So it happened as always I set out with the best intentions of not upgrading but as always, the pull of the latest and greatest iPhone got me.
A new design, improved display and Apple’s best camera system to date and not to mention the Cosmic Orange colour way just drew me in.
But was it worth? What is it actually like? Should you think about upgrading?
With it been just over two weeks rocking the new iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange and I wanted to share some of my initial thoughts (there will be a long term review to come)with you on:
- New Design
- The Display Improvements
- Battery Life and Charging
- Camera
- Perfomance
So let’s dive in to it and see if it is really worth considering the upgrade.
New Design ✅
Now there is a new design, but it still feels very iPhone. They have not strayed far from the tried and trust design of old, But it does feel different. A good different.
Let’s start with the new Camera Plateau. You still have the iconic 3 camera layout, but it now extends across the back of the phone. I wasn’t sure if I liked it at first and to be honest with you, I am still getting used to it. I have used a Google Pixels, so I am used to the camera bump extending across the back, but this is a bit chunkier than the Pixel look.
Does it feel like a change for the sake of it? Maybe on face of it, with so many people getting bored with the same design been rolled out year after year. But there is logic to this and this feels built with functionality firmly in the forefront over its form factor, which we will touch upon later on this post.
One of the first things that I noticed when I started using this phone was that it felt so much lighter than my 16 Pro. That can be attributed to the move back to an aluminium frame. It strangely feels smaller as well, which it clearly isn’t.
Finally, we can’t mention the new design without mentioning the new colour that is Cosmic Orange. I was not sure at first and debated whether to get it, but it is so much better in person that it looks in pictures and on videos.
The New Display 📱
I have always loved the iPhone screens, but this for me is another level. The pixel seems sharper, we now have 3000 nits of brightness which a massive jump from 2000 nits and FINALLY Apple has given us an anti-reflective coating.
All of this means that the viewing experience is amplified. Viewing in the sun is so much better, and it makes you wonder why they have waited so long to introduce that reflective coating.
The display is come with Ceramic Shield 2 which claims to 3x better scratch resistance. You also get Ceramic Shield on the back, making it 4x more resistant to cracking.
Battery Life & Charging 🔋
Everyone loves to talk about battery life and if that really matters to you then go for the 17 Pro Max. I don’t get too hung up on battery life and that’s why I went for the iPhone 17 Pro.
The battery this year is larger at 3,988 mAh for the physical SIM model (which I have) and for the eSIM model it goes up to 4,252 mAh. Not having a SIM tray frees up more space for a bigger battery.
This is claimed to give you 31 hours of video playback, and if you are not using demanding tasks, you could see that getting closer to 2 days. I am easily making it through to bedtime with over 40% left.
Another reason for me not being overly worried about battery life is the improved charging speed that comes with the 17 Pro. When using a cable, the phone can charge to 50% in about 20 min with a 40w adaptor (which of course you will have to buy separately).
I use wireless chargers which has also seen an upgrade and supports Qi2 up to 25w which can charge 50% in about 30 min. Again, you will need to have at least a 30w adaptor or higher paired with your MagSafe Charger.
Camera 📸
There are some nice upgrades to the camera system this year with a 48MP Dual fusion camera system so all the rear camera lens are 48MP. Please don’t ask me to explain that in detail, I just know that it takes really nice photos 😀
There is now a 8x Optical zoom and up to 40x Digital Zoom, which is comes short of the likes of the Google Pixel and Samsung Devices. But for the average user like myself do you really need any more than that, I would say no personally.
I have been enjoying the new improved 18MP Front camera which now comes with centre stage. The new square shaped sensor means that you can rotate the image from vertical to horizontal without turning your phone. Making taking selfies much easier and with much improved quality.
The video is as always great and sports Apple Log 2 formats, which allows for better dynamic range and cooler grading. Again, for me, this is something that only creators or video enthusiasts are really going to make use of. You will get great videos without changing any setting at all with the 17 Pro.
Performance 📈
The iPhone 17 Pro comes with the new A19 chip that is powering the phone. The 17 Pro also has a new vapour chamber, which helps to draw heat away from the A19 chip to keep the phone cool.
Both of these help to make the iPhone 17 Pro a performance powerhouse. I have not experienced any issue when using the 17 Pro, no lagging or apps freezing. The only time that I experienced any sort of heating once when I initially set the phone up.
I am not a gamer, so can’t comment on the performance from that side of things, but this phone has more than enough power for the everyday user’s needs.
And this year, Apple has finally moved from 128GB to 256GB as the base storage option. This gives you plenty of storage, especially alongside your iCloud Storage.
Final Thoughts 💭
The iPhone 17 Pro is a great phone they have made a design change albeit is it that big of a change. I think Apple have focused on some really key areas to make this phone more function over form. The introduction of a vapour chamber and the improvement to the display welcome and make for me make a big difference.
But saying that, the new design/camera layout is nice. It is a nice change with our being to dramatic that comes from the new Cosmic Orange colour. So am I glad that I upgraded, YES! I like the new design and I have enjoyed the new display and camera.
Should you upgrade? As always if you have an older iPhone pre iPhone 15 then yes it definitely worth it. If you have the 16 Pro, then it might be worth waiting, but you will see a difference in my opinion.
If you have upgraded to the iPhone 17 Pro, then I would love to hear your thoughts, so why not leave me a comment 👇