The iPhone 17 has been officially unveiled. Apple is launching a new standard model alongside the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air, featuring numerous improvements. Compared to the iPhone 16, there are significant differences, especially in the display, performance, battery life, and camera. A look at all the details reveals just how significant the progress truly is.
With the iPhone 17, the gap between the standard and Pro models is narrowing. Features like ProMotion and the Always-On Display, previously reserved for the more expensive variants, are now also available in the base model. Added to that are a more powerful chip, new charging features, a redesigned front camera, and even price adjustments. The iPhone 17 isn't just a minor upgrade; it brings noticeable changes.
New Colors
The iPhone 17 is available in Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White, and Black. The predecessor offered Pink, Teal, Ultramarine, White, and Black. The familiar colors have also been updated: Black appears brighter, as does White.
Display with ProMotion
For the first time, a non-Pro iPhone features a 120 Hz ProMotion display with an adaptive refresh rate of 1 Hz to 120 Hz. This makes the display smoother while saving power. Also new is the Always-On Display, which displays the time, widgets, and notifications even when the phone is idle. The display has grown slightly from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches, made possible by thinner bezels. Ceramic Shield 2 provides more protection, offering three times better scratch resistance and a seven-layer anti-reflective coating. Brightness has also increased: With up to 3,000 nits outdoors, the iPhone 17 is significantly brighter than the iPhone 16's 2,000 nits. Combined with the anti-reflective coating, the new model offers twice the contrast outdoors.
A19 chip with AI focus
Inside is the new A19 chip. It primarily improves artificial intelligence capabilities through new neural accelerators. Apple promises MacBook Pro-level performance. Gaming also benefits: The GPU is 20 percent faster than the A18. Apple has also increased memory bandwidth, although no exact figure has been disclosed.
Battery life and charging speed
The iPhone 17 lasts significantly longer than its predecessor. Up to 30 hours of video playback is possible, up from 22 hours previously. Streaming time increases from 18 to 27 hours. The new model even offers more endurance than the iPhone 16 Plus. Charging has also been improved. Qi 2.2 with up to 25 watts is supported, as is MagSafe. 40-watt fast charging via cable is now available. This allows 50 percent battery to be reached in 20 minutes, instead of the previous 30 minutes.
New rear camera
The ultra-wide-angle camera has been significantly improved. Instead of 12 megapixels, it now offers 48 megapixels. Apple uses a so-called "Fusion" technology that captures photos at 24 megapixels by default, but also enables 48-megapixel shots. Macro photos benefit particularly, as they now have a resolution of 12 megapixels instead of 3. A slight step backward concerns the autofocus: While the iPhone 16 still had 100 percent focus pixels, the iPhone 17 uses hybrid focus pixels, which don't always offer advanced autofocus.
Revised front camera
The front camera brings several innovations. It features a square 18-megapixel sensor that can switch between portrait and landscape mode without rotating the device. Center Stage is available for the first time on the iPhone: The image is automatically adjusted so that the person in the foreground always remains in focus – whether during video calls or selfies. Videos also benefit from action stabilization. Furthermore, the front and rear cameras can be used simultaneously for recording.
New N1 wireless chip
Apple is using its own wireless chip for the first time in the iPhone 17. This improves performance for AirDrop, Personal Hotspot, and other wireless features. The chip brings Bluetooth 6, precise dual-frequency GPS, and support for NavIC in India.
Size and weight
The iPhone 17 is slightly larger, thicker, and heavier than its predecessor. Its thickness increases from 7.80 to 7.95 millimeters, and its weight from 170 to 177 grams. Its height grows to 149.6 millimeters, while its width decreases slightly to 71.5 millimeters.
Prices and availability
Apple offers the iPhone 17 with 256 GB of storage for €949. The 512 GB version costs €1,199. There is no Plus model this year. The iPhone 17 will be officially available starting September 19.
iPhone 17 as the biggest standard upgrade in years
The iPhone 17 brings many features previously reserved for the Pro models to the standard model. These include ProMotion, the Always-On Display, and a significantly brighter panel. The camera, battery life, and charging speed have also been noticeably improved. The A19 chip brings performance closer to laptop-level performance. At the same time, the entry-level price for larger storage capacities is lower. A direct comparison with the iPhone 16 shows that the iPhone 17 isn't just a minor update, but a powerful overall package. The best products for you: Our Amazon Storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including accessories for HomeKit. (Image: Apple)
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iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16 FAQ
The iPhone 17 features a 120 Hz ProMotion display, Always-On functionality, the new A19 chip, a 48 MP ultrawide camera, longer battery life, and faster charging options. Plus, there are new colors, a brighter display with up to 3,000 nits, and more storage at a lower entry-level price.
Yes, the iPhone 17 features a Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (1-120 Hz) and Always-On Display. Peak brightness is 3000 nits, up from 2000 nits. It also features Ceramic Shield 2 for improved scratch resistance and an anti-reflective coating.
The iPhone 17 features a 48 MP ultra-wide-angle camera with Fusion technology, enabling significantly sharper macro and ultra-wide-angle shots. The front camera now has 18 MP, a square sensor, and supports Center Stage and Dual Shots.
Yes, the A19 chip delivers up to 20% more GPU performance than the A18 in the iPhone 16. In addition, AI capabilities are significantly improved thanks to new neural accelerators, making machine learning and gaming faster and more efficient.
Yes, the iPhone 17 lasts up to 30 hours in video mode, compared to just 22 hours on the iPhone 16. Streaming lasts 27 hours instead of 18. The iPhone 17 also performs better than the iPhone 16 Plus.
The iPhone 17 now supports 40W fast charging via cable (50W in 20 minutes) and Qi 2.2 charging with up to 25W. This makes it noticeably faster than the iPhone 16.
The iPhone 17 is available in Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White, and Black. The White and Black colors have been refreshed compared to the predecessor.
Yes, the iPhone 17 is slightly thicker (7.95 mm instead of 7.80 mm), slightly taller (149.6 mm instead of 147.6 mm) and weighs 177 grams instead of 170 grams.
