This has to be one of the easiest reviews I have ever had to write. The iPhone 17 is here, and it’s almost impossible not to recommend it. Last year’s iPhone 16 was already a solid option, but its successor now fixes every gripe I had with it. The biggest complaint about previous models like the iPhone 14, 15, and 16 has been the screen. I’ve been moaning that £799 iPhones should not feature a sluggish 60Hz panel—even budget Android phones that cost less than half the price get faster 120Hz technology.

Now Apple has finally listened and popped a stunning ProMotion screen on its iPhone 17 – that’s the same display as its Pro models feature.

To add more bang for its buck, it measures 6.3 inches (the iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch display), so it’s also slightly bigger.

The much-improved panel – which is also less reflective – means you get silky smooth scrolling when browsing websites, whizzing through music playlists and reading content online.

It also offers a far more eye-pleasing experience when gaming on the go. This is now a fabulous screen that’s been a very long time coming. Another boost that this ProMotion display offers is always-on technology, something Apple’s Pro phones have had for a while.

This means you can see the clock, information such as weather and full notifications without having to unlock the device. I’ve long loved this upgrade on Apple’s more premium phones, and it’s a great addition to the cheaper range.

One final bonus is that it’s covered in Apple’s hardy Ceramic Shield 2 glass, which means it’s far less likely to crack or get scratched.

Apple has made huge improvements to the strength of its devices and this update should make it even less likely you’ll need to head to the repair shop should it slip through your fingers.

Spin the iPhone 17 around, and things haven’t changed much since last year. There are some new colours, such as Sage and Mist Blue, but the soft matt finish looks identical.

What you do get is an improved dual-lens rear camera with a 48MP Dual Fusion system instead of the 48MP and 12MP setup from the iPhone 16. As both lenses get 48MP technology, you get a better all-around experience.

You’ll get the option to snap pixel-packed ultra-wide images, up-close macro shots, and there’s a 2x telephoto option as well, though this is digital zoom and not optical in lieu of a telephoto lens.

The iPhone 17 can’t match the might of the triple-lens camera on the iPhone 17 Pro, but it’s perfect for those everyday family photos and Instagram uploads.

As well as taking decent images, it will shoot videos in 4K and offers extras such as Action Mode which improves the image stabilisation and Audio Mix which lets you adapt the sound after the movie has been shot.

SEE OUR IMAGE SAMPLES BELOW

The rear camera upgrade is good, but I think the best change is the new front-facing Centre Stage Camera. It’s a game-changer.

It adapts the lens automatically depending on the number of people in your shot and widens the frame without you having to spin the phone around.

So, you can go from a portrait selfie to a full wide-angle landscape image without touching the settings or turning the phone sideways. I think this will be one of the most used new features on all the new iPhones, especially because it works so seamlessly.

Another bonus is Dual Capture, which records using both the front and rear cameras simultaneously. This allows you to film your reaction while you video what’s going on on the other side of the camera. Just like last year’s iPhones, the 17 gets the Camera Control button on the side, which launches the camera app and acts as a shutter button.

Under the aluminium shell is a boosted A19 processor.

I’ve had no issues playing games, using the Photoshop app on the move or editing mini films in iMovie, but this isn’t the fastest iPhone. That prize goes to the even more powerful iPhone 17 Air and Pro, which both get the A19 Pro chip.

If you really think you’re going to push things to the limit, you might be better off going Pro, especially as those devices now get a vapour chamber as well, which helps keep things cooler under pressure. The iPhone 17’s A19 chip not only makes it faster than before but also improves its all-important battery life.

I’ve easily been getting through a day and night with power still left in the tank. When watching movies, you get around 8 hours of extra life compared to the iPhone 16.

Should the battery indicator start glowing red, the iPhone 17 gets up to 50 percent back in the tank in just 20 minutes.

Of course, you’ll need a fast charging plug (£39), which Apple does not supply in the box.

It’s still compatible with the brilliant MagSafe connection, which offers an easy way to refill things wirelessly.

MagSafe is something I use all the time and it’s a feature we can all expect to see more of. Google just announced something similar on its Pixel 10 phones – Samsung may follow soon as it offers a faster and more reliable way to wirelessly refill and connect other accessories such as wallets and stands.

Other features that make a welcome return to the iPhone 17 include Crash Detection, SOS messaging via satellites, and an Ultra-Wideband chip inside that enables precision finding for AirTags.

You still get the Dynamic Island notch, fast Face ID unlocking and the Action Button for quick access to favourites such as the Torch.

The iPhone 17 has definitely been overshadowed this year by the incredibly slim iPhone Air and eye-catching new iPhone 17 Pro, which comes in dazzling Cosmic Orange.

But this is not a phone to ignore. In fact, it’s possibly the best iPhone for most people in 2025.

It’s £799 (there’s no price rise this year), and that even includes double the storage as standard. That means you get 256GB instead of the 128GB that came in the iPhone 16 for the same price.

The better screen, more power from the A19 chip, longer battery and improved cameras are all upgrades general consumers want, love and need, and that’s why I think this is such a fabulous phone.

My only negatives are that it now only comes in one size—you’ll need to buy the iPhone Air or Pro Max if you want a bigger screen—and it looks identical to the iPhone 16.

But if you’ve been pondering an upgrade, this is without doubt the year to splash out.