Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 17 lineup at its annual event in Cupertino, California. The standard iPhone 17 receives a series of important improvements to its display, performance and camera system - all while keeping the same price as the previous generation, which makes it a worthwhile upgrade.
ProMotion 120Hz Display Comes to the Standard iPhone for the First Time
Although it keeps the familiar design of the iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with a ProMotion refresh rate of up to 120Hz, a first for the standard model. The refresh rate adjusts automatically: it can drop to 1Hz to save battery when high speed isn't needed, and ramp up to the maximum when you scroll or play games for smoother performance.
The new display reaches an outdoor brightness of up to 3,000 nits and adds a 7-layer anti-glare coating, improving clarity in bright light. Apple also equips the front glass with Ceramic Shield 2, which it promises is three times more durable than the previous generation.
Inside, the phone runs the Apple A19 chip, built on a 3nm process, with a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU. According to Apple, CPU performance is 1.5 times faster than the A15 chip in the iPhone 13, and the GPU is twice as fast. In addition, the AI processing cores can run generative AI models directly on the device, protecting user privacy.
Dual 48MP Cameras, Longer Battery Life and Next-Generation Connectivity
The iPhone 17's rear camera system is significantly upgraded with a 48MP main sensor that supports 4K 60fps video recording and 2x optical zoom. There is also a 48MP ultrawide camera, replacing the previous model's 12MP sensor, for sharper group shots and landscapes. The front camera has a resolution of 18MP, well suited for selfies and FaceTime calls.
The iPhone 17 also has a larger battery, rated for up to 30 hours of video playback, 8 hours more than the iPhone 16. Another notable improvement is the new Apple N1 connectivity chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. As a result, features such as Hotspot and AirDrop run faster and more reliably.
The device runs iOS 26, along with a range of AI-based smart features, such as Visual Intelligence, Live Translation, the Liquid Glass interface and on-device content suggestions.
The iPhone 17 comes in Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage, White and Black, with 256GB and 512GB storage options. Prices start at 799 USD, with preorders opening on 12/9 and general sales beginning on 19/9.
