• Source:JND
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Apple has officially pulled the curtain back on its iPhone 17 series at the much-hyped “Awe Dropping” event in California. While the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max drew plenty of attention with their cutting-edge innovations, the standard iPhone 17 is quietly making waves of its own. Positioned as the most affordable entry in this year’s lineup, the iPhone 17 is designed for those who want flagship-level performance and modern Apple design—without stepping into Pro territory.

But with the iPhone 16 still fresh in the market, buyers are left wondering: Is the iPhone 17 worth the extra ₹13,000? Or should you save the money and stick with last year’s model?

Let’s break it down.

Bigger, Brighter Display with ProMotion

Finally the iPhone 17 makes the biggest leap in the display tech of the Non-Pro series. The iPhone 17 comes with a 6.3-inches Super Retina XDR OLED panel with ProMotion display, means 120Hz refresh rate.Till yesterday this feature was exclusive to the Pro models.

  • Brightness: Peaks at 3,000 nits outdoors, compared to 2,000 nits on the iPhone 16.
  • Durability: Equipped with Ceramic Shield 2 for better scratch and crack resistance.
  • Glare reduction: A special anti-reflective coating helps while using the phone under harsh sunlight.

This makes the iPhone 17 not only smoother to use but also far more comfortable outdoors.

ALSO READ: Samsung Trolls Apple Right After iPhone 17 Launch At Awe Dropping Event And Created A Social Media Buzz: Says ‘iCan’t…’

Performance Leap: A19 vs A18

At its core, the iPhone 17 runs on Apple’s brand-new A19 chip, built on a 3nm process. While the A18 on the iPhone 16 is still blazing fast, the A19 promises:

  • Better efficiency for longer battery life.
  • Improved AI & graphics performance, courtesy of its 16-core Neural Engine and next-gen accelerators.

Gamers, heavy multitaskers, and anyone leaning into Apple’s growing Apple Intelligence ecosystem will feel the difference most.

Camera Upgrades Worth Noticing

Apple has doubled down on photography.

  • Rear cameras:
    • 48MP Wide (f/1.6)
    • 48MP Ultra Wide (f/2.2, 120° FoV, autofocus) – a significant upgrade from the iPhone 16’s 12MP ultrawide.
    • 2x telephoto zoom, Dolby Vision HDR, and Cinematic 4K video are all included.
  • Front camera: A redesigned 18MP sensor with a square shape allows landscape selfies without rotating the phone. This feels like one of those small but game-changing tweaks.

Last year Apple brought the Action button and camera controls only in their Pro models, now its available in iPhone 17 as well that adds flexibility for creators to use the 

Battery & Charging

The iPhone 17 steps up slightly in battery performance:

  • Up to 30 hours of video playback (vs 22 hours on the iPhone 16).
  • 40W+ USB-C fast charging: 50% charge in just 20 minutes.
  • Qi2 & MagSafe wireless charging supported.

That’s a welcome boost for anyone who lives on their phone all day.

Connectivity & Future-Proofing

Another area where the iPhone 17 feels more “next-gen” is connectivity:

  • Wi-Fi 7 with 2×2 MIMO.
  • Bluetooth 6 support.
  • Dual-frequency GPS with NavIC (great for India).
  • Thread & UWB Gen 2 for smart-home and spatial computing features.

The iPhone 16 isn’t outdated here, but the iPhone 17 offers a clear step toward the future.

Price & Value: iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16

  • iPhone 16 starting price: ₹79,900
  • iPhone 17 starting price: ₹82,900

That’s a ₹13,000 gap, but what you get in exchange is:

  • Brighter and larger display with ProMotion
  • Stronger durability with Ceramic Shield 2
  • New 48MP Ultra Wide camera
  • More powerful A19 chipset
  • Longer battery life

For most people, that’s a meaningful upgrade—especially if you plan to hold onto your phone for the next 3–4 years.

ALSO READ: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: The Flagship Face-Off! Specs, Features And Price Compared

Final Take: Should You Upgrade?

The iPhone 17 is not a massive upgrade but it is a good upgrade when compared to the previous generational upgrades. This time Apple has brought several “Pro features” to the standard model. This time Apple has made iPhone 17 to have smoother display, sharper camera, better battery life making it the most genuine and reasonable upgrade.

If you already have an iPhone 16, you can survive with it as upgrading is not really essential until camera and display refresh rate are bothering you. But if you are a first time buyer of Apple or having an older iPhone then the upgrade makes sense. Although the price of the iPhone 16 was slashed to 69,900 Rs. right after the iPhone 17 launch, the extra amount paid for buying iPhone 17 will be worth it.

In short: Apple has made the iPhone 17 their best all rounder non-Pro iPhone yet. These upgrades make the extra money paid to the iPhone 17 worth it.