The New iPhone 17s |
Apple announced the new iPhone 17 family last week and here is our quick take on what's new, what's good, and what to consider if you are in the market for a new iPhone. iPhone 17 The new phone is a slight bump in performance compared to the iPhone 16. It has a slightly larger screen, better cameras, but what is most significant is the big increase in battery performance. Apple is now claiming up to 30 hours of video playback compared to 22 on the old 16. That is significant. Of course there is a faster processor, and all those sort of things that we would expect in a new model. It is the workhorse of the new lineup and the one to consider if you just need a good, solid iPhone with great battery life and excellent performance. iPhone 17 Pros Both the regular and Max versions of the iPhone Pros are now made of aluminum instead of titanium. That is because they did a few things. One, the new A19 Pro chip is fast -- very fast and that means it generates heat. In fact, they had to develop a vapor cooling system just to keep it happy. Aluminum transfers heat much better than titanium. Second, the camera bump is not just a bump anymore. Apple calls it a Plateau. They were able to stuff all the phone components into that small portion of the phone, allowing for a huge battery. And as Pro models the cameras have been upgraded, as you would expect. This is the phone to get if you want maximum performance and the absolute best camera system short of a full DSLR. iPhone Air This is the odd duck in the lineup. It is thin -- very thin, but this is at the expense of battery life. In fact, Apple presented an external battery pack along with this phone in its keynote. That doesn't bode well for all day use, as they claim. They stuff all the phone bits into the Plateau so what's left is battery, but it's not enough considering how much we all use our iPhones. We think it is a prelude to a foldable, but at $1000 with the lack of a potent battery it just doesn't have much of a use case in our opinion. Still, if you want a super-thin iPhone and stay close to a charger... No, I just don't understand this one. Go for a regular 17 or one of the Pros instead. To learn more about the iPhone 17s visit: https://www.apple.com/iphone/ |
