Apple’s Base iPhone 17 is a Serious Game-Changer in Plain Sight

Apple’s September event had a surprise that’s hard to ignore…the base iPhone 17, which starts at just $799. This phone brings premium features to a price point that feels like a steal, including double the storage, a sharper display and cameras that rival the Pro models.

Storage gets a big boost this time around, as Apple has dropped the 128GB base option and started the iPhone 17 at 256GB, all without raising the $799 price from last year’s iPhone 16. If you’ve ever juggled apps, photos and videos while battling the “storage full” warning this is a godsend. It means more space for 4K videos, sprawling photo libraries and every app you’ve ever downloaded on a whim all without having to pay for a more expensive model.

For the first time ever, the base iPhone has a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR screen with ProMotion a feature once exclusive to Pro models. This 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling buttery smooth, games feel more immersive and animations pop with a fluidity that’s hard to unsee once you’ve experienced it. Brightness hits 3,000 nits outdoors – enough to make the screen readable in harsh sunlight – and the contrast is twice as sharp as the previous generation. A new Ceramic Shield 2 coating adds three times better scratch resistance and cuts glare so your screen stays pristine and easy to read.

Cameras have always been a strong selling point on iPhones, but the iPhone 17 takes them to a whole new level. The rear setup has a 48MP Fusion Main camera with a 2x optical-quality telephoto and a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide for wide shots or macro close-ups. These are the same sensors as the iPhone 17 Pro, a rare instance where the base model doesn’t skimp on imaging power. The front-facing 18MP Center Stage camera is a game changer, allowing you to take selfies in portrait or landscape without rotating the phone. It uses AI to widen the field of view for group shots and delivers ultra-stabilized 4K HDR video. A new Dual Capture feature lets you record from both front and rear cameras at once, perfect for vloggers or anyone capturing a moment from two perspectives. Add in next-generation Photographic Styles for real-time color adjustments and 4K60 fps Dolby Vision video with Spatial Audio and you’ve got a camera system that feels pro.

All of this is powered by the A19 chip, built on a 3nm process for 1.5x the speed of the A15 Bionic in older models. It has a 5-core GPU that’s more than 2x faster, so games like Destiny: Rising look amazing. The chip’s efficiency, combined with iOS 26’s Adaptive Power Mode, gets 30 hours of video playback—8 hours more than the iPhone 16. Charging is faster too, 50% in 20 minutes with the new 40W Dynamic Power Adapter. A new N1 wireless chip brings Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread support for fast connections to AirDrop, smart home devices and more.

Design-wise the iPhone 17 sticks to the familiar aluminum frame, in five colors: black, lavender, mist blue, sage and white. It’s durable, with 30% recycled materials, 85% recycled aluminum and 100% recycled cobalt in the battery. The $49 Silicone Case with MagSafe or $59 Crossbody Strap made from recycled yarn add some flair, while three free months of Apple Arcade, Music as well as other freebies are thrown in with every purchase.

Preorders start September 12, with availability September 19 in over 63 countries. Trade-in deals will get you $200 to $700 credit, and carrier promotions might get you up to $1,100 towards a Pro model if you want an even higher-end upgrade.