Apple just handed the base iPhone 17 the smooth 120Hz ProMotion display that’s been locked behind the Pro paywall since 2021. Your scrolling won’t stutter anymore, games feel responsive, and everything moves like it should have years ago. The 6.3-inch OLED screen also cranks up to 3,000 nits, making it readable even when you’re squinting at it outside a coffee shop on the brightest summer day.
The Display Democracy Revolution
ProMotion’s arrival in the base model reshapes Apple’s entire iPhone hierarchy.
The iPhone 17’s LTPO technology dynamically adjusts refresh rates, saving battery while delivering buttery-smooth animations. This isn’t just about bragging rights—your thumb will notice the difference immediately when swiping through apps. The A19 chip, built on a refined 3nm process, handles the increased display demands while actually improving efficiency. That 60Hz refresh rate finally feels as outdated as it should in 2025.
Camera and Charging Catch Real Complaints
Apple addresses the pain points iPhone users have been griping about for years.
The front camera jumps from 12MP to 24MP, delivering sharp selfies and clearer FaceTime calls that won’t make you look like a pixelated ghost. More importantly, 35W wired charging arrives to end the glacial charging speeds that made your phone feel more like a landline. Qi 2.2 wireless charging also speeds things up, though you’ll still wait longer than with most Android competitors.
The dual rear cameras remain unchanged at 48MP and 12MP—apparently some things never change.
Connectivity Gets the Custom Treatment
Apple’s wireless chip brings Wi-Fi 7 and faster connections to the masses.
Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 come courtesy of Apple’s custom wireless chip, promising faster connections and better power efficiency. The new colors—lavender, mist blue, black, white, and sage—offer subtle style updates without revolutionary design changes. Slimmer bezels and seamless frame construction polish the familiar silhouette.
Some markets might lose the physical SIM tray entirely, pushing users toward eSIM-only setups that could complicate international travel.
The iPhone 17 represents Apple’s clearest admission that artificial feature restrictions don’t age well. At the expected $799 price point, you’re finally getting Pro-level smoothness without the Pro tax. The real question isn’t whether to upgrade from older iPhones—it’s whether Apple can maintain meaningful Pro model differentiation when the base model no longer feels compromised.
