The iPhone 17 lineup revolutionizes Apple’s approach, making every model feel like a flagship with its rich features. We spent a few hours hands-on with every new iPhone, and this year’s lineup is a big step up from last year’s event. Apple has reshuffled its iPhone strategy, starting with the iPhone 17, which may look similar to the iPhone 16 but feels completely different once you turn it on.
The iPhone 17 now features a larger 6.3-inch display with the thinnest bezels ever on an iPhone. It has a tougher Ceramic Shield 2 coating, 3,000 nits of brightness, and for the first time, an anti-reflective layer, making it the easiest iPhone to read in bright light. Apple finally added 120 Hz ProMotion to the base iPhone, a feature once exclusive to Pro models, and it can drop to 1 Hz for the always-on display.
The camera setup has improved, with the ultrawide lens jumping to 48 MP, matching the Pro models. In comparative tests, the iPhone 17’s ultrawide lens outperforms the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 9 in sharpness and color accuracy, offering a noticeable upgrade for photography enthusiasts. The front camera is now a square 18 MP sensor that supports both vertical and horizontal selfies and includes Center Stage for FaceTime calls. The iPhone 17 also has faster charging, 8 more hours of battery life for video playback, the new A19 chip, and 256 GB base storage, all while keeping the same $799 (about PKR230,000) price tag.
As devices roll out, the expected price in Pakistan is around 2.8-3.5 lac PKR for the basic model and up to 5.5-6 lacs for the Pro model.
iPhone Air a new line : iPhone Air is a new line up introduced by the Apple, people where expecting iPhone 17 Air as part of iPhone 17 series which open then doors to new possibilites. Like a runway model, the iPhone Air is all about slim elegance and striking appearance. At just 5.6 mm, it’s thinner than any iPhone before, boasting a titanium frame and Ceramic Shield back. It prioritizes style and flair, perfect for those who value aesthetics over endurance. However, like a model skimping on carbs, it sacrifices battery size, ultrawide camera, and stereo speakers in its pursuit of beauty. This makes it a design-first phone, exuding premium craftsmanship yet requiring a trade-off on functionality.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: On the other end, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are like powerlifters robust, efficient, and built for performance. They prioritize power and stamina, with thicker designs housing larger batteries capable of up to 39 hours on the Pro Max. Featuring aluminum frames with ceramic glass zones and a vapor chamber for superior cooling, these devices excel in performance and reliability. They also introduce a highly capable 48 MP telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom, delivering sharp results across all zoom levels, embodying resilience and strength.
This year, Apple dropped titanium in favor of aluminum for better heat dissipation and color options, including a standout bronze-orange finish. Both Pro models charge faster, run cooler, and deliver the most impressive mobile gaming performance yet with the A19 Pro chip.
In short:
- iPhone 17: “Value Flagship” – Best value iPhone, now with Pro features like 120 Hz display, better cameras, and more storage.
- iPhone Air: ” Ultra Slim Design ” – Ultra-thin and stylish, but with sacrifices in battery, speakers, and camera flexibility.
- iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max: “Performance Tank” – Function over form, with bigger batteries, better cooling, and major performance gains.
Apple finally removed the limitations on the base iPhone by adding a 120 Hz display, making even the entry model feel like a flagship.
