Why the iPhone 17 is my first new phone in 5 years

Why the iPhone 17 is my first new phone in 5 years

Upgrading phones isn’t something most of us do every year. In fact, the creator of this video held onto their iPhone 11 for a full five years before finally making the jump to the iPhone 17. Instead of going all-in on the fancy Pro models or going into the iPhone Air, he chose the base iPhone 17 and after testing it, he feels it’s the best overall choice for most people. The video dives into design, performance, storage, and even small quality of life features, showing how much Apple has changed over those five years.

📝 Video Summary

• The iPhone 17 finally brings the ProMotion display to the base model: smoother, brighter, and way more enjoyable for scrolling or watching videos.
• Apple ditched the physical SIM card slot in some countries, going eSIM-only. Convenient for security and battery space, but not so fun if you’re someone who loves swapping SIMs like Pokémon cards.
• A new quick action button replaces the old silent switch. It’s customizable so instead of just muting, it can open your camera, flashlight, or whatever shortcut you prefer.
• Storage doubled. The base iPhone 17 now comes with 256GB, which feels like Apple finally admitting that 64GB in the iPhone 11 was a cruel joke.
• Battery life is noticeably better, partly because of that freed-up SIM space.
• The selfie camera now has a reframe feature great for group selfies without needing someone to risk life and limb by leaning too far out of frame.
• Price-wise, it’s about the same as last year’s iPhone 16 but packed with Pro-level features, making it surprisingly good value for Apple.

💡 My Thoughts

I really like how this upgrade feels like a “catch-up jump” for people holding onto older phones. Apple’s been slowly rolling out features to the Pro models for years, and now a lot of them have trickled down into the base version. For most users, that’s honestly enough. Unless you’re obsessed with telephoto zoom shots of squirrels or filming cinematic short films, the base iPhone 17 covers 90% of what people actually need.

I also think the eSIM-only move is bold. Sure, it makes sense for design and security, but I can already imagine people at the airport screaming at their phones when their local SIM card doesn’t work. On the bright side, at least you won’t lose those tiny little trays anymore.

The quick action button is probably my favorite change. It feels more practical than the old mute switch. Though, I’ll admit, there’s something satisfying about flicking that toggle and instantly silencing the world. (You have to unsilence again at some point.)

💬 Final Thoughts

The iPhone 17 isn’t flashy like the Pro models, but it’s practical, well-rounded, and a big leap from older iPhones. The display, storage, and battery upgrades alone make it feel like Apple finally remembered that people use their phones for more than just sending iMessages. For anyone still holding onto an iPhone 11 or earlier, this looks like the sweet spot between performance and price. You’re welcome!