As someone who has reviewed nearly every flagship phone over the past five years, each new device I test brings both excitement and skepticism. A week ago, Apple sent me the new iPhone 17, and instead of doing a quick unboxing, I decided to make it my daily driver right away. I used it to record my niece’s birthday party, stream The Bear on my commute, and even host a last-minute work video call. After seven full days of use, here’s my honest take on whether the iPhone 17 is worth its $799 price tag.
The Best Features That Made Me Love the iPhone 17
💰 Stable $799 Cost in a Price Hike Era
Most 2025 flagship phones jumped in price (the iPhone 17 Pro now starts at $999), but Apple kept the iPhone 17 at $799. This is the sixth generation to hold that same starting cost since the iPhone 12. Considering Apple’s long software support—usually 3 to 4 years—this pricing stability is a big win. Competing Android phones at the same cost often cut corners on materials or software updates, but Apple doesn’t compromise here.
📂 256GB Storage by Default – Finally Enough Space
For years, I joked that 128GB on an iPhone was “just enough for coffee shop photos.” That changes now. The iPhone 17 starts with 256GB of storage, which is a game-changer for anyone who records 4K video or downloads full TV seasons for flights. I shot 45 minutes of 4K birthday footage last weekend and still had 180GB left. No more mid-party panic deleting apps or old clips.
🎥 Center Stage Front Camera – Perfect for Calls and Content
I don’t take many selfies, but I do a lot of video calls. The new 18MP Center Stage front camera makes a big difference. Compared to the iPhone 16, it’s sharper, wider, and tracks you seamlessly whether you’re holding the phone vertically or horizontally. I even cooked dinner while on a work call—the camera kept me centered the entire time. That alone makes meetings smoother and less awkward.
⚡ 120Hz Refresh Rate – Smooth Like Never Before
Apple finally added a 120Hz display to the standard iPhone. And it’s not just a “nice to have”—it’s addictive. Scrolling through Instagram, switching apps, and even gaming feels butter-smooth. After a week with it, going back to the iPhone 16’s 60Hz display felt painfully sluggish. This is one of those upgrades you can’t unsee.
🌙 Low-Light Photography That Beats Rivals
I tested the iPhone 17 against the Galaxy S25 and Pixel 10 during an evening walk, and Apple’s phone came out on top. It captured tree bark textures, soft shadows, and warm light with far more detail. Even compared to the iPhone 17 Pro, the gap isn’t huge. For night dinners, concerts, or sunset strolls, the iPhone 17 is easily one of the best performers.
🚀 A19 Chip – Fast, Stable, and Cool
Apple’s iPhones rarely feel slow, but the new A19 chip pushes performance higher. I ran Diablo Immortal at max settings with zero frame drops, then edited a 10-minute 4K video in iMovie without the phone overheating. That kind of stability means this phone will stay smooth well into 2026 and beyond.
The Top Flaws That Bothered Me
🤖 Missing AI Features
This is my biggest disappointment. With AI features exploding on Android—like Pixel 10’s “Best Take” group photos and text-based photo edits—I expected Apple to match it. But iOS 26 doesn’t add much here. If you’re excited about AI tools, the iPhone 17 feels behind the curve.
🔍 Weak Zoom Photography
Unlike the Pixel 10, which has a dedicated telephoto lens, the iPhone 17 relies on cropping its 48MP main sensor for zoom. At 10x magnification, photos look soft and stretched compared to Pixel’s sharp skyline shots. If you shoot concerts, sports, or wildlife, this will be a letdown.
🎬 Dual Recording Feels Half-Finished
Apple added dual-camera recording (front and rear at the same time), but the layout is fixed. The rear camera takes most of the screen while the front stays in a tiny corner. Competing phones let you resize or split the frame. I tried it for a hiking vlog, but the front view was too small to be useful. It feels like an unfinished feature.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone Air: Which One Should You Buy?
After a week, I can confidently say the iPhone 17 is the better buy for most people. Its balance of price, performance, and features makes it the smart choice. The iPhone Air looks stunningly thin, but it sacrifices too much—battery life is shorter by about 4 hours, and the camera setup is less versatile.
The iPhone 17 gives you more for less. It’s not perfect, but if you want a reliable phone that stays smooth for years, handles video calls and photography with ease, and doesn’t break the bank, the iPhone 17 is the one to buy. I’ve made it my main phone, and I don’t see myself switching back anytime soon.
👉 Thinking about upgrading? Compare prices near you and check trade-in deals—at $799, the iPhone 17 may just be the best value flagship in 2025.
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