# The best base iPhone yet - iPhone 17 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MULs_gKWtS4 Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/MULs_gKWtS4 Generated: 2025-09-26T20:03:42.501+00:00 --- ## 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. ![Screenshot at 00:06: The unboxing begins, revealing the new green iPhone 17 next to the older iPhone 13 Pro \(black\), setting up a comparison of the new base model.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MULs_gKWtS4/00-00-06.png) **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. ## Detailed Analysis The presenter begins with the unboxing of the iPhone 17 in a new green color, immediately expressing excitement for the base model. Key design changes include the adoption of flat rails, which the presenter notes can feel sharp compared to rounded edges, but surprisingly offers a good grip without a case. The phone features the Dynamic Island cutout and the new Action Button, which is highly praised, allowing customization for quick actions like launching Shazam or the camera app. The charging port is USB-C, but disappointingly, it remains limited to USB 2.0 speeds, unlike the Pro models. The display is a major highlight: a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with 120Hz ProMotion and 3000 nits peak brightness, delivering 50% more brightness than the iPhone 16. Camera hardware is significantly improved, with both the main and ultra-wide lenses now sporting 48MP sensors, allowing for high-quality photos and videos, though the 4x optical telephoto zoom remains exclusive to the Pro model. In Geekbench 6 CPU benchmarks, the iPhone 17 scores 3744 (single-core) and 9452 (multi-core), showing strong performance improvements over the iPhone 16. Battery life testing showed the iPhone 17 lasting 21 hours and 20 minutes in video playback tests, which is excellent, though still less than the Pro models. The reviewer concludes that the iPhone 17 is an excellent phone, perhaps the best base model yet, largely due to the display and camera upgrades, despite the retention of USB 2.0 speeds and the lack of a dedicated Touch ID button. ### Unboxing and Design - The new green color is praised; design retains flat edges which some find sharp but others find offer a good grip - The phone includes the Action Button and switches to USB-C (limited to USB 2.0 speeds). ### Display Upgrades - Features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with 120Hz ProMotion and 3000 nits peak brightness, offering 33% fewer reflections than the iPhone 16. ### Performance Benchmarks - Geekbench 6 scores are 3744 (single-core) and 9452 (multi-core), showing strong gains over the iPhone 16 (3506 SC / 8853 MC). ### Camera Capabilities - Base model receives 48MP main and ultra-wide cameras; 4x optical telephoto zoom is exclusive to the Pro model, with digital zoom on the base model being less impressive past 2x. ### Battery Life Test Results - iPhone 17 achieved 21 hours and 20 minutes in video playback tests, outperforming the iPhone 16 (17h 23m) but not the 17 Pro (22h 59m). ### Feature Testing - Visual Intelligence feature accurately identifies complex scenes, including studio equipment and text on a coffee cup. ### Conclusion and Pricing - The phone is considered the best base iPhone yet due to major upgrades, priced at $799 for 256GB and $999 for 512GB. ![Screenshot at 00:06: The unboxing begins, revealing the new green iPhone 17 next to the older iPhone 13 Pro \(black\), setting up a comparison of the new base model.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MULs_gKWtS4/00-00-06.png) ![Screenshot at 00:21: The presenter highlights the new green color of the iPhone 17, noting it looks awesome.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MULs_gKWtS4/00-00-21.png) ![Screenshot at 00:59: The presenter shows the included USB-C to C cable, noting the packaging is fancy but it is still just a USB 2.0 cable.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MULs_gKWtS4/00-00-59.png) ![Screenshot at 01:23: A demonstration of the Action Button feature, which the presenter customizes to launch Shazam.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MULs_gKWtS4/00-01-23.png) ![Screenshot at 01:57: Close-up on the bottom edge showing the USB-C port, confirming it is USB 2.0 speed.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MULs_gKWtS4/00-01-57.png) ![Screenshot at 04:19: A side-by-side comparison of the iPhone 17 \(green\) and iPhone 13 Pro \(black\) showing the difference in screen reflectivity.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MULs_gKWtS4/00-04-19.png) ![Screenshot at 04:47: A chart displaying LABS-tested peak luminance figures: iPhone 17 achieves 3048 nits \(SDR\) and 3055 nits \(HDR\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MULs_gKWtS4/00-04-47.png) ![Screenshot at 06:17: Geekbench 6 CPU Benchmark results showing the iPhone 17 scoring 3744 single-core and 9452 multi-core.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MULs_gKWtS4/00-06-17.png) ![Screenshot at 07:13: A behind-the-scenes shot showing the professional lighting setup used for capturing test photos, contrasting with the iPhone's capabilities.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MULs_gKWtS4/00-07-13.png) ![Screenshot at 09:04: A comparison test showing the 20x digital zoom capability on the iPhone 17 Pro Max versus the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra when trying to read text on a sign.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/MULs_gKWtS4/00-09-04.png)