When I got my iPhone 15 Pro Max in September 2023, I decided that I'd do everything I could to make the battery last. Well, an accident destroyed that handset, so I restarted the experiment in March 2024. CNET: iPhone Battery Showdown: 3 Years of Data Show How the iPhone 17 Models Measure Up I wanted to see just how much lifespan I could get out of the battery.
Ookla has found that Apple's custom N1 networking chip that integrates the Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread radios in the iPhone 17 family " delivers a clear step-change in real-world Wi-Fi performance " when compared to the Broadcom chip used in the iPhone 16 models. In North America, the iPhone 17 family also outperformed flagship Android phones when it came to Wi-Fi download speeds during the same time period.
Apple did something different with this year's iPhone 17 series, and it's not just the bold redesign or Cosmic Orange colorway. The eSIM-only variants of the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max got larger batteries compared to the models with the physical Nano SIM tray. This marks the first time Apple is selling the same device with different battery capacities depending on the region.
The idea of " tyranny of choice" says that having a set of good choices is supposed to let everyone find exactly what makes them most happy, but the reality is that having so many good choices can often lead to anxiety, indecisiveness, and discontent. If we apply this concept to the iPhone 17 lineup, then Apple is quite the tyrant this year.
The iPhone 17 is Apple's most advanced phone yet, delivering blistering speed with the new A19 chip, a ProMotion Super Retina XDR display that makes every scroll feel fluid, and a camera system designed to rival pro gear. But power is only as good as the signal behind it, and that's where most carriers hit a wall. What sets the iPhone 17 apart on T-Mobile is T-Satellite with Starlink, which gives you an extra layer of coverage where no carrier towers can reach.
The 17 domination continued in week 40, Xiaomi and Apple's latest flagships remaining as the most popular phones in our database. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max retained its crown, joined by its 17 Pro sibling and the iPhone 17 Pro Max on the rostrum. Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max The 15T Pro and the vanilla 17 make it four Xiaomi phones in the top 5 - quite the achievement for the Chinese maker.
If you either agree with this sentiment or just don't have the funds to upgrade to the new device, there are a few things you can do to make your current phone feel and look like new again. Not sure where to start? We're here to help with four tested and reviewed products that will instantly give your device a facelift - and the most affordable pick costs just $9.
Apple is currently going through "scratchgate" with its iPhone 17 Pro series but how does the regular iPhone 17 fare? Well, much better thanks to its back glass, which is etched in a soft-touch material. YouTuber JerryRigEverything exposed the iPhone 17 to his signature durability test and tried his best to scratch the device with all sorts of minerals. With no sharp anodized aluminum edges on the camera island, the iPhone 17 is much less susceptible to scratches.
Specifically, there have been photos of iPhones in Apple Stores showing wear from MagSafe chargers, and owners posting photos of damage around the camera plateau. Apple has reached out to to respond to these concerns, saying the scratches around the MagSafe are not scratches but material transfer from the stand to the phone that can be removed with some cleaning, and that the durability of the camera plateau is no different from the anodized aluminum found on other Apple products.
Some new owners of the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air alike are saying that the Wi-Fi briefly cuts out and then reconnects after the phone is unlocked, as reported on Monday by MacRumors. The issue has also been affecting CarPlay connections in vehicles that use a Wi-Fi connection. So far, affected iPhone 17 users have been chiming in on several different forums, including the Apple Support Community.
Another new iPhone rollout, another possible controversy. This time, the iPhone 17 is in the crosshairs as buyers and potential customers are complaining that the phones scratch too easily, even ones still on display in Apple stores. The reports started surfacing this past weekend after the new iPhone lineup officially appeared in stores last Friday. So far, people have noticed scuffs on the deep blue variants of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max and scratches on the iPhone 17 Air Space Black edition,
The fact that Apple poured so many upgrades into the iPhone 17 was the surprise of the 2025 Apple Event for me. First of all, Apple finally did a major facelift to the iPhone 17's screen technology, kicking it up to 6.3-inches (from 6.1 last year) with thinner bezels, 120Hz ProMotion display, 3000 nits of peak brightness, an anti-reflective coating, and an always-on display.
Funnily enough, before they were tapped for this project, Ryan says Inez & Vinoodh used to muse about how using a phone would be so much smoother than their traditional setup with heavy gear, lighting, and assistants. "You can just move more quickly and act on ideas as they're evolving," Ryan says. "The phone allows you to be a little bit reckless and take chances. You can shoot thousands of pictures and try things you might not have tried before."
Happy iPhone Day! If you're picking up the new iPhone 17 or iPhone Air and want to avoid scratches or cracks on its front glass, we spotted a great deal on a two-pack of amFilm's OneTouch screen protectors over at Slickdeals. Designed specifically to fit the front of the new 6.3-inch iPhone 17, you can buy a pack on sale starting at a new low price of just $4.49 ($7.50 off) when you apply the promo code EUZWG92J at checkout at Amazon.
The dust has barely settled on the iPhone 17 series launch, and the hype is palpable. Apple's keynote was a masterclass in engineering poetry, touting a forged reinforced chassis (made from specialized Aluminum alloy or Titanium depending on the Pro or Air models) and a next-generation Ceramic Shield display that supposedly laughs in the face of danger. In fact, Apple's presentation even showed the phones being swung through a barrage of keys, coins, debris, even glass, highlighting just how robust the devices are.
If you use your iPhone for work, you want a case strong enough to protect it while commuting or traveling without a bulky, unprofessional design. ESR's flagship Cyber Tough Magnetic Case pairs a reinforced backplate with a wraparound bumper, a raised edge for the screen and camera, and a protective zinc-alloy camera guard. Its Air Guard corners absorb shocks in the event your phone gets knocked off your desk and plummets to the ground.
It looks like the iPhone 17's debut in China is going well. Apple's new smartphone lineup became available for preorders on Friday, and analysts and Chinese e-commerce retailer JD.com say it did well compared to last year's model. Preorders for the iPhone 17 surpassed the first-day volume of last year's iPhone 16 series on JD.com, the South China Morning Post reported Saturday.
One of the base model iPhone 17's most "Pro" features is its new upgraded display. Compared to the iPhone 16 -- and all previous standard generations before it -- the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro have the exact same display specifications. The base model iPhone 17 receives an upgraded 6.3-inch display, a 120Hz refresh rate, an always-on display, 2,622 x 1,206 pixel resolution, and 3,000 nits peak outdoor brightness. All of these specs are upgrades over the iPhone 16.
The iPhone 17 received a makeover to align more closely with the Pro models. It features a slightly larger 6.3-inch screen, which is an increase of 0.2 inches compared to the iPhone 16. It also has a 120 Hz display, a substantial upgrade from the current 60 Hz. The phone also has a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera. It comes in new colors: lavender, mist blue, black, white, and sage.
