iPhone 17 Review 2026: Design, Specs, Camera, Battery, and Performance

Apple just made the iPhone 17 $100 more expensive, raising its starting price from $799 to $899 on September 9, 2026, the same day it discontinued the Pro models entirely . We’ve spent weeks with the standard iPhone 17 since launch, running it through daily use, camera comparisons, and battery drain tests. Our goal was to see whether it still earns its spot as Apple’s best value flagship now that the price has moved.

The iPhone 17 is a substantial upgrade over the iPhone 16, even though the overall design remains familiar. The biggest changes are easy to feel. ProMotion finally brings a 120Hz refresh rate to the standard model, storage starts at 256GB, the A19 chip delivers excellent CPU performance, and both rear cameras now use 48MP sensors . The 18MP Center Stage selfie camera is another useful addition, particularly for video calls and group selfies.