADE TO THE IPHONE 17?
Consider upgrading to the 17 if you have an older phone model and desire a larger, more vibrant display with smoother visuals. And if you’re into photography, the improved camera capabilities will benefit you. If you’re out often and want your phone to stay alive as long as possible, faster charging and extended battery life will also be advantageous.
That said, I recommend waiting if you have a recent model of the iPhone, such as the 15 or 16, as they are still good phones that will meet your needs. I wouldn’t spend over 1000 dollars for slightly better improvements.
