Are you ready for a new upgrade? With the rising prices of smartphones, deciding on which one to get will understandably take some time. If you've already been part of the Apple ecosystem for a while, though, it might be best to stick with an iPhone. But among all the new ones that just came out recently—iPhone Air, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max—which one should you pick?
We have a good answer for you, and depending on how much research you've already done, it might not be a surprising one. Here's what you should know about the new iPhone 17 before you make your final choice.
Pop of Color
Lavender? Sage green? Light blue? If you're looking for a phone with personality, the iPhone 17 is guaranteed to give you that with different pops of color. You might not think the shade you choose matters if you're going to slap a case on it, anyway, but you'd be surprised by just how many people prefer showing it off with a clear case.
The iPhone 17 Pro, in comparison, only comes in three different colorways: orange, silver, and dark blue. If you're not keen on any of those but still need a top-notch camera, you don't have a choice. Well, unless you rock a unique case.
In-Demand Features
Technically, the Pro version of the iPhone will always be the device that Apple goes all out on, but if you compare the 17 and 17 Pro side-by-side, you'll realize there's not a whole lot that's different. The 17 now has ProMotion, which means it has a 120Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling and animations feel more fluid and immersive. It also now has Always-On Display, meaning it can display important things like the time and notifications without the screen going black. Not only that, but the 17 also has Dynamic Island—the notch at the top of the screen that Apple has made into a responsive "island." Oh, and did we mention that the 17 also has Apple Intelligence features?
The more you study the list, the more you'll come to realize that the 17 really is a good deal. After all, you're getting pretty much all the important features that you'll need in your daily life, and all you're really going without is slightly less professional cameras.
Group Selfie, Anyone?
Just like the new 17 Pro, the iPhone 17 also has a new selfie feature that Apple has called "Center Stage front camera." In short, if you ever wanted to take a group photo with the front camera without having to flip your device to landscape, you can now do that. Center stage selfies also automatically expand and crop as you move your phone, without cutting anyone out. Even if you don't think this is a must-have feature right off the bat, the more you play with it, the more you'll start to question how you ever lived without it.
Battery Juice for a Full Day
Maybe you have a long workday and didn't bring your charger. Maybe you're out on a day trip, hiking one of your city's most tricky trails. Maybe you're traveling, and you don't have a portable battery pack with you.
Whatever it is, now, you don't have to worry. Because on the new iPhone 17, the battery lasts longer than ever, with up to 30 hours of video playback time. The Pro rings in at slightly more—33 hours—but that difference is minuscule when you consider everything else.
What does this all mean? It means you don't have to worry about your phone needing a midday pick-me-up when you need it the most. You'll likely only need to charge it at night, right before you drift off to dreamland.
Better Bang for Your Buck
So, what's the verdict? Well, if you're looking to upgrade your phone, we think the new iPhone 17 is the best bang for your buck. It offers different colors to better suit your style, all the in-demand features that iPhone users have been loving on older devices, like the 15 and 16, and has a battery life that can actually last a full day. Plus, it's cheaper than the Pro, so unless you absolutely need the professional camera set-up, the 17 is where it's at.
