iPhone 17/Pro/Air Unboxing: 1 Hot Take!

The new iPhone 17 lineup introduces thinner designs, controversial color options, and significant battery improvements for Pro models, while the base iPhone 17 offers exceptional value compared to previous generations and competitors.

• iPhone 17 Pro models feature significant battery capacity increases and controversial new colors.

• The ultra-thin iPhone Air's design is stunning, but it makes sacrifices in camera, speakers, and battery compared to competitors.

• The base iPhone 17 offers exceptional value with powerful specs, a 120Hz display, and larger storage at a competitive price point.

The unboxing of the iPhone 17 series reveals several key updates and insights across the Pro Max, Pro, and Air models. The iPhone 17 Pro Max notably features a 2TB storage option, while the iPhone 17 Pro introduces new colors like a bright orange and a subtle blue. The ultra-thin iPhone Air, a standout in the lineup, comes with a new accessory battery designed specifically for it, prompting thorough battery life testing. Overall, the base iPhone 17 is highlighted as a surprisingly good deal, offering enhanced features at a competitive price.

iPhone 17 Lineup Overview

• 00:00:33 The iPhone 17 series includes the Pro Max, Pro, and Air models, with the Pro Max offering a $2,000, 2TB configuration. New color options for the 17 Pro include a controversial bright orange and a blue, which serves as the closest dark alternative. The base iPhone 17 comes in a satin green finish, which is surprisingly well-received, and all models now include a braided USB-C cable.

iPhone Air Design and Accessories

• 00:03:15 The iPhone Air is presented as an ultra-thin device, ranking among the thinnest phones ever, and is notably not branded as 'iPhone 17 Air,' suggesting it might not be an annual refresh. Its design features glossy titanium rails that attract fingerprints and a subtle blue hue, giving it a jewelry-like aesthetic. An accompanying all-white battery, specifically designed for the Air, offers 3,149 mAh and integrates seamlessly, though its real-world battery performance requires further testing.

Performance and Battery Upgrades

• 00:05:48 Benchmarking of the new A19 and A19 Pro chips shows significant steps up, particularly in multi-core CPU and GPU performance, with Pro phones now featuring 12GB of RAM. Battery capacities have also increased across the board, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max cracking 5,000 mAh for the first time and the smaller Pro model seeing nearly a 20% year-over-year improvement. Despite its thinness, the iPhone Air's 3,149 mAh battery is comparable to older Pro models, though its advertised battery life claims are viewed with skepticism for real-world usage.

iPhone Air vs. Samsung S25 Edge

• 00:08:50 A direct comparison between the ultra-thin iPhone Air and Samsung's S25 Edge highlights similarities in their approaches to thinness, both using flagship chips and omitting vapor chambers for cooling. However, the S25 Edge retains a full flagship main camera, ultra-wide lens, stereo speakers, and a larger battery (3,900 mAh), which are all absent or reduced in the iPhone Air. Despite the iPhone Air being thinner, the S25 Edge is preferred for its superior camera system and boxier design.

Base iPhone 17 Value Proposition

• 00:10:31 The base iPhone 17 is positioned as the best deal in the lineup, possibly in the entire smartphone market. It offers an arguably better primary and ultra-wide camera, a more powerful chip (A19), the new selfie camera, a starting storage of 256GB, and a 120Hz display. Priced $100 cheaper than an equivalent Pixel, it provides significant features for the cost, making it the most sensible choice for most users.