iPhone 17 Review Roundup: Why This Might Be the Best Standard iPhone Ever

iPhone 17 Review Roundup: Why This Might Be the Best Standard iPhone Ever

Apple’s iPhone 17 reviews are here, and the verdict is clear: this might just be the best “regular” iPhone in years. While the futuristic iPhone Air and the redesigned iPhone 17 Pro are stealing headlines, critics agree that the standard iPhone 17 is now the one most people should buy.

Why? Because Apple has finally brought some of its most beloved Pro-level features down to the mainstream model — and it did so without raising the price. Let’s break down the highlights.

A Display Worth Talking About

The star of the show is the new 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display, which finally gets ProMotion (120Hz refresh rate) and an Always-On display.

  • The Verge calls these upgrades “meaningfully improved,” saying that for once, buying the standard iPhone doesn’t mean missing out.

  • TechRadar goes further, calling the buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate “the star of the show.”

For everyday users, this means scrolling, gaming, and video watching feel far more fluid — something you’ll notice the very first time you pick it up.

Double the Storage, Same Price

Apple didn’t raise the entry price this year. The iPhone 17 still starts at $799 with activation ($829 unlocked) — but the base storage has doubled from 128GB to 256GB.

  • TechRadar says, “Apple’s never made a better-value iPhone.”

  • Tom’s Guide calls it “a big deal” — and we agree.

In a world where storage fills up fast with photos, 4K videos, and apps, doubling the storage without adding a dime feels like a rare Apple bargain.

Camera Upgrades Across the Board

This year, the standard iPhone gets some serious camera love:

  • 48MP Main Camera for sharper shots.

  • New 48MP Ultra Wide Camera (a big jump from the old 12MP).

  • 18MP “Center Stage” Front Camera, which automatically adjusts to fit everyone into the frame — no more selfie “Tetris.”

As CNET puts it, group selfies are finally easy.

Performance & Battery That Don’t Quit

Powered by the new A19 chip, the iPhone 17 holds its own against (and often beats) top Android flagships.

  • PCMag says it “outguns much of the Android competition.”

  • Battery life easily lasts a full day of heavy use.

  • Faster charging now delivers up to 71% in 30 minutes, according to Tom’s Guide.

A Few Extras Worth Noting

  • Ceramic Shield 2 makes the screen even more durable.

  • Fresh new color options add some personality.

  • The one thing missing? A telephoto lens. If zoom photos matter to you, the Pro models are still your best bet.

As The Verge notes, “If you don’t take a lot of zoomed-in photos, this omission won’t be a huge deal.”

The Bottom Line

The iPhone 17 doesn’t just feel like an incremental update — it feels like Apple finally re-defined what its mainstream iPhone should be. With a pro-level display, double the storage, better cameras, and no price hike, it’s the sweet spot in the lineup.

If you’ve been holding onto an older iPhone, this is the year the standard model makes the most sense. You get nearly all the features you’d want — without spending Pro money.

👉 Pre-orders are live now starting at $799, and carriers are offering trade-in deals that can knock off up to $1,100.

So the question isn’t should you upgrade? — it’s which color are you getting?

Back to blog