10 Questions Answered Before You Buy the iPhone 17

Apple has just unveiled the iPhone 17, and as always, the buzz is impossible to ignore. With promises of cutting-edge features, sleek design upgrades, and even more AI integration, it’s tempting to rush out and buy the latest iPhone. But before you make the leap, there are a few things worth considering.

In this post, we’re answering 10 key questions to guide you before buying the iPhone 17, so you can upgrade with confidence.

1. Is the iPhone 17 better than the iPhone 16?

The iPhone 17 improves on the iPhone 16 in several key areas. The Ceramic Shield on the latest lineup is three times more scratch-resistant and four times more durable compared to the previous models. iPhone 17 is also Apple’s first series to have 120Hz ProMotion Display on all models, making the design even more responsive. Battery life has increased by 8 hours and wired charging packs 50% power in just 20 minutes.

If your iPhone 16 is still in good shape, upgrading to the iPhone 17 wouldn't be noticeable. However going from iPhone 13 or 14, you will enjoy better cameras and overall smoother performance.

2. What’s new in the iPhone 17?

One of the newest features in the iPhone 17 series is that base models now have features that were previously exclusive to the Pro models. This includes the new 120 Hz ProMotion display, an 18 MP selfie camera, and also the 48 MP Fusion ultrawide-angle camera.

The series is powered by the new A19 chip which delivers better performance, and is the first lineup shipped with iOS 26. The Pro models also have advanced heat dissipation hardware with a newly designed vapour chamber - for the first time on an iPhone. Design-wise, the iPhone 17 has the looks of the iPhone 16 and comes with two new colours: Lavender, Sage, and Cosmic Orange.

3. What are the camera differences?

The iPhone 17 brings notable camera upgrades over the iPhone 16, especially when it comes to the Pro models which Apple claims have the best iPhone cameras. 

The base iPhone 17 features a dual-camera system with improved low-light performance and better image processing. While it retains the 48MP main sensor introduced in the iPhone 16, Apple has refined the image pipeline for sharper detail and more accurate colours.  You’ll also notice better Night mode and Smart HDR across all lighting conditions. 

The Pro models take things up a notch with a newly designed 48MP telephoto lens that uses a next-gen tetraprism system and a sensor that's 56% larger than before. iOS 26 also features new Photographic Styles that let you fine-tune your shots with more vibrant tones and naturally brighter skin tones.

4. What are the benefits of the new display?

The new 120 Hz ProMotion display on the iPhone 17 series is more responsive to touch, and offers smoother scrolling and more fluid animation, especially while gaming. Outdoor visibility has noticeably improved with Apple offering peak brightness at 3,000 nits, compared to 2,000 nits on the iPhone 16. While the screen size has increased from 6.1 on iPhone 16 to 6.3 inches on the base iPhone 17, the slimmer bezels mean the iPhone offers a larger screen without additional real estate.

5. How much better is the battery life and charging?

Battery life has increased across the lineup with the base iPhone 17 offering up to 30 hours of local video playback (compared to 22 hours on the iPhone 16), and the Pro models offering up to 37 hours. Wired charging is also faster with the iPhone 17 reaching 50% charge in 20 minutes. Wireless charging via MagSafe chargers is up to 25W for all the models.

6. What is the difference in performance?

The iPhone 17 comes with the new A19 chip that makes it faster and more efficient. The GPU is better which makes gaming and other graphic-intensive applications smoother. Apple has also designed a new vapour chamber to prevent overheating or performance drop-off, especially during heavy load such as video editing.

7. How beneficial is the iPhone 17 Pro for filmmakers?

The Pro models of the iPhone 17 series come with a host of advanced camera and video recording capabilities that can be highly beneficial to filmmakers and content creators, in general. For instance, the 4K Dolby Vision recording creates enhanced images with richer colors and dynamic contrast. The Pro models also come with ProRes RAW and GenLock which allows for professional filmmaking.  Apple reportedly filmed its latest iPhone launch on the new model, further highlighting the enhanced camera capabilities on the iPhone 17.

8. Are the new pro-grade video features in the Pro models worth it for everyday users?

If you normally use your iPhone camera to take a photo here and there and never touched the shutter speed settings, you might not need the advanced video features of the Pro models as the base iPhone 17 still offers good value. Furthermore, iPhone 17 has an improved ultra-wide camera lens and a better front camera. On top of that, Dual Video Capture feature present in the new iPhones allows to record videos with both rear and front camera simultaneously, perfect for concerts or sports matches and everyday use, in general.

9. Who is the iPhone Air for?

It is difficult to say who the iPhone Air is for when it is surrounded by better options. The Air was launched alongside the 17 series but its only distinguishing feature seems to be its extreme thinness. If you are inclined towards phones with a wow factor, we would recommend proceeding with caution as for a couple of hundred pounds less you get a better phone if you choose the iPhone 17.

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10. Does the iPhone 17 have a SIM card?

Apple isn’t done with the physical SIM-card just yet. The iPhone 17 will still be shipped with a SIM-card slot in most countries, with the exception of a few e-SIM only regions, namely, Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and the US Virgin Islands. The iPhone Air, on the other hand, has an e-SIM only design.

The iPhone 17 series is undeniably impressive, but smart tech decisions go beyond just specs and aesthetics. Whether you're driven by performance, sustainability, or value for money, asking the right questions before you buy can save you time and money, and reduce your environmental footprint.

If you do decide to upgrade, don’t let your old phone gather dust. Consider trading it in, donating it, or recycling it responsibly. Every device kept out of the landfill makes a difference.