Apple introduces base iPhone 17 with 120Hz display

At its fall event, Apple unveiled the new entry-level iPhone 17.

The model brings upgraded cameras, a larger battery, and more. Let’s break it down.

Design and Display

Compared to the iPhone 16, the dimensions remain nearly the same, but the display now measures 6.3 inches instead of 6.1. It’s the same size as last year’s iPhone 16 Pro and this year’s iPhone 17 Pro.

The Super Retina XDR display now supports a 120Hz refresh rate with ProMotion, offering an adaptive range from 1Hz to 120Hz — with 1Hz used for Always-On Display.

Peak brightness reaches a record 3,000 nits. The Dynamic Island remains in place, bezels are slimmer and barely noticeable, and the front is protected by the new Ceramic Shield 2.

The Camera Control button is still on the right side, while the customizable Action Button remains on the left. Unlike the Pro and Pro Max models, the back design hasn’t changed much: glass on both sides with an aluminum frame.

New colors join the lineup: lavender, mist blue, and sage green, alongside the classic black and white.

Performance and Battery

The iPhone 17 runs on Apple’s new 6-core A19 chip built on TSMC’s 3nm N3P process, delivering significantly better performance and efficiency.

The SoC includes a 5-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, paired with 8GB of RAM.

Performance is up 20% over the iPhone 16, and 80% compared to the iPhone 15. Storage now starts at 256GB, up from 128GB.

Battery life has improved as well, offering up to eight extra hours of video streaming compared to the iPhone 16. Fast charging has been boosted — 50% charge in just 20 minutes.

Cameras

The main camera modules on the iPhone 17 now all feature 48 MP sensors — with Apple making significant improvements to the ultra-wide lens.

The primary 48 MP module has an equivalent focal length of 26 mm, an f/1.6 aperture, and a 1-micron pixel size. It also supports 12 MP shots with 2x digital zoom.

The ultra-wide is now also 48 MP, with an equivalent focal length of 13 mm, an f/2.2 aperture, and 0.7-micron pixels. It can also capture 12 MP macro photos.

The front-facing camera has been upgraded as well. It now offers 18 MP instead of 12 MP and supports Center Stage. With the larger sensor and AI assistance, users can now take landscape photos even while holding the phone vertically.

Price and Availability

Pre-orders open September 12, with sales beginning September 19. The iPhone 17 starts at $799 for the 256GB version.

Apple has dropped the Plus variant from its lineup this year.