Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 17, the standard flagship in its 2025 lineup, designed to bring premium features to a wider audience at a competitive $799 starting price (256 GB).
Key Specifications
Model / Position: Standard flagship, lowest-priced model in the iPhone 17 series
Operating System: iOS 26
Chipset / Processor: A19 chip (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, Neural Engine)
RAM: ~8 GB
Storage Options: 256 GB (base), 512 GB
Display: 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, ProMotion 120Hz adaptive refresh, Always-On, up to 3000 nits peak brightness outdoors, Ceramic Shield 2 with 3× scratch resistance
Design & Build: Aluminum frame, frosted glass back, contoured edges, thinner bezels; IP68 water and dust resistance; ~177 g
Rear Camera System: Dual Fusion 48MP Main + 48MP Ultra Wide, Night Mode, Photonic Engine, Smart HDR, macro support, 2× zoom (crop-based), up to 6× digital zoom for video
Front Camera: 18MP “Center Stage” with autofocus, dual capture, Retina Flash
Battery & Charging: Up to 30 hours video playback, 50% charge in ~20 min with fast charging; MagSafe wireless charging supported
Connectivity: 5G (sub-6 and mmWave in US), possible Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, dual eSIM or physical SIM (market dependent), USB-C fast charging, Spatial Audio recording
Sound: Stereo speakers with improved wind noise reduction, Dolby Vision video recording, Spatial Audio
——————————————————————————————————————–
Pros
120Hz ProMotion finally comes to the non-Pro iPhone, delivering smoother scrolling and animations.
Strong storage baseline with 256 GB standard.
Brighter, tougher display thanks to Ceramic Shield 2 and outdoor brightness boost.
Dual 48MP cameras deliver significantly improved image quality and low-light performance.
Cons
No dedicated telephoto lens — zoom relies on digital crop.
Slightly larger and heavier than previous standard models.
Battery life is solid but still falls short of the Pro Max for heavy users. —
Verdict
The iPhone 17 balances affordability with premium features, giving everyday users access to Apple’s latest innovations without jumping into Pro-tier pricing. With its brighter 120Hz display, upgraded dual 48MP cameras, and the powerful A19 chip, it’s arguably the best value iPhone for most users in 2025.
Price (USA): $799 (256 GB base model)
