The iPhone 17 debuts with a long-overdue display upgrade

At its “Awe dropping” reveal event, Apple has finally pulled the curtain back on the highly anticipated iPhone 17, along with the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the iPhone Air.

At first glance, looking at the iPhone 17, you may find it hard to distinguish it from its predecessor, the iPhone 16, as it features the same rear vertical camera layout and rounded aluminum frame design.

However, what makes the iPhone 17 different from the iPhone 16 is its larger display, featuring a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display, a slight increase from the iPhone 16’s 6.1-inch display. It also includes a ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate, a feature that has been available on the Pro models since 2021, and has now been finally added to the base model.

The iPhone 17’s display also offers 3,000 nits of peak brightness, significantly higher than the 2,000 nits of the iPhone 16. Under the hood, the iPhone 17 is equipped with the new A19 chipset, which promises to be faster and more efficient than the previous-generation A18.

While tariffs this year were a concern that could impact pricing, it appears Apple has decided to maintain the status quo, as the iPhone 17 starts at $800 USD ($1129 CAD), the same price as the iPhone 16 did last year. The iPhone 17 will be available in five colors: lavender, mist blue, black, white, and sage. Pre-orders start September 12, with the iPhone 17 shipping on September 19.

The iPhone 17 has a new Center Stage front-facing camera

Battery life has been substantially improved on the iPhone 17

Apple’s iPhone 17 packs more than just a bigger screen and new chip. The camera game has also gotten a boost. The iPhone 17 sports a 48-megapixel dual-fusion camera, featuring both a 48-megapixel main camera and a new 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera.

But that’s not all — the front camera is also getting an upgrade. The iPhone 17’s new 18-megapixel Center Stage camera is nearly twice as large as the one on the iPhone 16. It features a square sensor design that adjusts the field of view in your photos based on the number of people in the frame. So if you’re a selfie enthusiast, your life is about to get a whole lot easier.

Apple

The iPhone 17 also offers longer battery life, thanks to its ProMotion display and A19 chip. Apple claims it can last up to eight hours longer than the iPhone 16. It can provide up to 30 hours of video playback, compared to the iPhone 16’s 22 hours — a significant improvement. Plus, it charges faster, reaching up to 50 percent in just 20 minutes. Apple also highlighted the iPhone 17’s increased durability, thanks to its new Ceramic Shield 2 on the display, which offers three times better scratch resistance and features an anti-reflective layer to improve visibility outdoors.

For the first time, the iPhone 17 starts with 256GB of storage, a notable jump from the iPhone 16’s 128GB. This provides more space for videos, photos, and apps. Like previous iPhones, the iPhone 17 includes key features such as support for Apple Intelligence, the Action Button, the Camera Control Button, and MagSafe.

Apple / Pocket-lint

If you’re interested in upgrading to the iPhone 17, pre-orders go live on Friday, September 12, with the phone shipping on September 19. The iPhone 17 starts at $800 USD/$1129 CAD

Apple

Brand

Apple

SoC

A19

Display

6.3-inch 2622 x 1206 pixel resolution Super Retina XDR

Storage

256GB, 512GB

Apple’s iPhone 17 may look similar to the iPhone 16, but it has many improvements, including a larger 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR Display with support for 120Hz ProMotion.

for the 256GB model. Apple also unveiled the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max at its recent “Awe dropping” event, as well as the new ultra-slim iPhone Air. Pocket-lint will have more on the iPhone 17 series in the coming days.