iPhone 17 Review (UK): The Base Model Grows Up

For years the standard iPhone felt like a compromise next to the Pro models. With the iPhone 17, launched in September 2025, Apple has closed most of that gap. It gets a bigger, smoother 6.3-inch display, a faster A19 chip, two 48MP rear cameras and double the entry-level storage, which makes it the model we'd point most people towards.

Who is it for?

The iPhone 17 is ideal if you're upgrading from an iPhone 13, 14, 15 or older and want a phone that will feel quick for years. It suits everyday photographers, social media users and anyone who wants a premium iPhone without paying Pro prices. If you shoot a lot of zoomed photos or need the very longest battery life, the newer iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max is the better fit.

Key specs

• Display: 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR with ProMotion (adaptive up to 120Hz) and Always-On, down to 1Hz
• Chip: Apple A19
• Rear cameras: 48MP Fusion Main with optical-quality 2x Telephoto, plus 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide with macro
• Front camera: 18MP Center Stage camera with a square sensor
• Video: 4K60 Dolby Vision, Cinematic and Action modes, Dual Capture
• Storage: 256GB or 512GB
• Durability: Ceramic Shield 2 front with 3x better scratch resistance (Apple's figure); IP68
• Charging: USB-C, up to 40W wired and 25W wireless, as tested by Trusted Reviews
• Colours: Black, lavender, mist blue, sage and white

Display and design

The headline upgrade is the screen. ProMotion means scrolling and games run at up to 120Hz, and the Always-On display can drop to 1Hz to save power. The borders are thinner than before and Ceramic Shield 2 adds a new anti-reflective coating. Trusted Reviews called it the easiest base-level iPhone to recommend in years, largely because it fixes the old lack of ProMotion and the small base storage.

Cameras and performance

Both rear cameras are now 48MP. The main camera crops in for an optical-quality 2x shot, and the new Ultra Wide captures far more detail for landscapes and macro close-ups. The front Center Stage camera is the clever part: you can take landscape selfies while holding the phone upright, and it widens the frame automatically for group shots. The A19 chip keeps everything fast, and TechRadar notes that performance is still spectacular for a base model.

Battery life

Battery life is good rather than class-leading. Trusted Reviews found it comfortably lasts a full day of heavy use, with a full charge taking about 85 minutes on a 40W charger. TechRadar's lab tests put it at around 11 to 13 hours, slightly behind Samsung's Galaxy S25 and Google's Pixel 10, and well behind the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Pros and cons

UK price

The iPhone 17 costs £899 for 256GB at Apple UK. Apple raised the UK price from its £799 launch price in September 2026, as Trusted Reviews reported, and Amazon UK listed it at £899 when we checked on 4 October 2026. Prices on Amazon UK change often, so check the current price on Amazon UK before you buy.

Verdict

The iPhone 17 is the best-value iPhone Apple has made in years. ProMotion, 256GB of storage, two 48MP cameras and a genuinely useful new selfie camera make it feel close to a Pro for a lot less money. Battery life is only average for a 2025 flagship, but for most people this is all the iPhone they need.

FAQs

How we researched this review: we compiled this guide from Apple's official specifications and press materials, plus independent hands-on reviews from Trusted Reviews and TechRadar. We have not tested this unit ourselves.