iPhone 17 Review Roundup: Standard Model ‚No Longer Means Missing Out,‘ New iPhone Air Hailed as ‚A Nod to the Future‘

Apple’s new iPhone 17 lineup has officially hit the shelves, and the first wave of reviews suggests a major shift in the company’s strategy. The consensus among tech critics is that the standard iPhone 17 has received such a significant upgrade that it’s now the top recommendation for the average consumer, finally incorporating features previously reserved for the pricier Pro models.

The new lineup also introduces the ultra-slim iPhone Air, which replaces the Plus model, alongside the powerful iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Here’s a breakdown of what the experts are saying about each new device.

The iPhone 17: The „One Most People Should Get“

For years, buying the standard iPhone meant accepting compromises. According to reviewers, that’s no longer the case. The Verge hailed the new model, declaring that „for the first time in a while, choosing the standard iPhone no longer means missing out.“

The biggest reason for the praise is the inclusion of two key Pro-level features:

„The iPhone 17 feels faster, easier to use, and more convenient as a result of these upgrades,“ noted The Verge. The Wall Street Journal’s Nicole Nguyen agreed, calling it „the iPhone most people should get,“ highlighting its „Pro-level smooth-refreshing screen“ and boosts to the battery and camera.

Key iPhone 17 Specs:

The one area where the standard model falls short is design; it does not feature the new „camera bar“ seen on the Air and Pro models.

Introducing the iPhone Air: A Glimpse of the Future

Replacing the Plus model is the all-new iPhone Air, which reviewers have called „a nod to the future.“ It is designed to be incredibly thin and light while still offering a large 6.5-inch screen.

However, its innovative design comes with a significant trade-off: battery life. In a day-of-use test by The Wall Street Journal, the iPhone Air had the least battery remaining of all four models (19%).

The Air runs on an A19 Pro chip, but it’s a slightly less powerful version than the one in the iPhone 17 Pro, featuring a 5-core GPU instead of a 6-core GPU. TechCrunch noted that the Air appears to be Apple’s answer to the slim smartphone trend from competitors like Samsung and could „pave the way for Apple’s long-rumored foldable phone.“

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: The Ultimate Upgrades

For those who want the absolute best, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max deliver key advantages, primarily in the camera department.

The Pro models feature a new design with a distinctive „camera bar“ and introduce a third 48-megapixel telephoto lens, enabling true 4x optical zoom and up to 8x „optical-quality“ zoom. Reviewers noted that videos, in particular, are more stable and have better sound quality on the Pro models.

The iPhone 17 Pro now starts at $1,099, a $100 increase from last year, but it also comes with double the base storage. The iPhone 17 Pro Max was praised for its „never have to worry“ battery life and its massive, best-in-class 6.9-inch screen.

Should You Upgrade? What the Experts Say

The consensus buying advice from reviewers is clear:

However, several reviewers also noted that if your current phone runs iOS 26 well, you might consider waiting. Analysts are pointing to 2026 as a potentially bigger year for Apple, with rumors of a foldable iPhone and the long-awaited arrival of a smarter, AI-powered Siri.