That’s a bold claim. Still, there’s a lot to talk about the new iPhone 17. Apple came out with some great new tech, features and pricing. So, why compare it with the iPhone X that came out in 2017? Both models brought more than just minor improvements and have the potential to cause a generational shift in tech.
Apple officially unveiled the new iPhone 17 in September 2025, along with iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The basic model of iPhone 17 is Apple’s flagship with many pro features without the premium price tag. Here’s where the big changes happened:
Display & Design
The iPhone 17 moves to a 6.3 inch Super Retina XDR OLED display (up from 6.1 inch in iPhone 16) with ProMotion support at 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate. The always on display is conserved with the ability to drop down to 1Hz when the phone is on idle, to preserve battery.
One of the most common problems is scratches and minor damage to the screen. iPhone 17 has the tougher front cover Ceramic Shield 2, which can protect the phone three times better than the previous models, and reduce glare.
The design is mostly similar to the one model before, iPhone 16, like an aluminum frame and flat edges, but with a slimmer frame around the screen making the phone look sleeker.
The size and weight of the iPhone 17 are a bit bigger than the previous model, thicker and heavier, but those changes are largely due to the larger display and battery.
Color options are black, lavender, mist blue, sage, and white. Apple also decided to drop the 128 GB option, and adopt 256Gb in a base model which can be upgraded to 512Gb.
Performance & Internals
At the core of iPhone 17 is Apple’s new A19 chip. The company has a habit of keeping the exact performances a secret, but there are a few things that we can figure out.
When Apple says the A19 chip has improvements in the CPU, GPU, and neural engine, it just means three main parts of the engine got stronger:
- The CPU is what handles everyday tasks, like loading lifestyle tracking apps and browsing the web, meaning that the phone can handle tasks faster.
- The GPU is what makes games, videos, and graphics look sharp and smooth. We can assume that games will be running without lag, and will be more responsive in high def.
- The neural engine is what powers smart features, like Face ID, photo editing, voice recognition, and even AI tricks behind the scenes, so the company likely eliminated the confusion that sometimes happened with not recognizing owners of the phone, or their voice.
Connectivity is also upgraded. Apple was thinking ahead with using the new N1 Networking chip that supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 which will fit into some future demands. There’s also still support for Ultra Wideband, NFC, dual frequency GPS, etc.
Memory is 8 GB of LPDDR5X. What does Apple say about the iPhone 17 battery? The battery is 3,692mAh, which is not the biggest battery on the market since many phones use 5,000mAh or more, but the company is focusing on efficiency rather than size.
Apple claims the iPhone 17 charges from 0% to 50% in about 20 minutes when you use a strong enough power adapter, which is faster compared to older iPhones that often took closer to 30 minutes.
You can charge with the USB-C cable included, or use MagSafe and Qi 2 wireless charging if you prefer a cable free option. The battery of the new phone was heavily promoted as being one of the best features in the new model. So, what is actually new and better this time?
- Charging speed: We often had to leave home with a half charged battery even though it was on the cable for more than an hour. Apple admitted the problem, and they came up with the solution. By using the included USB-C cable we can now charge way quicker, in 20 minutes we can be out the door.
- Longevity and health: The battery usually lasts about 2 years before it dies and we have to buy a whole new phone, or replace the old one. This was not really cost effective, so many people just bought a new phone. For this flaw, Apple received a lot of grief from its customers, so longevity was their priority when designing a new phone. Older iPhones were rated to hold about 80% of their original capacity after 500 full charge cycles, while the new 17 model should hold up for 1000 cycles of charging. For people who spend a lot of time on the go, streaming games or betting on sports, but don’t want to change their phone just because the battery is giving out, this is a lifesaver.
- “Never charge anxiety”:Not literally. What Apple means is that we can go about our day, evening, and even somewhat through the next day without charging our phones, if we don’t stream or have any kind of heavy usage. So, yes, we need to charge our phones, just not as often as before.
- Smart charging: Smartphones now have a smart charging feature. The phone can learn our habits, so if I charge the phone overnight, it can pick up on that and hold at 80% for most of the night, but push the charge to 100% just before I wake up. It learns my patterns and adjusts the charging cycle.
Tech is buzzing with the new iPhone 17 battery creating confusion. Apple never said that we don’t have to charge our phones. What it did say is that the battery will last about 20% longer than on the previous phone, over the life of the phone. I see it as a great improvement, since in reality, I can now keep my phone for longer, 4 or 5 years without the battery dying.
On the software and security side, Apple has introduced a feature called Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE), which is a hardware+software safeguard to prevent cyberattacks.
Camera & Imaging
The camera is one of the things that was significantly improved compared to the iPhone X. The iPhone X had a 12 MP dual camera system. One wide lens and one telephoto lens. It was impressive because it allowed for portrait photos with blurred backgrounds and 2× optical zoom, which at the time was pretty impressive.
Eight years later we have iPhone 17 with two 48 MP cameras on the back. A main lens and an ultra wide lens. iPhone 17 has a feature called fusion which can combine different shots into one. The result is much sharper, more detailed pictures with better colors, especially at nighttime or sunsets.
You can still zoom in two times without losing detail, but it now comes from the main lens itself instead of a separate telephoto. Finally our vacation photos of the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean will come to life with colors looking sharper and more vibrant.
The front camera is also much better. The iPhone X had a 7 MP selfie camera, which was fine for quick snapshots and FaceTime but looked grainy in low light.
The iPhone 17 now has an 18 MP front camera that can keep you centered during calls (Center Stage), record video in ultra smooth 4K HDR, and even film from the front and back cameras at the same time (Dual Capture).
Pricing Alternatives
Apple has kept somewhat consistent pricing for the standard iPhone 17 despite the upgrades. The base 256 GB model is priced at USD 799.
The 512 GB version is expected to carry a premium price of $999 in some markets.
Beyond that, these are our options:
- iPhone Air: Apple eliminated the “Plus” model, replacing it with the iPhone Air. The new one is an ultra thin phone with a titanium body.
- iPhone 17 Pro: Starting at around USD 1,099 with premium specs like a triple camera system, better cooling, etc.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: The largest and most capable in battery and display.
Pricing stayed reasonable mostly due to dropping the 128 GB phone, which helps the company have the same bottom line, while offering more base storage.
How Big is This Leap?
Everything aforementioned is quite an improvement, but is it enough to call the new iPhone 17 the biggest leap since iPhone X? Depends on what you consider an upgrade.
There are a few options that we have never seen before in an iPhone.
- 120 Hz ProMotion display on a non Pro iPhone
- Tougher, more scratch resistant front glass
- Larger base storage (256 GB)
- Better front camera with Dual Capture/orientation flexibility
- Network upgrades (Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6)
- Security enhancements (Memory Integrity Enforcement)
On their own, none of this is going to trigger a revolution, but coupled together we can say that it’s quite a leap forward. Another thing that was bugging Apple fans is that the differences between models were significant, leaving people to feel like they just paid hundreds just to feel like they were being left out of the true value of the new phone.
This time around there isn’t any significant difference between the base model, Air, Pro or ProMax. Buying a phone for $799 will give us almost the same experience as some other, more expensive models would. So, buying the basic model is fine.
Compared to iPhone X, which reimagined the iPhone form, navigation, display, and biometrics, just to name a few, the jump is different. The iPhone 17 is not a full reinvention, but a sophisticated version that’s adapted for any future improvements and upgrades.
Is it truly the biggest leap? Yes, to a degree. The iPhone 17 is not a revolutionary invention never seen before in history, but it pushes the boundaries. The thing is that we are used to Apple giving us the same phones for years without any massive upgrades, so every year it felt like we were getting more of the same for more money. It didn’t feel good.
The iPhone 17 is different in a way that it feels like a more aggressive step than the more modest annual updates we’ve grown used to, so it’s a great leap forward for many who argue that it’s the most substantial upgrade Apple has made in a generation.
People who skipped a few models, and are now getting the new phone will feel the difference the most. The phone is not marking the beginning of a new era in technology, but we could say that it’s a meaningful step forward.
Strengths and Trade offs
Advantages:
- Baseline elevation: Features that used to be exclusive to Pro variants (120 Hz, better glass, more storage) now come to the standard iPhone.
- Camera innovations: Dual Fusion 48 MP setup plus improved front camera flexibility and dual capture make it more attractive for creators and social users.
- Better durability: The new Ceramic Shield 2 promises better scratch resistance, which is helpful for daily use.
- Built for the future: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, the new N1 chip make the phone more capable in congested environments.
- Security uplift: Using Memory Integrity Enforcement, Apple is making a move toward stronger defenses.
- Generous base storage: 256 GB as the standard means fewer users need to stretch for higher tier models.
- Gaming and demanding use viability: The performances seem to be suitable for future upgrades.
Trade offs and limitations:
- No dedicated telephoto (on standard model): Users who frequently rely on strong zoom may still want Pro models with 8× telephoto.
- Battery vs feature balance: While Apple claims “all day battery life,” pushing 120 Hz display, high brightness, gaming, video recording, and intensive apps will still stress the battery.
- Cost of upgrades: The 512 GB version is pricey, and generally anything beyond the basic model remains expensive.
- Material and scratch concerns: Early user reports (for the iPhone 17 lineup) mention that some display models show visible scratching/scuffing, especially on certain finishes. While Apple markets the scratch resistance improvements, real-world use may still present issues.
- No radical new form factor: If you were hoping for a foldable screen iPhone, this release doesn’t go that far.
Users who have iPhones that are relatively new may not feel much of a change. For many others, the iPhone 17 may indeed be the tipping point where upgrading feels deeply worthwhile rather than optional.