Design: Bigger Screen, Same Great Feel
The iPhone 17 is a hair larger at 6.3 inches versus the iPhone 16’s 6.1 inches, thanks to slimmer bezels feels more immersive for videos without being bulky like the Pro Max. At 170g, it’s light with the aluminum frame and Ceramic Shield 2 glass (3x better scratch resistance). I got Cosmic Orange it’s bold and fun, shifting tones in light; other colors like Deep Blue or classic Black are subtler. IP68 rating survived a coffee spill no problem.
Versus iPhone 16, the design is evolutionary same Dynamic Island, but the new Liquid Glass UI in iOS 26 makes it feel fresh with semi-transparent borders. No Camera Control button like the 16 (rumor says it’s Pro-only now), but the Action Button is customizable for shortcuts. MagSafe is stronger for accessories.
Display: ProMotion Finally on Base Model!
The Super Retina XDR OLED with ProMotion (120Hz adaptive) is a game-changer scrolling on X or gaming feels buttery smooth, no more 60Hz stutter from the iPhone 16. 2600 nits peak brightness crushes outdoors, HDR10+ pops for Netflix. Always-on with AI summaries is handy.
Versus iPhone 16’s 60Hz, this is the biggest daily upgrade everything just feels premium. Versus Pro models’ larger screens, the 6.3-inch is perfect one-handed.
| Additional details |
| Operating System | iOS 26 |
| Processor Type | A19 Chip, 6 Core Processor Processor |
| Display Size | 16.0 cm (6.3 inch) Super Retina XDR Display |
| Memory Storage Capacity | 256 GB , 512 GB |
| Colour | Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White, and Black |
| Camera | 48MP + 48MP | 18MP Front Camera |
| Form Fator | Smartphone |
| Biomatric Security Feature | Face Recognition |
| Sim Card Size | Nano SIM |
| Water Resistance Level | Water Resistant |
Performance: A19 Chip + More RAM = Future-Proof
A19 chip (3nm) with 8GB RAM snappier than iPhone 16’s A18, especially for Apple Intelligence tasks like Visual Intelligence or Generative Edit. Gaming no heat, multitasking seamless. Versus Pro’s A19 Pro, base is plenty fast for most S25 Ultra’s Snapdragon edges gaming, but iOS optimization wins battery.
iOS 26 with Liquid Glass design apps feel expressive. 7 years updates till 2032.
Cameras: Big Upgrades Across the Board
Dual rear: 48MP Fusion main (f/1.6), 48MP ultra-wide (up from 12MP on 16!). Daylight shots detailed/vibrant, low-light cleaner with Photonic Engine 2. No telephoto (Pro only), but 2x optical-quality from main is solid.
18MP front camera with Center Stage group selfies auto-adjust orientation, Dual Capture records front/rear simultaneously. Versus iPhone 16’s 12MP front, huge leap for FaceTime. Video 4K 60fps cinematic AI editing fun.
Versus Pro’s triple 48MP + telephoto, base is “good enough” for most beats S25 in natural colors.
Software and Battery: AI Smarts + All-Day Power
iOS 26 AI: Writing Tools, Clean Up photos, smarter Siri. Battery ~3700mAh lasts 8+ hours screen heavy eight more hours than iPhone 16! 35W wired (50% in 30 min), 25W MagSafe.
Price and Final Thoughts
$799 (256GB base double iPhone 16’s 128GB!) now ~$729 discounted November 2025.
The iPhone 17 is the sweet spot ProMotion, 48MP ultra-wide, bigger battery, AI for $799. Versus iPhone 16 ($699 now), worth upgrade for smoothness/camera. Versus Pro ($999+), base steals the show for most.
If you’re on iPhone 15 or older yes! Smooth, bright, long-lasting my daily love. 9.5/10!