The best base iPhone yet - iPhone 17

Quick Overview

The iPhone 17 is deemed the most exciting base iPhone yet, featuring significant upgrades like a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with 3000 nits peak brightness and 120Hz ProMotion, the introduction of the Action Button, USB-C (though limited to USB 2.0 speeds), and a substantial camera upgrade to a 48MP main camera, while its battery life of 21 hours and 20 minutes in testing places it above the iPhone 16 but below the Pro models.

Key Points: The iPhone 17 features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display offering 3000 nits peak brightness and 120Hz ProMotion, with 33% fewer reflections than previous generations. The base model receives the Action Button, previously exclusive to Pro lines, which can be customized for various features like Shazam or camera control. The charging port is USB-C, but the transfer speeds are limited to USB 2.0, similar to previous non-Pro models. Camera hardware sees a significant upgrade to a 48MP main camera and a 48MP ultra-wide camera, offering high-quality photos and videos. Battery life testing showed the iPhone 17 lasting 21 hours and 20 minutes, outperforming the iPhone 16 (17h 23m) but lagging behind the iPhone 17 Pro (22h 59m). The design retains flat sides, which some find slightly sharp compared to the rounded edges of older models, but this design choice aids grip. The 4x optical zoom telephoto lens is exclusive to the Pro model, while the base iPhone 17 only offers digital zoom up to 10x, with quality degrading past 2x digital zoom.

Context: The video presents a review and unboxing of the rumored iPhone 17, positioning it as the most exciting base model Apple has released in the line. The reviewer compares its features, performance benchmarks (Geekbench 6), physical design changes (like the Action Button and USB-C), camera capabilities, and battery life against previous models (iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 16) and a competitor (Pixel 10). The review is structured around testing these new features and concluding whether the base model justifies an upgrade.