Apple has just dropped its iPhone 17 lineup — including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max — along with updated AirPods Pro 3 and fresh accessories. I’ve spent nearly a week testing everything, and this review covers the unboxing experience, real-world performance, camera tests, battery life, and accessories you’ll only notice once you start using them daily.
Whether you’re wondering if it’s worth upgrading from the iPhone 16 or comparing against Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, here’s a detailed breakdown of what’s new, what’s better, and what left me disappointed.
📦 iPhone 17 Unboxing & First Impressions
Unboxing the iPhone 17 in Sage Green feels familiar. Inside, you’ll find the phone, a USB-C cable, SIM ejector, papers, and a new energy score card (thanks to EU regulations).
Key Improvements in iPhone 17
- Faster Charging: In my test, the iPhone 17 charged to 26% in 10 minutes, while the iPhone 16 only hit 21%.
- Anti-Reflective Coating: Cuts out about one-third of screen glare compared to iPhone 16. Still behind Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, which removes even more reflections.
- Selfie Camera Upgrade: Wider lens + new square sensor allows better portrait & landscape selfies without awkward arm extensions. Great for FaceTime video calls, as the framing adjusts dynamically when more people enter the chat.
Performance Boost: Powered by the A19 Bionic chip, scoring 30% higher in stress tests vs. iPhone 16, with improved stability for gaming and multitasking.
🌬 iPhone 17 Air Review: Thin Design, Big Compromises
The iPhone 17 Air is Apple’s thinnest phone yet, available in Sky Blue. But despite packing the A19 Pro chip, performance didn’t match expectations.
Testing the iPhone 17 Air
- Performance Drop: The Air actually underperformed compared to the regular iPhone 17. Even after cooling it in a fridge, it struggled with sustained performance.
- Speaker Quality: Only a single speaker, weaker than the dual-speaker setup on other iPhones.
- Portrait Mode: Less reliable than the iPhone 17 due to having just one rear camera.
- Fragile Accessories: The official Air case bent out of shape easily, while the $40 bumper case felt premium but pricey.
The iPhone 17 Air looks amazing, but its heat issues and weak audio make it hard to recommend for power users.
🎧 AirPods Pro 3: A Big Step Forward
Apple also released the AirPods Pro 3 at the same $249 price.
- Sound Quality: Wider soundstage + deeper bass.
- Noise Cancellation: 20% better than AirPods Pro 2, blocking nearly all background noise.
- Downside: Tighter fit causes ear pressure, making Pro 2 more comfortable for long sessions.
- New Features: Real-time voice translation, though the speech engine feels robotic compared to Google Pixel’s system.
Verdict: AirPods Pro 3 deliver immersive sound and industry-leading noise cancellation, but comfort may be an issue for some users.
🔥 iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max: Apple’s Flagships
The iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange and Pro Max in Deep Blue are the most premium options.
Standout Features
- Design: Rounded edges make them more comfortable to hold.
- Signal Strength: Noticeably stronger 5G reception compared to iPhone 16 Pro Max.
- Performance: The A19 Pro chip + advanced cooling system delivered 22% faster performance than iPhone 16 Pro Max.
- Cameras:
- 48MP Telephoto Lens is slightly better but not groundbreaking.
- Portrait Mode is improved thanks to smarter image processing with better skin tones.
- 48MP Telephoto Lens is slightly better but not groundbreaking.
Accessories for Pro Models
- Woven Case: Extremely durable but feels rough (“grandma’s sweater” vibes).
- Clear Case: Odd design choice with a white back panel that hides the phone’s colors.
⚖️ Should You Upgrade?
- iPhone 17: A solid upgrade with better performance, improved selfie camera, and faster charging.
- iPhone 17 Air: Stylish but underwhelming in real-world performance.
- AirPods Pro 3: Fantastic sound + noise cancellation, but less comfortable.
iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max: The best of the lineup, delivering meaningful improvements in performance, connectivity, and portrait photography.
🏆 Final Verdict
If you’re using an iPhone 14 or older, the iPhone 17 series is a worthwhile upgrade. For iPhone 16 users, only the Pro and Pro Max models offer significant improvements. The iPhone 17 Air is sleek but flawed, while the AirPods Pro 3 are excellent for immersive listening (if comfort isn’t an issue).
