9 Reasons Why Buying the Base iPhone 17 Could Be Totally Worth It

Apple’s iPhone lineup has never been this crowded recently. Right now, you can pick from seven models. At the top is the brand-new iPhone 17 family, made up of the Air, Pro, Pro Max, and the standard iPhone 17. Apple is also keeping last year’s iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, and the budget-friendly iPhone 16e on shelves at lower prices.

With this many options, it’s easy to feel lost about which one is actually worth your money. But if you’re looking for the sweet spot between price and performance, the base iPhone 17 might just be the smartest choice this year. Let’s break down why.

1. iPhone 17 Doubles Base Storage to 256GB Without Raising Price

The iPhone 17 starts at $799, and Apple now gives you 256GB of storage right out of the box. That’s double what the iPhone 16 offered at the same price, where 128GB was the base option. Last year, you had to pay extra just to get this much space, but now it’s the new standard. In simple terms, you’ve got more room for apps, photos, 4K videos, and games without stressing over storage.

Sure, the iPhone 16 got cheaper and now starts at $699. But if you want 256GB on the 16 lineup, you’ll still need to jump to the iPhone 16 Plus, which costs $899.

2. A19 Chip Brings 20% Faster Performance

Powering the iPhone 17 is Apple’s new A19 chip, built on TSMC’s advanced 3nm process. Apple claims it’s around 20% faster than the A18, with noticeable gains across CPU, GPU, and AI tasks. In real life, that translates to smoother multitasking, faster load times, and more efficient power use.

For you, it means editing 4K videos on the fly without hiccups, playing heavy titles like Resident Evil Village at console-level quality, and running AI-driven features without slowdowns.

3. ProMotion 120Hz Finally Comes to the Base iPhone

For years, the regular iPhone was locked at a 60Hz refresh rate while the Pro models enjoyed Apple’s smoother ProMotion display. With the iPhone 17, that gap finally closes. The phone now uses an LTPO OLED panel (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide), which lets the screen intelligently adjust its refresh rate instead of being fixed at one number.

It can scale all the way down to 1Hz when nothing is moving, like when you’re reading static text or glancing at a photo, and jump up to 120Hz when you’re scrolling, gaming, or watching fast-paced video. This not only makes animations and touch response feel incredibly fluid but also saves battery when high refresh isn’t needed.

And here’s the kicker: the iPhone 17 is the cheapest phone you can buy today with ProMotion, making it a major step up for anyone upgrading from a 60Hz iPhone.

4. Bigger, Brighter 6.3-Inch Display

Apple has also stretched the display without stretching the phone. The iPhone 17 now comes with a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, up from 6.1 inches on the iPhone 16. Apple pulled this off by shrinking the bezels, so the phone’s overall size stays almost the same while giving you more screen real estate. Resolution gets a bump too, moving to 2622 × 1206 from the 16’s 2556 × 1179, which means sharper visuals.

Brightness is another big leap, 3,000 nits peak compared to 2,000 nits last year, making the display easier to read under direct sunlight. Whether you’re streaming HDR movies, gaming, or just scrolling, the extra brightness and bigger screen make everything feel more immersive. 

5. Always-On Display Comes to Non-Pro iPhones

For the first time on a non-Pro iPhone, the iPhone 17 supports an Always-On Display. This lets you check the time, widgets, and notifications without waking the phone. Just like Pro Motion, this is currently the cheapest iPhone that supports an Always-on Display. 

6. Dual 48MP Rear Cameras With Macro Mode

Apple finally gave the ultrawide lens the attention it deserved. The iPhone 17’s dual setup includes a 48MP main (f/1.6) and a 48MP ultrawide (f/2.2). On the iPhone 16, the ultrawide was only 12MP, which meant less detail in wide shots. Now, both lenses capture higher resolution, sharper photos, and support macro mode for detailed close-ups. Night shots are cleaner, landscapes look crisper, and wide-angle shots feel less like a compromise.

7. 18MP Center Stage Selfie Camera for Smarter Group Shots

On the front, the iPhone 17 introduces an 18MP Center Stage camera with an f/1.9 aperture. The new square sensor gives you a wider field of view, so you can fit more people in the frame without turning your phone sideways. It also supports stabilized 4K HDR video, making FaceTime calls and vlogs much smoother. Compared to the iPhone 16’s 12MP front camera, it’s a huge step forward.

8. 30 Hours Video Playback

The iPhone 17 features a 3,692 mAh battery, while the iPhone 16 has a 3,561 mAh battery. On paper, that difference may not look like much. But Apple claims the iPhone 17 delivers 30 hours of video playback, compared to just 22 hours on the iPhone 16. That’s an 8-hour jump in real-world endurance, enough to get you through even the busiest days.

Wired charging on the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max is rated for up to 40W USB-C, which is double the previous 20W standard and a significant speed boost over the iPhone 16. With the right adapter, the iPhone 17 can go from 0 to 50% in about 20 minutes. MagSafe wireless charging remains at 25W, reaching 50% in around 30 minutes.

9. Ceramic Shield 2 Glass With 3× Scratch Resistance

Finally, the iPhone 17 gets the new Ceramic Shield 2 promises 3× better scratch resistance compared to the earlier version. It also has a seven-layer anti-reflective coating, which reduces glare outdoors. Pair this with IP68 water and dust resistance, and the iPhone 17 is better equipped to handle everyday drops, scratches, and rough use.

Final Thoughts: The Base iPhone 17 Is the Sweet Spot

The iPhone 17 base model no longer feels like a compromise. It takes the best of Apple’s innovations and brings them to a wider audience without forcing you into Pro territory. You get double the storage, ProMotion, a brighter display, a sharper camera system, longer battery life, faster charging, and Apple Intelligence, all at the same $799 launch price.

Unlike most other models in the lineup, which have seen price hikes, the base iPhone 17 holds steady while packing in Pro-level features. For features like ProMotion and faster charging, it’s currently the most affordable iPhone available, making it an easy recommendation for anyone seeking maximum value without overspending.